How I Quit Working 9–5 And Started The Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Since 2017 we have traveled the world.

When I was still stuck in the matrix, I was not happy. In fact, I was miserable. Perhaps none of my friends could have known that back then. I smiled when I could and brought a lot of bubbly energy to the table, especially during my teen years and in my twenties.

In my early thirties, I met my soulmate — call it destiny.

Since finding my better half, everything changed.

I discovered the strength to finally quit my very well-paid and successful full-time/all-in position at a large radio station in Austria and became a self-employed, not-so-well-paid yoga teacher. Without his support, I don’t know if I would have ever dared to take this risky step.

I didn’t plan for this. It just happened.

I didn’t have a side hustle prepared to take over my income and cover costs, nor did I have a real plan for what I was doing. I only followed my heart.

I remember the day I quit like it was yesterday. I had just finished my first 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Ashtanga Yoga in Thailand, and it profoundly changed me.

During this intense yoga course, I thought about giving up. It was challenging for my body and mind. Back then, I didn’t have much of an Ashtanga yoga practice. To be honest, I had none. Until then, my only experience was with Sivananda yoga, which was very different from Ashtanga yoga. But I didn’t give up; I battled through it and learned so much about the body and mind in those few weeks.

I had time to meditate intensely for the first time in my life, in the middle of the jungle in Thailand, and I became aware of my deep unhappiness.

It might sound odd, but during my time as a 9–5 slave in the matrix system, I didn’t have much time to contemplate what I really wanted from life. Years flew by quickly. During the week, I worked in the office, and on most weekends, I worked at events.

Because of my job organizing, hosting events, and selling advertising space, there was a lot of partying and alcohol involved.

Alcohol was damaging my brain cells, and I experienced mind fog without even noticing it. It’s easy to see that now with a clear mind, after years of inner journey, psychedelic treatments, microdosing, and meditation practice. But back then, this was my reality, and it seemed normal to me — everyone around me was the same.

So, back to how I quit my job.

My boss announced taking away my best client — I mostly worked in sales during the week. He explained it was to motivate me to balance out the other employees in the sales department who hadn’t achieved their yearly goals yet. I was his best horse in the stable, and he relied on my abilities. I found it quite unfair as this meant a big cut in my salary. I had disliked the job since I started it. It paid well, but was it worth the price and the competition that I had to experience? The next day, I decided not to go to work. I needed time to reflect. I felt like a badass not going to work.

One day later, I walked into my boss’s office with my resignation letter.

He tried to retain me with a better salary and allowing me to keep my best client, but my decision was firm — I quit.

My hands were shaking, and my stomach felt uneasy; it wasn’t an easy step, but I did it.

After quitting my position, I focused on documenting my work and helping my replacement settle into her new role.

The first day of my newly achieved freedom arrived. I didn’t have a job anymore. I felt relieved but also uncertain about what would happen next, a feeling I hadn’t experienced since finishing university.

I felt excited for the unknown.

This was the first step to becoming a digital nomad, and I’ll always think back to the day I quit my well-paid full-time position in the matrix. From that day on, I was free.

I didn’t have as much money at first, but I wasn’t anybody’s slave anymore.

I could do whatever I wanted. Yoga and meditation were catalysts for this change, so I thought, why not make this my main income as well? My partner and I started organizing yoga retreats in the Alps, teaching classes, and offering 1:1 sessions.

Today, we are both 500 RYT (registered yoga teachers with more than 500 hours). Over the years, we’ve focused more on 1:1 sessions as they are the most efficient. This way, we can design individual workout plans and help people on a deeper level than in a yoga class with 20–30 people. We also began generating online income from vlogging and blogging.

Our finances weren’t always great, but I never regretted quitting my 9–5. It was one of the best decisions of my life.

My partner and I started living and working abroad, experiencing different countries and cultures. We became parents for the first time in 2018 and again in 2020.

Today, I’m grateful to say we are a Digital Nomad Family.

We spend 24/7 together, supporting each other, and are ready for any adventure or challenge that life might throw our way. We faced challenging years, like the COVID year 2020, when I was pregnant throughout most of it, with no option for us to give birth in an overcrowded hospital due to the virus.

We experienced two wonderful water-home births. We grew together as a couple, as best friends, as soulmates. We went through an awakening phase together before becoming parents and we grew even more as parents.

My life is full of magic, adventure, and travel, and it all began with this one simple yet simultaneously frightening step: Quitting my 9–5 and jumping into the unknown.

If you’re unhappy with your life, it’s time to make a change. You can’t expect anything to change if you don’t alter your daily habits and routines.

I’m not saying it’ll be easy, and I’m definitely not saying you won’t have to face challenges. You might have to navigate a very dark period, but you’ll emerge as a better and improved version of yourself. It’s so worth it.

Happiness and peace exist beyond our comfort zone. The deeper we fall, the higher we can rise.

You can do anything. Stay strong, stay brave.

Namasté

Your Alina

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