Since we have been in North Carolina I (Judy) have developed a routine of walking when I wake up in the morning. Sometimes I will listen to an audiobook or music. Other times I will use that time to reflect on the previous day or think about the day ahead. It is 40 minutes a day that is mine. It is my routine. Just about every day I meet some friends along the walk. The deer seem to have an early morning routine too.
When we packed up everything to travel full time, we were not sure how it would work out.
Our lives in Atlanta were predictable for the most part. We had routines. During the week we would
- Wake up around 6 a.m.
- Get ready for work and school.
- Eat breakfast.
- Drop the kids off between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- Commute to work.
- Pick kids up by 6 p.m. or earlier if they had activities.
- Make dinner and eat dinner.
- Finish homework.
- Go to bed.
- Repeat.
This past year has proven that all four of us are adaptable and resilient, but there is comfort in a routine.
Even when we fast-travel we have routines like brushing our teeth, reading, or talking before bed and eating our meals together.
When we slow travel, we set up more routines. The kids have a weekly formal learning schedule they can look at. This allows them to start work on their own and check off tasks when they finish.
We try to plan many activities in advance for the week ahead. We build in reading and outside time for all of us each day. We are more productive when our weeks have some sort of shape to them.
One thing we do not do, unless we are traveling or have an early activity, is to set an alarm. Waking up naturally has been great for us. In Nicaragua, the boys and I would get up with the sun, between 5:30 a.m and 6 a.m. most days. Now we usually get up around 7 a.m. Michael sleeps in a little later, but he is normally up by 8:30 a.m. We have less grumpy mornings when people can get up when their body tells them to get up.
Being nomadic does not mean we have to give up routines or stability. We just have more flexibility. We love that about our new life.
