Welcome to The Wellness Tourist, thanks for stopping by ♡

I’m Catrin, a former burned out lawyer turned wellness travel enthusiast! ⚡

The Journey

In my previous life, I spent years confined to dreary cubicles, staring at computer screens all day, and dealing with mind-numbingly tedious legal documents 💤

Time seemed to move in reverse, and the Sunday Blues were all too real.

I was also in the worst shape of my life and wellness wasn’t even on my radar!

Associate Life

The words of Jonathan Foreman* perfectly capture the experience:

Capricious tyrants roamed the hallways, the terrifying reality behind the movie ‘The Revenge of the Nerds.’ Those who flourished in the system were almost always monsters, twisted into Balzacian shapes by the struggle for power. The office was a petri dish for the growth of abnormal psychologies…

Fun times, as you can imagine! 🥳

Digital Nomad Dreams

As the years went by, I yearned for more freedom and flexibility in my work and personal life.

I’d always been passionate about exploring new horizons, and so the idea of being able to work from anywhere really captivated me.

But there was just one slight👌 problem…

Pre-pandemic the idea of a lawyer working ‘‘remotely’’ was seen as a far-fetched dream.

Then the big C came along 🦠 and we all had a little more time on our hands…I felt like this was the perfect time to save some money and plot my escape from this world I couldn’t imagine a lifetime of!  

In all honesty, I didn’t know where to begin. I couldn’t find an Idiot’s Guide to leaving the law office behind and becoming a digital nomad!

Nevertheless, in 2021, I decided to take my parachute and jump while I still could. I quit my law office job. I was determined to figure it out as I went along.

Byeee to Law Firm Life 👋

I started off this new phase of life by trying to make myself as broadly employable as possible. So, I went back to school and gained a Masters in Strategic People Management.

I knew EXACTLY what I didn’t want to do, but wasn’t 100% sure of what I actually wanted to do at this point, so, I felt like a catch-all kind of qualification would serve me well in this new flexible lifestyle.

Ultimately, gaining this qualification led to my next adventure!

Upon graduation, in 2022, I moved to Dubai and this is where I quickly discovered the world of wellness, from Yoga Retreats to Wellness Spa Experiences & even Biohacking!

As cliche as it sounds, the pandemic really taught me that life is short and the world is wide. I was determined to keep my flip flops on and make my dream of a remote lifestyle a reality 👣

But I wasn’t really sure of what a lawyer can do in the digital world. After all, we really have a reputation for being technophobes! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Business Ventures

Ultimately, I did some serious up-skilling and started my own legal-tech business offering affordable and revolutionary legal services, delivered straight to your inbox! 🚀

This has enabled me to work all over the world, from the spice plantations of Zanzibar to the powdery beaches of the Maldives!

On this journey I’ve traveled to places I’ve always dreamed of visiting, and have met incredible people along the way.

So, why settle for a life that’s anything short of extraordinary?

Becoming a digital nomad has been an extremely rewarding journey. It hasn’t been easy (is anything?!), but by developing my digital skills, building my network, and embracing a different lifestyle, I’ve been able to make the transition from being a lawyer to a full-time digital nomad.

I’ve finally found a way to work on my own terms, and by incorporating wellness into my life and travel adventures, I’m finally in the best shape of my life (both physically and mentally!)🧘‍♀️⚡💪🤸🏻‍♀️

The moral of the story is that difficult and unconventional roads often lead to beautiful destinations, meaningful connections, and deep personal growth!

So, if you’re thinking of making the leap, I strongly encourage you to take the first step – it might just change your life ✨

FAQ’s

Here’s a summary of some of the top questions I constantly get asked since launching this new lifestyle!

What’s left on your ”bucket-list”?

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list! 🗺️

Below are the top 10 experiences I’d love to do some day:

➳ Living in Japan 🥢 🍣

➳ Road trip all around Australia and New Zealand 🦘🥝

➳ Exploring Bora Bora and some lesser-known islands in Tahiti 🌺🥥

➳ Peru – mainly for the adorable alpacas! 🦙

➳ Uzbekistan looks fascinating! 🇺🇿

➳ A Digital Detox in Micronesia 🌿

➳ More of Africa (Cape Town, Madagascar, Socotra & Reunion Island) 🦋

➳ Vermont in Fall 🍂

➳ A Norwegian Cruise 🚢 🏞️

➳ Antartica ⛄🌌

What’s on your bucket-list? I’d love to know! Let me know in the comments! 🌎

What made you create the Wellness Tourist?

Although my profession is primarily in law, for as long as I can remember, my true passions have been writing, travel, and photography. Then, when I went on my journey of self-discovery, I became more invested in mindfulness and wellness focused travel.

I noticed that wellness travel seems to be more popular than ever in a stressed out world, with more and more travellers seeking a new kind of break.

Previously, my travels were a little crazy and always way too rushed, as I was constantly trying to tick as much off the bucket-list as I could. Then, when I really thought about it, I realised that this isn’t the most enjoyable or most sustainable way to see the world.

I basically created the Wellness Tourist to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and experience this amazing planet, but do it through wellness focused experiences.

The goal is to help people ”Travel Well”, with adventures that leave you feeling inspired and refreshed, not exhausted and frazzled 😌

Of course, wellness can mean different things to different people. This could be booking a digital detox trip, where you have an energising escape experiencing mother nature. Or, it could mean self-care at a luxury spa hotel, or, perhaps even a wild goat yoga retreat!

The options are endless, but the common theme running through it all, is that when you invest in wellness focused travel, you usually learn more about yourself and are left with a renewed sense of purpose. At the very least, you should come home feeling totally revitalised and with a full cup 🌿🤍🧘🏽‍♀️🌙

I want to make it clear that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and there is no ‘right’ path to follow in the adventure of life. Of course you need to make money to live and travel well, but above all, it is so important to look after yourself and invest in some self-care.

So, be sure to travel well and do what sets your soul on fire!

Best places you’ve ever visited?

Florida is my all fave time place and my dream is to retire here one day!

I can’t explain exactly why I keep returning, but it’s probably got something to do with the permanent sunshine, all-round good vibes, and the amount of sharks you can see here (I’m obsessed 🦈!)

The Galapagos Islands are also somewhere I’ll never forget – you truly have to see the otherworldly landscapes here for yourself!

Favourite hotel in the world?

This is a hard one, as I’ve been fortunate enough to stay in some incredible places… But if I had to pick, I would choose either Atlantis (Paradise Island) or SAii Lagoon Maldives (Curio Collection by Hilton)!

I could go on about them all day, but in short, they are sooo worth splurging on because:

✔ They’re both in unbelievably stunning locations and surrounded by water (from infinity pools to the turquoise sea)

✔ Both hotels have an amazing spa and wellness facilities

✔ The food is super high quality

✔ They both offer something for everyone to enjoy (in pure luxury)!

If I find anywhere else that compares to these two epic places, I’ll be sure to add it in here, but they set the bar super high!

How long do you spend in each destination?

We usually spend a few months in the UAE for the permanent sunshine, amazing food, and endless things to do. Then, around 2-3 months in Jersey to be with family and friends. Finally, we explore new places for the rest of the year!

We tend to spend at least a few weeks in each new place, as slower travel is the best way to go when you’re building different businesses. Plus, it’s way kinder on your health and wellbeing!

We give ourselves time at the weekends to explore wherever we’re staying and usually a couple of hours each day to do a bit of sightseeing or self-care (i.e. hitting the spa!)

Best Wellness Travel tips?

I generally put all my wellness travel tips and guides in this blog and in my email newsletter, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already! 😉

Any passions besides wellness travel?

Besides Wellness Focused Travel, I’m a coffee addict and dream of opening an Instagrammable coffee and co-working space someday…

But for the time being, Arabica % will do!

That’s it for now – be sure to keep up with adventures on Instagram!! 🌿

Or, feel free to ask me more in the comments 🫶

*Reference: Foreman, J. (1997) ‘My life as an Associate’, Politics and Law. Available at: https://www.city-journal.org/html/my-life-associate-11959.html?wallit_nosession=1 (Accessed: 20 February 2023).