Happy Monday Reader :)
Welcome to everyone who just joined, I'm so glad you're here. This is your Weekly Dose of Joy: every Monday, you'll get real stories, honest insights, and practical tips on digital nomadism, travel, and designing a life you actually love.
If you've been thinking about going nomadic for a while now, you've probably been researching like crazy.
You've watched YouTube videos about the best nomad destinations. You've read blog posts about remote jobs and freelancing. You've calculated budgets. You've scrolled Instagram and thought "that could be me."
And yet... you're still here. Still in the same job. Still in the same city. Still thinking about it.
So let me ask you a question:
What's actually stopping you?
Is it money? Skills? Not knowing where to go? Fear of failure?
Maybe. But here's what I've noticed after six years of living this life and coaching others through their transitions:
The real difference between people who go nomad and people who just dream about it isn't money, skills, or knowledge.
It's one skill that almost no one talks about.
And if you don't have it (or don't build it) you'll stay stuck in the research phase forever.
The skill is this: Decision speed.
Not recklessness. Not impulsiveness. Not "YOLO, I'm quitting tomorrow with no plan."
But the ability to make decisions (quickly), take action, and adjust as you go... instead of overthinking, researching endlessly, and waiting for the "perfect" moment that never comes.
Let me show you what I mean.
The Research Trap (And Why You're Stuck In It)
Here's what most people do when they want to go nomadic:
- They spend 6 months researching destinations
- They compare cost of living in 47 different cities
- They read every blog post about "how to become a digital nomad"
- They watch hours of YouTube videos
- They join Facebook groups and scroll through hundreds of posts
- They make spreadsheets
- They think "I just need a little more information, then I'll be ready"
And six months later? They're still researching.
A year later? Still planning.
Two years later? Still thinking about it.
Because research feels productive. But it's not action.
And without action, nothing changes.
What Decision Speed Actually Looks Like
Let me give you a real example from my own life.
Last week, I returned to Bansko, Bulgaria from Japan. I had plans to stay here for another month and a half as summer is starting, and all the nomads are filling up this place.
Then on Friday, I got an offer to speak at the Nomad Summit in Tallinn, Estonia in a month, and hold a workshop on "Transition to Remote Work Without Wrecking Your Life – The Roadmap That Didn't Exist When I Needed It."
Plans changed. Decision made. Flights booked.
Was it the "perfect" decision? I don't know. But it was a decision. And it kept me moving forward instead of stuck in "maybe I should, maybe I shouldn't."
Here's another example: Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to work with a business coach. It was a significant investment, €5,000.
I didn't rush the decision. I sat with it. I talked it through with people I trust. I checked in with my gut.
But here's the key: I gave myself a deadline.
I didn't let it sit for weeks or months. I didn't endlessly research other coaches or make elaborate spreadsheets comparing options.
I asked myself the questions that mattered:
- Will this help me get where I want to go faster?
- Can I afford it without destroying my runway?
- Do I trust this person?
Yes, yes, yes.
Decision made. Next day, I started.
That's decision speed.
Not recklessness. Not skipping your own decision-making process.
But making the decision and not postponing it.
Here's the Truth About How You Make Decisions
Everyone has their own way of making decisions.
Some people trust their gut immediately. Some people need to talk it through with someone they trust. Some people journal. Some people sleep on it for one night (not six months!!!).
Your process doesn't matter. What matters is that you actually make the decision.
Because here's what I've noticed: most people aren't thinking about the decision for weeks. They're avoiding it.
They're waiting for certainty that will never come.
They're hoping the "right answer" will magically appear.
They're scared of making the wrong choice, so they make no choice at all.
And no choice = staying exactly where you are.
So use whatever process works for you: gut feeling, intuition, talking it through, journaling, sleeping on it for one night.
But give yourself a deadline. And when that deadline hits, decide.
That's decision speed.
The Good News: You Can Build This Skill
Decision speed isn't something you're born with. It's something you practice.
And here's how to start:
If you have 80% of the information you need, make the decision.
You'll never have 100%. And waiting for 100% just means you're stuck.
80% is enough. Decide. Move forward. Adjust if needed.
Action Creates Clarity (Not the Other Way Around)
You don't figure out your perfect niche by researching for six months. You figure it out by testing an offer with real people and seeing what resonates.
You don't figure out your ideal nomad destination by reading 100 blog posts. You figure it out by going somewhere and seeing how it feels.
You don't figure out if you can make money remotely by planning. You figure it out by trying.
Action first. Clarity follows.
What to Do This Week
Make ONE decision you've been postponing.
Examples:
- Pick your income path (freelancing, consulting, remote job, digital product... just pick one to test)
- Set a timeline (e.g., "I'm testing this for 3 months, and if it works, I'll quit in 6 months")
- Reach out to one potential client or apply for one remote job
- Calculate your runway (I'll teach you how in Wednesday's webinar)
- Book a trip to a nomad hub (even if it's 6 months from now, at least you've decided)
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Make the decision before the timer runs out.
It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be a decision.
Why Wednesday's Webinar Matters
If you've been researching the nomad life but haven't taken real action yet, I want to help you change that.
On Wednesday, May 27th, I'm hosting a free webinar: How to Transition from Corporate to Nomad Life.
This webinar is for people who are done researching and ready to make actual decisions.
If that's you, I'll see you there.
What I Want For You This Week
Make ONE decision. Even a small one.
And watch how much lighter you feel when you stop carrying the weight of unmade decisions.
You've got this.
Sending you so much love (and a gentle push to just decide),
Jess
P.S. What's one decision you've been postponing? Hit reply and tell me. Sometimes just naming it out loud makes it easier to finally make the call. ✨
