It’s been a couple of months since I’ve returned home and parked my van in the drive way. And being off the road has given me the time to reflect on lessons that I’ve learnt from living van life. As well as what I will do different when it’s time for my next van adventure.

Daily routine

For many of us, traveling is a way to escape the daily routine of our lifes. But when traveling for months on end, lacking a routine can have a devastating effect. Especially when you have a full-time job to do.

I can honestly say that routine and structure was pretty much non-existent during my recent travels. Work hours, mealtimes and sleep were all irregular. 

Most mornings I’d drive off with only a cup of coffee in my stomach, and not until early evening would I realize that I’d had nothing to eat during the entire day. At which point I had been out and about sightseeing or doing other activities for most of the day. 

The lack of routine also meant that I had no set working hours. More often than not I’d start working late, at which point I was already worn out from the day. In turn, the late working hours also meant a late bedtime. 

Routine and structure is often the difference between a successful work-life balance or burnout. And I now realize I was very close to the latter.

Healthy habits

Planning and structuring your day is the foundation to healthy habits. But there’s more to it than that. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy and exercise is as we all know other major building blocks. 

Sleeping in a van

Sleep can be a tricky thing when living in a van. First you need to find a good place to park for the night. Preferably a spot that’s flat, quiet and feels safe. And if you do find a spot that checks all the boxes, chances are that other people will too. Which can lead to other cars and camper vans pulling up in the middle of the night.

Cars and camper vans arriving in the middle of the night was something I experienced several times. On some occasions it also made me feel uneasy, making it hard to go back to sleep.

So even though you might have every intention of a good night’s sleep, van life does require some flexibility and adaptation.

Exercise on the road

The area where you’re parked can also affect your daily exercise. Many times I found the roads to be busy, big or curvy and therefore not suitable for a walk or run. In some parts of the world – such as Sicily – I also found stray dogs and guard dogs to be a serious concern, making me hesitant about exploring smaller roads. 

That said, exercise should be a priority as van life by default requires a lot of sitting down. And if you have a job like me, you’re likely to spend many more additional hours on your bum.

Healthy eating

One might think eating healthy is an easy thing while being out on the road. But food choices can be limited depending on where you are. Depending on the van, it can also be hard to stock up on fresh vegetables. In fact, it can be hard to stock up at all given the limited space.  

Having a smaller campervan with limited storage and a small fridge, I must limit my purchases. And because of that, more often than not, I felt as though I was in a constant search of a supermarket. 

This doesn’t take away from the fact that healthy meals can be cooked in your van. But just like home, you need to plan ahead.

Embrace adversity

Being away from home makes everything more nerve-racking. So when the window gets smashed in Pisa, your battery goes dead in Southern Italy and your oil filter needs a change in Switzerland, the original excitement of the trip can feel like a nuisance instead.

But even if things feel overwhelming, it’s all part of the adventure. Even though it’s easier said than done, try to embrace the adversity.

Take your time

If you’re a restless soul like me, you want to get around to see and do as much as possible in as little time as possible. But constant traveling will wear you out. It will also set you back financially. 

Instead of bouncing from place to place, settling into one place for a few nights at a time will help you find that important work-life-travel balance. Your money will also last longer. 

Weather, weather, weather

Before starting van life, I researched what other van lifer’s found to be the most challenging with the lifestyle. Among the top challenges were rainy days. And now I know why.

Italy has always been one of my favorite countries. But I’ve always visited during the summer. Winter is a different story. Rain and storms were frequent. And being stuck in a van when it’s raining non-stop for several days is enough to make any sane person go insane. 

One final important lesson learnt – at least for me – is that van life requires good weather. 

But even you got the above covered, loneliness can hit even the most independent traveler. If that’s you: