After my last blog — written mid-flight, leaving LA for Porto — I settled in for my first proper stretch as a digital nomad. Porto is a lovely city, with good people and an easy rhythm that suits me. It is a step forward: a base for now, but with the freedom to spend time elsewhere too — the US to see my kids, Europe with family, and Latin America and Asia in time.

My routine in Porto is simple. I work from my apartment — not quite as early as in LA because it isn’t needed, but I’m up around 6am most days and often start with a walk. My day usually wraps up around 6:30pm, finishing later than I’d sometimes like because of US calls. I run along the river three or four times a week, and train at a great local gym with a trainer three times a week. It’s a routine that works for me: work, exercise, good food, great company, time to think.

What I love about this life is the blend of new and familiar. Porto feels fresh and grounding all at once. I like having a base — somewhere I can return to, unpack a suitcase, and build habits that stick. And yet, I also like knowing that I can pick up and go spend time somewhere else if I want to.

Since that first month, I’ve been on the move. I spent three weeks in LA with my kids, then a week in the UK with them, a week in Spain with my son, a week in southern Portugal with him, and then another ten days back in Porto together.

Working while travelling has its challenges — the biggest is getting into a different routine every time. My days look different when I’m travelling on my own versus with my kids. My daughter is a morning person, my son is an evening person — so I fit my work around them. If we’re on holiday together, I keep calls to a minimum. I still work, but I’d rather be present than on Zoom all day. When I travel alone or for longer stretches with my kids, I slide back into my normal rhythm, adjusting for time zones and what else I want to do in that place.

One of the things I enjoy is spending extended periods of time with my adult kids. We all have work to do, but I can shape my schedule to make the most of our time together. It’s not one big thing — it’s all the small moments that add up.

I’m realising that different parts of this life take conscious effort. A base helps. Family time needs to be built in, not squeezed in. Fitness doesn’t happen by accident — I plan my workouts six weeks ahead. It doesn’t mean I can’t move things around, but if I didn’t plan, I’d fill my days with everything else. What gets planned gets done.

Next up? I’ve got another 6 weeks in Porto coming up — a month with my daughter — then 10 days with my son somewhere in the world before he heads back to college. September will be a bit of everything: more Porto, time in the UK with family to celebrate my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary, and the Berlin Marathon — first step towards my goal of the 7 World Marathon Majors.

I haven’t decided where October and November will take me yet — maybe Thailand, somewhere that balances fitness and a good setup for working and living well.

I’m learning that building a life like this doesn’t just happen by chance. The things that matter — time with family, keeping healthy, doing meaningful work, and still having fun — they all need intention. If I plan it, I do it. And I’m alright with not having it all mapped out yet — as long as I keep making space for what matters most.