Review of 2024: homebound for most of the year

Last year was tough. I had grand plans to travel and work in different locations.

But my health deteriorated even more than the years before, forcing me to slow down.

2024 became the year that I surrendered

I stopped trying to ‘hike myself back to health’ because it seemed to make my condition worse. I quit making appointments with friends because I had to cancel most plans. I even stopped my Wanderlust Daydreaming because what was the point of it? After every slight exertion, I became seriously ill.

My Nomadic Earning adventure also got paused

It was hard enough to ensure that I stayed committed to my work as a Virtual Assistant between my numerous forced resting times during the day. But this VA work, combined with Crypto and Forex Trading, allowed me to take time to recover and work as little as possible. So, blogging, building my new website, or opening my Etsy shop had to wait.

Accepting the situation as it was, the start of my healing

Longcovid taught me to take it as it is.

This was a hard lesson for me. I was used to beating myself up, trying a bit harder, and denying my body the rest it needed. It didn’t work for years, but I wasn’t ready to give up my approach—until I got stopped by my own body. After a period of anger, frustration, and grief, it brought me peace of mind. Well, at least most of the time 😉

Cat Sitting in Holland instead of Interrail through Europe

Although I had to cancel many of my plans, being able to work location independently still came in handy. When my pet-loving friends went on a holiday, I could stay in their comfortable homes with great gardens in Leiden and Haarlem. It was maybe not as exciting as going solo on an interrail tour, but it was a welcoming change of scenery for me.

I worked or traded a few hours daily and spent the rest of my days with a book and a cat in the garden. On days when I had a little extra energy, I even went sightseeing.

My locations of 2024: Working from Home reinvented

Where did I go last year?

I spent much time in Cadzand, an excellent place to recover, relax, and work.

Cat sitting in Haarlem and Leiden were both great experiences.

We went to Portugal twice for six weeks, in winter and autumn. Both times, I was pretty ill for a few weeks, but I enjoyed my time there anyway.

Knowing the town and having our place makes everything easier, of course. Now we even have two desks and multiple screens to work with!

We started our day at the terrace of the local bakery. Outdoor living is what I enjoy most about Portugal.

We went to Greece in May. I didn’t do any sightseeing or hiking this time, but sitting on the rooftop of our apartment or the terraces of local coffee bars lifted my spirit. Great food anywhere around us also helped!

Maybe it was not the most adventurous year, but I am grateful for all the great places where I could work and recover. It is good to know that I have several home bases.

What about 2025? Is Wanderlust back on the menu?

Maybe, but not as before. I still have to listen carefully to my body’s boundaries. I don’t have to rest six times a day anymore, but I will not go back to pushing myself over my limit, ruining my health.

I will take the lessons Longcovid taught me with me. Accepting what is.

Luckily, I started dreaming again, making tiny secret plans for our next Portugal trip—at a different pace than before. And that is okay with me.