The Slomad Life
What One Couple’s Leap Taught Me About Slowing Down to Live Fully
I recently stumbled across an article on Business Insider by Sarah Khan, titled “Our rent doubled after we got married, so we became digital nomads.” What started as a financial curveball turned into the spark she and her husband needed to reinvent their lifestyle—on their own terms.
But the part that stayed with me most wasn’t just about going nomad. It was about going slomad—and how slowing down can actually move you closer to the life you want.
When Life Pushes You—Push Back Differently
Sarah’s turning point came when her landlord doubled the rent. Instead of scrambling for a more affordable apartment, she and her husband asked a radical question: What if we didn’t stay at all?
With flexible jobs and no immediate family plans, they hit pause on the conventional path and chose something different: slow, intentional travel. It wasn’t just about escape—it was about opportunity.
Ditching the Script
We all know “the script”: buy a home, climb the ladder, settle down. But Sarah’s journey reminded me that we don’t have to blindly follow it.
While bouncing between places like Bali, Tuscany, and Phuket, she met people choosing alternative lives—entrepreneurs, artists, remote workers. They weren’t chasing titles or square footage. They were designing their days around meaning.
And maybe that’s the takeaway: there are many ways to feel successful. The real question is, what does success look like for you?
The Rise of the Slomad
That’s where the slomad lifestyle comes in.
Sarah admits that the “classic” digital nomad rhythm—jumping from one city to the next every few weeks—quickly became exhausting. Constant travel brought beauty, sure, but also burnout: timezone changes, spotty Wi-Fi, endlessly resetting routines.
So they slowed down. Now, they spend two to three months in each location, giving themselves space to breathe, connect, and create.
As she puts it: “This slower pace has helped us find a rhythm that feels more sustainable.”
That line hit me hard. Because in a world obsessed with speed, choosing to slow down can feel almost rebellious. But for some of us, that’s where life starts to really make sense.
Rituals Over Routines
The other thing that struck me was Sarah’s emphasis on creating a transferrable routine—a simple daily flow she can recreate anywhere: morning meditation, writing sessions, café breakfasts, and sunset swims.
Her routine isn’t rigid. It’s grounding. It’s the thread that ties her days together across countries and continents.
Since reading her story, I’ve started doing the same—prioritizing the small habits that make me feel more like me, even when everything around me is unfamiliar.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
Could the Slomad Life Work for You?
Ten months in, Sarah and her husband aren’t ready to stop. They’ve extended their journey, with more clarity about how to make it sustainable. They’re not just wandering. They’re living intentionally in motion.
So… is the slomad lifestyle for everyone? Probably not. Not all of us can pack up and go. But maybe the lesson isn’t about travel at all.
Maybe it’s about permission—the permission to question, to slow down, to redefine what “home,” “work,” and “success” really mean for you.
So I’ll leave you with the same question I asked myself:
What would happen if you stopped rushing… and started designing a life that actually fits?