From vision to reality: Our start into vanlife

After more than 1.5 years of conversion, the time has come – we're on the road in our van! 🚐✨

After a short tour of Germany, where we also met offline with our team for the first time, our first big trip was now upon us: Canary Islands, here we come! 🏝️

How did the desire for van life come about?

I knew very early on that a traditional 9-to-5 job wasn't for me.

It wasn't because I was lazy—quite the opposite. Growing up with only my mother, I learned to take care of myself early on. Even while I was still in school, I held several jobs at once.

My motivation was that I had no safety net. This also taught me independence early on. I had to figure out how to finance my studies and all my backpacking trips myself. But my deep-rooted adventure gene also meant that every now and then I simply set off into the world with little money and slept on strangers' couches—yes, I was always different somehow. 😅

And that was also a deep driving force: I realized quite early on that I was different. While others dreamed of owning a home and getting married, I wanted to work remotely. I wanted to surf, explore the world, and live my life to the fullest.

The idea of ​​living and working in a van had long fascinated me. The prospect of waking up to the sound of the ocean, exploring new places, and combining my work with my passion for freedom made me increasingly determined to pursue this lifestyle.

Now to finally live this long-awaited dream feels simply surreal.

Oh yes—having a dog was also a long-held dream. Schmello now lives that lifestyle, too—whether he wants it or not. 😅🐻‍❄️

5 insights that brought me here

🏁 Define goals

If you don't know where you want to go, you won't get anywhere. It was always clear to me: freedom and self-determination come first. Once I became aware of this goal, it became easier to stay on track. The clearer your goal, the easier it is to stay focused.

But defining a goal isn't enough—you also have to visualize it. I often asked myself: What does my perfect day look like? What makes me REALLY happy? These questions helped me find my path.

💨 Find your why

After graduating, I felt completely lost and fell into depression. It was a tough time, but looking back, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Crises force us to realign our compass. No matter where you are right now, difficult times are often the beginning of something new. Believe me, they have a purpose!

During this time, my why became clearer than ever: I wanted to shape my own life instead of just following a pre-determined path. I wanted to work remotely while pursuing my passion. Without this crisis, I might never have dared to actually take this path.

🪩 Have the courage to be different

You'll never be truly happy if you only live by external expectations. I've learned that it doesn't matter what others think—as long as I'm happy with my own decisions. When you find what truly fulfills you, live it without compromise.

It takes courage to swim against the tide. People around you may not understand why you want something different. But in the end, it's your life. Ask yourself: Do you want to live your life according to the expectations of others or according to your own ideas?

🧹 Clear the space – inside and out

Separate yourself from what weighs you down. Do less of what's not good for you and more of what strengthens you. It sounds simple, but it's often incredibly difficult – especially when it comes to people who are no longer good for you. But as soon as you let go, you make room for new people and opportunities that truly suit you.

A minimalist lifestyle can be incredibly helpful. Living in a van means focusing on the essentials. Every item has to have real value. I've learned that fewer possessions also means less stress.

🌈 Work hard

There are no shortcuts to success. "There's nothing but hard work." Everything has its price – and if you truly want to achieve your goals, you have to be willing to pay it. Without commitment and discipline, no one will get where they truly want to be.

We often only see the highlights of successful people—but what we don't see are the years of hard work behind them. If you want to live your dream, be prepared to work for it. But the good news is: When you do what you love, hard work doesn't feel like a burden, but rather like an investment in yourself.

My game changer: Visualizing goals

One thing that has helped me tremendously is writing . I used to keep track of my goals in a journal – this year I've been using Fivory for this . It helps me not only write down my goals, but also visualize them: I add pictures, reflect regularly, and check where I'm at.

Visualization is a powerful tool. Imagine your ideal life as often as possible. Write it down. Make it tangible. Because when you have your dreams clearly in mind, it becomes much easier to make them a reality, step by step.

If you want to learn more about visualization, I recommend Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich ." It has had a profound impact on me, in some ways, when it comes to clearly formulating my goals and visualizing them regularly.

So, now I'm living my dream. Does that mean everything's suddenly perfect? ​​Of course not. With every new environment, new challenges arise—but that's exactly how you grow. And let's be honest, old problems are boring—at least new ones bring a breath of fresh air into chaos central! 😆

What I learned along the way

1. Flexibility is key. There are always unforeseeable challenges – be it with the van, the weather, or the internet. But that's exactly what makes it an adventure.

2. Less is more. In a van, you have limited space – and that makes you more aware of what you really need.

3. The best moments are often the simplest. A sunset on the beach, a coffee overlooking the sea—these are the things that truly make you happy.

4. You grow with challenges. No matter how well you plan, something always goes wrong. But that's exactly how you grow.

Do you also have a dream that you've been putting off for far too long? Start step by step, visualize your dream life, work hard, and most importantly: never give up.