Digital Nomad Lifestyle: How Sara and Ryan Turned Wanderlust into a Lifestyle

What happens when a Swiss backpacker and a British road-tripper meet in Bali and decide to build a life on the move? You get Across Every Border—a bold, heart-led project born from adventure, curiosity, and a shared desire to live life differently.

In this candid interview, Sara and Ryan open up about the highs and lows of becoming full-time digital nomads, the challenges of working as a couple, and their mission to help others do the same.

Whether you’re dreaming of quitting your 9-to-5, or just curious about what life looks like when your office fits in a backpack, this story is packed with real talk, practical advice, and plenty of inspiration.

Get ready to dive into a world where every border crossed is a new beginning—and every decision is driven by freedom.

Sara and Ryan Digital Nomad Lifefstyle Interview

1) Can you introduce yourselves to our readers? Where are you from, and what inspired you to become full-time digital nomads?

Hello there! We’re Sara and Ryan, a digital nomad couple who met in Bali and have been traveling the world together ever since. I (Ryan) am originally from the UK, and Sara is Swiss. We both lived in our home countries until around 2017/18, when we decided to leave everything we knew behind and start exploring the world.

I flew to Australia and spent 16 months road-tripping around that massive country. Sara, on the other hand, went a bit rogue—she threw herself into the deep end and backpacked around India for an entire year! After India, she spent a few months in Sri Lanka before gallivanting along the Banana Pancake Trail in Southeast Asia.

It was during these travels that we first noticed groups of people spending a lot of time on their laptops in cafés. We later discovered these were digital nomads—people working remotely while traveling the world.

We fell in love with the idea of exploring the globe full-time and set our sights on joining this community of “weirdos.” What could be better than expanding your mind by hopping from culture to culture, learning about different countries, and earning money at the same time?

2) What motivated you to create “Across Every Border,” and what are the core objectives of your platform?

Across Every Border was born toward the end of 2023. It’s a brand that Sara and I run with the aim of inspiring others to travel and/or become digital nomads. The reason we pour so much of our time and energy into this business is because we know that many people dream of a nomadic lifestyle but have no idea where to begin.

For us, it was tough being back in our home countries after traveling, surrounded by people who couldn’t understand our goals or ambitions anymore. Everyone around us was settling down and buying houses, while Sara and I were saving for the next big trip—with literally no one around us who could relate.

So, Across Every Border became our online space—a safe haven where nomads and aspiring nomads can come together and connect with like-minded people. Our core mission statements are:

• To become the leading digital nomad resource, providing in-depth guides and recommendations for choosing nomadic bases or planning future travels.
• To support aspiring nomads by offering help, advice, and accountability to ensure they succeed.
• To foster a community that reflects our core values: a safe space where nomads can ask for advice, meet in real life, find friends, and help each other stay motivated in both personal and business goals.

3) As a couple traveling together, how do you balance your personal relationship with the demands of managing a travel blog and social media presence?

This has definitely been one of our biggest challenges. It’s incredibly hard to draw the line between business and personal life.

Even when we go out for a nice dinner, the conversation somehow always circles back to business! So, we’ve had to create a few boundaries to make sure our relationship thrives:

• We have a weekly date night every Wednesday, and we take turns organizing it as a surprise for the other. Talking business is strictly off-limits—that’s a hard rule!
• We’ve developed a daily routine that works for us. After dinner, it’s no-work time (unless there’s an urgent deadline). We’ll watch TV, play a board game, or just relax together doing something non-work-related.
• We agree in advance whether a trip is going to be a “vacation” or a “content trip.” When you run a travel brand, it’s easy to see every life event as potential content, but sometimes we just need a weekend away—phones down, work off.

4) Your content focuses on affordable destinations and expert travel tips. How do you research and select the locations you feature?

We produce a lot of destination content and recommendations—after all, we’re full-time travelers, so it’s hard not to share! But we do intentionally focus on affordable nomad-friendly destinations. That way, our content resonates with our audience and remains relatable for other digital nomads.

Choosing a location to feature usually just means selecting a city that’s already popular within the nomad community. Lately, we’ve spent time in Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok. Next up, we’ll be visiting (for the first time!) Tirana, Seville, Tbilisi, and Bansko—all favorite hubs for nomads.

5) What challenges have you encountered as digital nomads, and how have you adapted to overcome them?

One of the hardest parts of adjusting to the nomadic lifestyle is learning to be your own boss. As freelancers and business owners, no one’s telling us when to show up for work or when projects are due. We have to find the motivation within ourselves to get things done.

In the beginning, that was tough. We had no self-discipline. Living in Bali as new nomads, we were living the dream on a paradise island—and we got swept up in it. We’d constantly go out for meals, take spontaneous beach walks, or party three nights a week.

After nearly a year of that, we realized we needed structure—crazy, right? People dream of escaping the 9-to-5, only to realize they need to create their own version of it. So that’s what we did. Sara and I decided that Monday to Friday (and sometimes Saturday) is strictly work-focused.

We follow a routine of work, gym, and home each day, and then let ourselves unwind on the weekends. Getting back into a routine was a total game-changer for our productivity and our business.

6) Through your experiences, what advice would you offer to others aspiring to adopt a digital nomad lifestyle?

Similar to our routine advice, we’d tell people to be prepared to work—and work hard. Especially if you’re trying to grow as a freelancer or start your own business. The money won’t just show up; you have to earn it. If you want the digital nomad lifestyle to work for you, you have to show up and work for it every day.

This is especially true in the beginning when you don’t yet have much of a portfolio or client base. It’s easy to let the travel side of things take over the business side—but the key is learning to say no when needed. That waterfall will still be there next week; it’s okay to go see it another time. As your workflow becomes more systematic and your reputation grows, your schedule will open up, allowing you more time for adventure.

7) How do you utilize various social media platforms to engage with your audience and share your travel experiences?

Our primary social media platform has always been Instagram. While TikTok is more explosive in terms of growth, its algorithm can be unpredictable for travel creators. Instagram, on the other hand, might grow more slowly, but the community you build and the engagement you get tend to be stronger and more consistent.

On Instagram, we focus on delivering valuable information for aspiring and current digital nomads. Plus, we like to think we’re kind of funny! In our Stories, we love sharing the behind-the-scenes of our nomadic life. It’s a great way to show the real lifestyle—not just the glossy highlight reel you see on everyone else’s page.

We also recently launched our podcast, Nomad 101, which is something I (Ryan) have wanted to do for a long time. In each episode, Sara and I dive deep into different aspects of the nomadic lifestyle—discussing destinations, how we travel, how we find accommodation, and more. We also bring on guests who are either nomads themselves or live unconventional lives.

We hope their stories offer insights into the different paths people take to become digital nomads, because no two journeys are the same, and no two people do the same kind of online work. Hopefully, it helps aspiring nomads feel inspired to dream big and build the life they really want.

8) Looking ahead, what are your future aspirations for “Across Every Border,” and how do you envision your journey evolving?

We just hope to stay true to the mission statements we mentioned earlier. The more people we can help achieve a nomadic lifestyle, the more fulfilled we’ll feel in both our lives and our work.

Right now, we’re writing a book to help people build their own “Nomadic Roadmap” (maybe that’s the title 😉) and turn their goals into reality.

We also want to launch and grow the biggest online community for digital nomads outside of Instagram. A space where people can meet like-minded friends in real life, ask for advice, join live workshops with industry leaders, and more.

Finally, in the more distant future, we want to host group retreats. These will cater to two audiences: one for aspiring nomads who want to discover their passion and learn how to achieve location independence—with workshops and guest speakers—and one for established nomads looking to connect, co-work, teach, learn, and create unforgettable travel experiences together.

Thank You, Guys!

Thank you, Sara and Ryan, for sharing your story, your insights, and your contagious passion for life on the road.

If this interview sparked your curiosity or fueled your own dreams of becoming a digital nomad, be sure to follow Across Every Border and join their vibrant community:

🌍 Website – www.acrosseveryborder.com
📸 Instagram – @acrosseveryborder
🎙️ Podcast – Nomad 101 on Spotify
💬 Facebook Community – Digital Nomad Collectives

Whether you’re planning your first big leap or you’re already living the nomadic dream, Sara and Ryan have created the perfect space for you to connect, learn, and grow.