The road to inspiration: how van life unlocked my creativity and helped me build a meaningful career

I’ve been back in Noosa for almost a year now, and it's hard to believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like just yesterday that I was living in a van and travelling around New Zealand, exploring new landscapes and meeting new people every day. Now, as I sit at my familiar desk, surrounded by the trappings of daily life, that time feels like a distant dream – a world away from the reality of my current existence. And yet, the lessons and experiences of that year on the road continue to shape my life, my work, and my perspective in countless ways.

In this blog, I want to share with you some of the insights I gained from my time living in a van, and how those insights have helped me to thrive in the midst of the chaos of modern life. Specifically, I want to talk about how taking breaks from the world and spending time in nature can help to refresh and inspire us in our daily work.

As I reflect on my vanlife time, I'm struck by how transformative the experience was. It wasn't always easy – there were times when I felt homesick, or tired, or overwhelmed by the constant change of scenery. But despite the challenges, I wouldn't trade that year on the road for anything.

One of the most remarkable things about living in a van was how it forced me to simplify my life. With limited space and resources, I had to learn to live with only the essentials – and in doing so, I discovered just how little I actually needed to be happy!

I learned to appreciate the beauty of a simple meal, a good conversation, or a stunning view. And in the process, I found that my work with my clients actually improved – with fewer distractions and fewer material possessions to worry about, I was able to focus more fully on my clients' needs and goals.

But perhaps the most profound aspect of my time on the road was the sense of freedom and possibility that it brought. As I travelled through New Zealand, I felt a sense of open-endedness and infinite potential that I'd never experienced before. Every day was a new adventure, a new opportunity to explore and discover. And with that sense of possibility came a renewed sense of creativity and inspiration. I found myself coming up with new ideas and approaches to my work that I never would have thought of in a more static, traditional setting.

Of course, I recognize that not everyone can or wants to live in a van for a year. But I firmly believe that there are ways to incorporate the spirit of nomadic living into our everyday lives – to simplify, to seek out new experiences, and to connect more fully with nature. Whether it's taking a day off to go surfing - which I love! -, or simply going for a walk on the beach or in the park after work, there are small steps we can all take to break free from the chaos of the world and reconnect with what's truly important.

So if you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uninspired, I encourage you to take a page from the nomadic playbook. Simplify your life, seek out new experiences, and connect with nature whenever you can. I can't promise that it will be easy, or that it will always be comfortable. But I can promise that it will be worth it – that the sense of freedom, possibility, and creativity that comes with living on the road is truly priceless. And who knows – you might just find that you're better equipped than ever to tackle the challenges of your work and your life.