Alter-Nomad: On Health

Just like you need a work routine, health should be part of a daily ritual. Mind-body dualism increasingly appears as unfounded: a healthy mind is deeply tied to a healthy body, and vice versa. Living in a new environment every two to three months is intense. Some habits are needed to support your work, and exercising is one of them.

I love sports. France is a football nation. We grow up playing football. I am not good at it and I don’t like watching it on TV or in a stadium, but I’ve always found it fun to play. Playing football during my childhood must be the reason why I like exercising now. The dopamine rush is addictive, and it benefits you in all areas of life. I started studying work out programs quite early out of frustration. Like most teenagers, I used to be quite uncomfortable in my own skin and wanted validation. I started with home workout programs. I kept practicing on and off until college. Mostly off. In college, I joined a gym and did some weightlifting. My year spent in Sweden was the most productive one. I used to wake up at 5 AM three times a week and get a good workout (Stronglift 5x5 program) when everyone was still asleep. I hate crowded gyms. I never managed to persist for more than a month and I am nowhere near the buff version of myself I liked to imagine. Every two to four weeks I spend another three doing nothing. Working out is a habit I just can’t figure out. When you are traveling all the time it doesn’t get easier. You have to find a gym which is accessible, not overly expensive and offering one-month memberships. And not as crowded as you can’t afford to lose too much time. Asian megacity condos typically have a gym and a swimming pool accessible to all its inhabitants, which is nice. You can always find a way to work out from your apartment if you rent one, but it’s always hard to replace pull-up bars with an equivalent exercise. Lifting buckets of water, doing broomstick pull-ups between two chairs, push-ups, pistol squats, lifting pieces of furniture… it’s nice but it’s not viable in the long run. I made peace with the fact I don’t want to grow big. I don’t like stuffing myself to put on some weight. It’s just not my personality. Growing up I learned to accept my body the way it is and to use it to my advantage. I simplified my exercising routine by simply walking, running, biking, or any other opportunity presenting itself. My only motive now is to stay healthy, in both body and mind. The process, rather than the pursuit of a body goal. Just doing something is better than nothing.

A prerequisite to traveling full-time is to have good health insurance. Companies like Safety Wing offer global insurance for digital nomads, but better options might exist in your home country. During my last trip in Asia, I managed to use a clause from my previous student health insurance to obtain global coverage for $20 per month, which was almost 50% cheaper than any online service. Depending on where you are heading to you will also need to renew your vaccines. If you travel on a budget, stay in urban areas and don’t go trekking without protection.