Welcome to the beginning of an enriching journey!

In this series, I’ll be unraveling the unforgettable lessons from my end-of-year Europe adventure—transcending sightseeing to embrace holistic travel, discovering transformative travel tips, nurturing friendships, and using travel to practice self-care.

Making the best out of my situation, my iPhone XS, which calls me “Your Highness” of course, acted as my effective assistant, setting firm reminders to plan my day, be present, and set markers for when it’s time to recharge. Solo traveling across Europe with a 5-year-old iPhone forced me to plan my days around my battery percentage.

Whereas not being mindful, could have led me to getting lost or missing trains home, I learned the hard way of making the most of my days abroad. Hopefully, these lessons learned can help you have smooth trips and learn to flow solo.

This structure allowed me to:

1. Stay consistent with daily goals, like reading and journaling

2. Discover hidden cafes and safe havens wherever I was

3. Be present and make memories with friends

4. Balance managing and letting go of time

Starting my day at 100%, I embraced the day's potential, setting off on a journey not just through cities but also within myself. My morning rituals consist of brewing tea, writing the day’s to-do list, and confirming meet-ups with friends. After I pack my iPad Air, journal, current read, scarf, and film camera, I make my way to try one of the breakfast spots I found nearby on Google Maps.

I use the time I am stationary to respond to texts and calls from family (free wifi is a plus) before delving back into the city's fabric, engaging with locals, and uncovering the nuances around mapping out my next route. I focus first on any priority errands and then aim to visit the nearest saved place on my map to sightsee. If it ends up being a space I can chill at, I’ll take my work out and check something off the to-do list!

At the peak of the day, I pause to find a matcha latte, my daily medicine, or try a local snack while observations turn into introspection. This phase is about more than just a pick-me-up; it was a moment of gratitude and self-nourishment—noticing my presence in the space, embracing stillness, and appreciative of my ability to make it to where I am today. Being half-full always beats being half-empty.

Navigating a 19% charge after further exploring, I make the effort to check on the friends I am staying with, coordinating when we will make our way home to freshen up before the evening. Not knowing how fast I’d lose battery with an exponentially dying battery, I shaped the essence of embracing the unplanned. This meant sometimes catching a later train to sit, charge, and read a few pages in my book. These times taught me adaptability, resilience, and finding beauty in the unexpected—a parallel to life's unpredictability, where spontaneity enriches the journey.

These were the times I noticed I was most confident in connecting with people around me.

Rejuvenated at 68%, heading to dinner was a celebration of the day's experiences—a testament to the significance of savoring moments and embracing joy, marking a holistic approach to travel and life, intertwining the essence of self-care, friendships, and cultural immersion. Each time I paused to check in with my surroundings and myself, I allowed for further learning, perspective building, and giving myself grace.

Phone battery does not matter when you're having fun with friends! Having or making friends in the city you’re visiting not only saves money, time, and effort but also amplifies a trip, allowing you to take a step back and see it through their lens. Although my phone is put away, it is the perfect time for my film camera to come out and play. Travel highlights the essence of camaraderie, mutual support, and the beauty of shared moments—an embodiment of nurturing friendships and understanding the essence of self-care amidst new encounters.

These percentage % markers created a parallel between remembering to charge my phone with taking a moment to recharge myself. On this trip, I used routine to help ground me, breaks to learn more about local culture, and set intentional time with friends to create lasting memories. As a freelancer or someone who works remotely, this flow is a great way to balance work and adventure.

On top of this technique, I developed a 4-step method to creating balanced days of discovery and peace, no matter where you are in the world or your life responsibilities.

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Blessings +joy,

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