“Where are you based?”
“When do you head home?”

I still fumble through the answers to these questions after shows. Throughout the year I tried not to use the word “homeless.” More like “home-free.” Usually I mentioned something about two full-time bands and it not making sense to pay rent anywhere, but I’m still not sure most people fully understood what it meant.
No closet. No address. No bed. No desk. No nightstand. No junk drawer…
Just minimal clothes stashed in different places in the country, and a daily attempt to make a new place feel like a home.

I’ll be forever changed from this year, for the better. I’ve learned an infinite amount about myself, my resilience, and how I intend to live my life going forward. I’ve had some very humbling moments, and also some very empowering moments, none of which would have happened without taking the risk, and all will greatly impact the rest of my life.

Most notably, traveling full-time meant the lack of any true ‘rest days.’ Constantly navigating new locations, people, feelings, and situations was a mental and physical challenge, and this led to my coping with a slight feeling of ‘overwhelmed’ at all times. Looking back, I’m not sure I ever had the ability to fully unwind. All this said, it meant I had no choice but to develop certain strategies and regimens to make life livable. Reflecting on all the many experiences of this year, here are the lessons and non-negotiables that I’ll take with me forever (along with pictures from some of my favorite destinations):

1. Sleep is king.

There is nothing more important than sleep. Period. If I expected to keep up this pace and continue to do my job well, sleep had to be a priority. This sometimes meant shorter workouts, not posting as often, or politely declining after-party invites. It also meant seizing opportunities to sleep-in late and not feeling guilty about it. This was a hard one for me to fully believe and adopt, but it’s made a world of difference. More tips for self-care here, and if you’re not convinced, read Matthew Walker’s “Why We Sleep.”

2. Savor routines.

“Live every day like it’s your last” is a beautiful sentiment that also leads me straight to burnout, especially when you’re in new places most days. I would put daily pressure on myself to try the best local spots, capitalize on every experience, and pack as much into a schedule as I could, but that just wasn’t sustainable. I had to let go of this unrealistic standard and let some days be low-key. I savor my morning routines, pre-show rituals, the occasional chain restaurant, and have found peace with the fact that I won’t fully experience every place I visit. That would be an unachievable quest, anyway. (More here) Permitting slow days gives me the energy to fully appreciate the exciting ones, and having some consistency in my life frees my mind up to tolerate the daily uncertainty and newness.

3. Make plans but embrace changes.

If there’s one thing that is incredibly consistent about travel, it’s the lack of consistency. Plans are always changing, which is uncomfortable, but lacking a plan creates its own problems as well. Now I decide on a loose outline of the day the night before, but acknowledge from the start that the universe may have other ideas, and they may be better. (More here.) This is a key lesson I continue to use every day of my life and wouldn’t have learned so unquestionably without this year.

4. Recognize overload.

I am an HSP (highly sensitive person) to begin with, so experiencing this much newness on a daily basis can quickly become exciting to the point of discomfort and exhaustion. Often I don’t have the time to properly process and reflect on an experience before the next amazing encounter is occurring, which causes me stress. I’ve learned to carve an hour or so of quiet time every day to journal, look at pictures from the day, and attempt some mindfulness. This was often on a flight, in the van, or in my hotel room before bed.
More on over-stimulation here.

5. Accept help.

I learned quickly not to be the hero. I can’t make this crazy journey happen alone, and it would be silly not to utilize the amazing team of people ready to help. When my tribe offers to make me meals, house me, drive me places, carry gear, etc… I learned to happily say YES. You have all risen up to make this adventure possible, and I hope you know it didn’t go unnoticed. I’ll spend my life looking for opportunities to help you in return. You’re all invited to the eventual housewarming.

6. Stay present.

Don’t look too far ahead, because it doesn’t exist yet. Yesterday doesn’t exist either. Now does. I actively tell myself to bring my mind back to center, because I won’t want to have spent a current experience worrying about the future or dwelling on the day before. Whether it’s a monument, landscape, or beautiful meal… after I take my pictures, I put my phone in my pocket and quietly breathe for a minute or two. I leave the experience feeling like I gave it proper respect and with no regrets. Some days this feels nearly impossible, but I’m always glad I did. Continued reading on this:
drriift.com: Savor the Journey
Eckhart Tolley: The Power of Now

7. Stay grateful.

Traveling is stressful, and there are days that the negative outweighs the positive. No way around it. But zooming out to “helicopter view” and reminding myself of the countless privileges and gifts I have in my life quickly puts it all into perspective. I find myself often saying “these are amazing problems to have.” (More here.) Every day I list *out loud* several things I’m grateful for, and most days I practice ‘rapid-fire gratitude’ during my morning cold shower. It’s become an enjoyable routine: I say ‘thank you’ for everything that comes to mind as quickly as I can. Usually starts with “Thank you for this day. Thank you for this shower. Thank you that I can feel this cold water. Etc.” (Try it- it’ll change your day! You can skip the cold shower part.)

8. Relationships are everything.

I didn’t truly understand this until this year. I thought I did. More in my next and final “official travel year” post.

Talk soon, drriifters 💙🌏💨
Diana