When I moved to Lisbon, people assumed it was the fix—that all my struggles, stresses, and challenges would somehow disappear with the change of scenery. But that’s not how life works. The reality? All my problems still exist. Building an online business is no easy feat, and I still face the same hurdles every day. But the biggest shift I’ve felt is how I respond to it all. I don’t get as worked up or triggered by the small things anymore. I have more mental capacity—more space to actually handle things without feeling like I’m drowning. And most importantly, it has allowed me to view everything differently.
When you live like I did—constantly working, constantly stressed, always feeling like you need to do more—you can’t have perspective. And perspective is everything. Without it, even the smallest setbacks feel massive, and the smallest health to-dos feel like an impossible hassle. And here’s the thing—I still have the same 24 hours in a day. But I feel completely different. Back home, I could work 16-hour days and still feel like it wasn’t enough. Now, I work efficiently, take care of myself, and if something isn’t working out? I shrug my shoulders and move on. It is what it is.
I don’t have to sacrifice myself to do good work or to enjoy my extra time. When you clear space for yourself, when you stop living in constant stress and pressure, suddenly, the things that once felt impossible just become part of your life. That’s the real takeaway. If you don’t create space for yourself, don’t expect to ever feel truly healthy; mentally or physically. Moving didn’t solve my problems, but it gave me the room to handle them differently. And that has made all the difference.
