There’s a familiar scene that keeps repeating in my life lately:

A small room. A half-zipped backpack. My laptop balancing on a bed or a makeshift desk. A passport pouch tucked safely away, checked on far too often. I have been on the move—travelling, nomadding, slowmadding, houseguesting—for the last 18 months...

This time, I’m back at my parents’ house in the UK after three months in Oman. There, I had structured days, my own space, the rhythm of gym, yoga and intention. Now, I’m surrounded by piles of clothes, books, and bags. My life, in motion. Again.

And still—I choose this.

Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s hard.

Because there’s a kind of freedom in it. A kind of truth. A me.

✧ Packing Light: Midlife Minimalism in Motion

Once upon a time, I had a house full of things. A stable career. A good salary. Clothes for every season. Dinners out. A life that looked well-put-together from the outside.

Now? I carry what I need:

• My laptop
• My passport
• HRT medication!
• Workout clothes
• My yoga mat
• A journal
• A few well-loved (and well-worn) clothes
• My swimmers
• My sunglasses
• A hat and sunscreen

And clarity. That’s the real luggage.

I've traded material things for meaning. I’ve gone from owning a beautiful house in Australia to living out of a backpack. This nomad lifestyle over 50 isn’t about lack—it’s about living with intention.

It’s not a path everyone would choose—and that’s okay.  And sometimes i do wonder what I am doing to be honest, but its a passing thought.

What matters most is that your outer life reflects your inner values.
For me, right now, this is what alignment looks like.

When I pack now, I don’t just pack for the weather.
I pack for the woman I want to be in the next place.
What am I going to be doing there?
And more interestingly—what should I pack for that I might not yet know I’ll be doing?

✧ Routines on the Road: Finding Stability in Change

Living with family or friends might sound cushy, but let’s be honest—it often strips away your sense of routine. (Though I’m incredibly grateful for the love and space they offer me.)

There are trade-offs:
Your food changes. Your sleep is disrupted. Your environment shifts. Privacy is limited. And suddenly, your habits unravel.

Solo travel in midlife, ironically, offers more stability.

I set my own wake-up time. I choose how and when to move. I eat foods that support my energy, digestion, and mood—especially important in midlife, when our bodies become more sensitive to food, change and stress.

In Oman, walking was nearly impossible in the heat, so I joined a local gym.
Now that I’m back in Europe—after a short stop in Amsterdam and now in the UK—I walk daily and practice yoga wherever and whenever I can roll out a mat.

It’s not perfect. But it’s mine.

✧ How I Stay Grounded While Traveling in Midlife

One of the most powerful habits I’ve developed as a midlife traveler is checking in with my energy.

Before I move from one place to another, I ask:

• Why am I going there?
• What’s the purpose of this chapter?
• What do I need to feel grounded?

In our 50s and beyond, the body and spirit ask for more care.

There’s a shift—a sensitivity to change, a need for alignment, a deeper craving for intention.

I’ve given myself this space in midlife to reconfigure how I live, where I live, and why I move at all.

And a big part of that—something not many women speak openly about—is aging parents.

If you’ve moved far from your family, as I have, navigating your freedom also means staying available for the unexpected. Global living and caregiving in midlife are not easy to balance. But it’s possible when you design a life with flexibility and purpose at its heart.

And that’s part of my purpose.

✧ Why I Choose Freedom Over Familiarity in My 50s

Yes, this life may look dreamy on social media.

But behind the beach photos and temple backdrops is a woman learning to live with far less.

Less routine.
Less certainty.
Less stuff.

But also—more clarity.
More presence.
More peace.

Someone said to me recently, “You seem really calm. Have you always been like this?”

I smiled. Because the truth is: no.

Two years ago, I was anxious. Tightly wound. An over-functioning high-achiever holding up too many responsibilities. This life—the messy, minimalist, midlife version of it—is slowly showing me who I really am.

✧ Building a Business While Living Out of a Backpack

These days, I don’t have much—but I have enough.

Enough calm. Enough curiosity. Enough connection.

I’m creating a business that helps other midlife women explore this same kind of transformation—one that goes far beyond holidays or bucket lists.

Because solo travel in midlife isn’t about escape.
It’s about remembering who you are.

If I can live with less, live in motion, and still feel rooted in purpose, maybe others can too.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to start walking.

✧ Final Reflection: What Would You Choose If You Weren’t Afraid?

This life isn’t always comfortable. But it’s mine.

I’d rather step into uncertainty than stay stuck in a cycle of familiarity that leaves me feeling bored, boxed in, or burnt out.

And if you’re reading this, maybe you feel it too.

Maybe you’re craving something more grounded. More real. More aligned.

You don’t have to live out of a backpack to reclaim yourself.
You don’t need a plane ticket to rewrite your story.

But you do need the permission to want something more—and the courage to take the first small step toward it.

Because sometimes, the real transformation begins not in motion—but in the moment you decide to listen to the quiet voice saying:
There’s more for me than this.

Maybe, like me, you’re discovering that a smaller bag—and a bigger sense of purpose—might be the most empowering trade you’ll ever make.