5 Years ago Covid changed work. I changed my Life
Sometimes, the best decision is not to adapt to the new normal. It’s to create your own.
A lot has been written lately about how Covid reshaped the way we work — meetings, hybrid schedules, mental health, side hustles, dress codes, and more.
And yes, most of it is true. I’ve seen it firsthand in my former colleagues’ lives: return-to-office policies, blurred work-life boundaries, and a sense of “back to business as usual” — just slightly more flexible.
But I took a different path.
A little over four years ago, in the heart of the pandemic, my husband and I chose to become digital nomads.
And let me tell you: our lives have changed. For the better.
We earn less than we used to.
We probably spend more than we did in our small suburban apartment.
But we are free.
Free to choose where we wake up, how we structure our days, and what truly matters.
We didn’t have to give up anything essential.
We simply learned to manage our budget better.
The biggest shift? Our top priority is no longer how we spend our money — but how we feel while living our lives.
We traded office politics for meaningful conversations with strangers in new places.
Deadlines are still there — I’m a copywriter, after all — but they now come with a view of the sea, the mountains, or the hum of a quiet café in a different timezone.
This lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
But for us, it brought clarity, simplicity, and a deeper sense of connection — to our work, to each other, and to the world.
Sometimes, the best decision is not to adapt to the new normal.
It’s to create your own.
— Cristina E.
Copywriter ✍️ | Digital Nomad 🌍 | Budget-conscious, freedom-loving human