A married couple who both retired at 31 as self-made millionaires had spent years traveling the world — until the pandemic sent them home. Take a look at what life is like for these digital nomads under quarantine.

Hillary HoffowerJun 1, 2020, 23:54 IST

Early retirees Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung are no longer traveling. Instead, they're riding out the pandemic in Toronto.Kristy Shen

Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, a married couple, both retired as self-made millionaires at age 31 to travel the world.
They were staying in Chiang Mai, Thailand, when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
They've since been riding out the storm in their home base of Toronto.
While Shen and Leung no longer have access to foreign culture, their quarantine days don't look all too different from their travel days.

For Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, the biggest difference in quarantine life is location.

The couple, who retired at age 31 from their computer engineer jobs to travel the world, is riding out the pandemic in their home base of Toronto, Canada. It's a far cry from Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they had been staying when the pandemic hit.

But their typical quarantine schedule isn't so unlike their typical travel schedule, which is often centered around wellness, passion projects, and their friends. It just comes with different views.

Shen and Leung still make time to meditate, but now it's with an app instead of on a rooftop with friends. And they still dine on flavorful international food, but now they make it in their kitchen instead of eating out at a street stall. They also carve out time to engage with the early retirement community. But with many of their speaking engagements canceled, they're focusing on their blog, Millennial Revolution, more than ever.

Here's what a typical day in quarantine looks like for Shen and Leung, who have traveled to 40-plus countries, in their Toronto home base.

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Five years ago, self-made millionaires Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung retired at age 31 from their computer engineering jobs to travel the world.

Kristy and Bryce in Japan. Courtesy of Kristy Shen

They were in the midst of a three-month stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they'd been renting a condo for $650 a month, when the pandemic hit in March.

Kristy Shen

Since returning to their home base of Toronto, they've been staying in a $950-a-month Airbnb. But they've still kept with a similar schedule, waking up at 8:30 a.m. every day.

Kristy Shen

Since returning to their home base of Toronto, they've been staying in a $950-a-month Airbnb. But they've still kept with a similar schedule, waking up at 8:30 a.m. every day.

Half an hour later, they brush their teeth, shower, and make a healthy breakfast of Greek yogurt, grapes, and organic strawberries.

Kristy Shen

At 9:30 a.m., Shen and Leung always meditate. But during quarantine, this no longer includes rooftop views views of Mount Doi Suthep. Instead, they use the Insight Timer app.

Kristy Shen

At 9:30 a.m., Shen and Leung always meditate. But during quarantine, this no longer includes rooftop views views of Mount Doi Suthep. Instead, they use the Insight Timer app.

Shen follows up meditation with yoga on her condo balcony half an hour later.

Kristy Shen

After, Shen continues her zen time reading a book on meditation for the next hour-and-a-half — something she did even when she traveled.

Kristy Shen

At noon, Shen and Leung would eat lunch out all the time in Thailand. "Now that restaurants are closed, we've had to up our cooking game," they said. "It's been a huge adjustment."

Kristy Shen

At noon, Shen and Leung would eat lunch out all the time in Thailand. "Now that restaurants are closed, we've had to up our cooking game," they said. "It's been a huge adjustment."

True to their non-pandemic schedule, they sit down to answer reader emails and comments for their blog an hour after lunch.

Kristy Shen

At 2 p.m., they go for a social distancing walk with their friend, Clover.

Kristy Shen

Two hours later, they head back to their condo to write upcoming blog posts. Prior to the shutdowns, their schedule was packed with events that have since been canceled.

Kristy Shen

Two hours later, they head back to their condo to write upcoming blog posts. Prior to the shutdowns, their schedule was packed with events that have since been canceled.

At 5 p.m., they relax with a nice glass of wine on their condo balcony.

Kristy Shen

An hour later, they find themselves traveling through food again as they make Mapo tofu for dinner.

Kristy Shen

Shen reads again for an hour at 7 p.m., but picks up a different book: "Why I Hate Canadians" by Will Ferguson.

Kristy Shen

At 8 p.m., she and Leung sit on the balcony, watch the sunset, and listen to music for an hour.

Kristy Shen

After, they play an online board game: Settlers of Catan. "I manage to trounce Bryce three times in a row," Shen said.

Kristy Shen

By midnight, it's bedtime. "We fall sleep to the bright lights within the concrete jungle of Toronto, dreaming about the elephants, street food, and $10-foot massages of Thailand," Shen said.

Kristy Shen

By midnight, it's bedtime. "We fall sleep to the bright lights within the concrete jungle of Toronto, dreaming about the elephants, street food, and $10-foot massages of Thailand," Shen said.

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A married couple who both retired at 31 as self-made millionaires had spent years traveling the world — until the pandemic sent them home. Take a look at what life is like for these digital nomads under quarantine.

Five years ago, self-made millionaires Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung retired at age 31 from their computer engineering jobs to travel the world.

They were in the midst of a three-month stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they'd been renting a condo for $650 a month, when the pandemic hit in March.

Since returning to their home base of Toronto, they've been staying in a $950-a-month Airbnb. But they've still kept with a similar schedule, waking up at 8:30 a.m. every day.

Half an hour later, they brush their teeth, shower, and make a healthy breakfast of Greek yogurt, grapes, and organic strawberries.

At 9:30 a.m., Shen and Leung always meditate. But during quarantine, this no longer includes rooftop views views of Mount Doi Suthep. Instead, they use the Insight Timer app.

Shen follows up meditation with yoga on her condo balcony half an hour later.

After, Shen continues her zen time reading a book on meditation for the next hour-and-a-half — something she did even when she traveled.

At noon, Shen and Leung would eat lunch out all the time in Thailand. "Now that restaurants are closed, we've had to up our cooking game," they said. "It's been a huge adjustment."

True to their non-pandemic schedule, they sit down to answer reader emails and comments for their blog an hour after lunch.

At 2 p.m., they go for a social distancing walk with their friend, Clover.

Two hours later, they head back to their condo to write upcoming blog posts. Prior to the shutdowns, their schedule was packed with events that have since been canceled.

At 5 p.m., they relax with a nice glass of wine on their condo balcony.

An hour later, they find themselves traveling through food again as they make Mapo tofu for dinner.

Shen reads again for an hour at 7 p.m., but picks up a different book: "Why I Hate Canadians" by Will Ferguson.

At 8 p.m., she and Leung sit on the balcony, watch the sunset, and listen to music for an hour.

After, they play an online board game: Settlers of Catan. "I manage to trounce Bryce three times in a row," Shen said.

By midnight, it's bedtime. "We fall sleep to the bright lights within the concrete jungle of Toronto, dreaming about the elephants, street food, and $10-foot massages of Thailand," Shen said.