- Ruth Faulkner was working up to 60-hour weeks when her marriage ended and she then became pregnant.
- She decided to make a change, start her own business, and begin a new life in Australia.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ruth Faulkner, a 34-year-old digital nomad based in Australia. It's been edited for length and clarity.
I'm a digital nomad currently based in Adelaide, South Australia.
I trained as a journalist in London and started my career reporting at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016. I moved into content for Accenture and then joined a creative agency called Tonic, first as an account director and then as head of content.
In December 2023, I started my business, Toucan Content, specializing in content and communications strategy.
My marriage fell apart in 2022, and work became difficult
Two years ago, I dealt with my marriage ending while trying to show up daily for my large portfolio of clients at Tonic. I decided not to take leave when I probably needed to.
I was working to distract myself from my personal life. I even took on additional after-hours study of an MBA essentials course to secure my role on the senior leadership team.
I hit a wall and sunk into a frozen depressive episode. One day that December, I woke up and couldn't get out of bed or stop crying. I finally decided to take two weeks of mental health leave and start counseling. Most importantly, I gave myself some space to acknowledge my feelings.
The next challenge hit just as I was getting my feet under me
In March 2023, I had an unplanned positive pregnancy test result. At that time — unhappy, unwell, living in a shared house, and not in a long-term relationship — the decision to have an abortion was clear.
I chose what was right for me and my body, but the process was mentally draining.
After so much had happened so quickly, I needed change. I had spent my entire career putting all my energy into working for others. I often worked 50- 60-hour weeks and neglected any concept of work-life balance.
My last day of corporate work was in December 2023, and I began working for myself.
I decided to move to Australia
I grew up in a working-class background on the Isle of Wight. Coming from somewhere so small, seeing the world became a big priority as I became financially secure.
Between the ages of 22 and 30, I traveled to over 30 countries, most of which were with my ex-husband. Now, I want to travel solo.
I have very close friends in Australia, so I decided to move there to be with them in January. Finalizing a divorce, starting a business, moving across the world — dealing with just one of these things is emotionally and mentally exhausting. Facing all three felt like psychological overload at times.
This transition has been difficult but exciting. It feels like a new chapter of growth after trauma and disruption.
I took my business with me
I'm on a working holiday visa, which is easy to manage. Working for myself still requires energy and long hours, but only I determine the flow of my days.
One of the hardest things about dealing with the last two years was feeling like I couldn't speak openly in the workplace for fear of being judged or seen as unprofessional. Living with pain and trauma in secret makes you feel even more alone.
Now, my business values are being human and open in communications. I share my story regularly, and my clients work with me knowing exactly who I am and what I stand for.
I have three freelancers who work with me part-time and wider freelance contacts I can embed into my team if a particular client project requires it.
There is no typical day
I live with my friends in Port Noarlunga near the beach. There are some cultural differences between the UK and Australia, but they've mostly felt minor. I think the stand-out one is a positive in that Australians seem to respect and embrace work-life balance.
I start my day late and slowly, catching up on all the emails and messages from overnight. I'm often undisturbed during the day.
Often, at about 3 p.m., I take a break and go for a walk on the beach before the UK gets online. In the evening, I take calls and meetings with the UK, collaborating with my clients and partners. I try to wrap up by 10 p.m. I've always been a night owl, and this suits me perfectly.
Part of becoming a digital nomad is trying to see more of the world, and I try to embrace this by prioritizing time outdoors and exploring.
I'm unbelievably happy with my life change
I feel like I've embraced and accepted myself instead of trying to fit into a box.
I do miss my family. My parents live in France, my grandparents are in the UK, and my friends are across Europe. With the time difference, cost, and time required for travel, Australia can feel far away from everything, but so far, my life here outweighs this.
I'm the best me now. It feels like I was always supposed to do this. I know there are tough sides to running a business, but autonomy has been the most joyous thing. The 9-5 schedule is not conducive to feeling energetic to me. Work flows with my energy more naturally now.
As for what's next, I plan to go to Bali in 2025 and train to be a yoga teacher. I also hope to travel around Australia and the Asia Pacific more widely.