Interview with Bold Journey: We were lucky to catch up with original digital nomad Kate Hammaren, a freelance writer and editor, about how a devastating redundancy was actually the best thing that could have happened to her career and how it meant she could take the plunge, travel the world solo and set up her two businesses, working from anywhere. We share our conversation below!
February 2025
Kate, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community, as layoffs have been on the rise recently and so we’d appreciate hearing your story, and how you overcame being let go?
"Being made redundant was the worst thing that could happen at the time, but actually the best thing that could have happened in the long run! I was in my early 30s, had bought my first flat and bang! The company I worked for went bust.
It was terrible timing for me, having just signed up for my first mortgage – the fear was real and my confidence was knocked.
I didn’t want to start the whole job hunting process, it all seemed so overwhelming and unexciting, so I signed up as a temp for a few months just to tide myself over. But motivation to sort something more permanent was seriously low. I knew I wanted to remain as a writer and editor, and that was about it.
However, once I’d got over the initial shock and was becoming seriously bored with the temp jobs, I began to realise that this was actually the perfect opportunity to intentionally take time out from my career and do the one thing I’d never had the chance to do: travel the world solo!
Bantayan Island, Philippines
And so six months later, my flat was rented out, my backpack was packed and I set off on my first six-month solo backpacking trip around Asia, and then the world. Best thing I ever did!
I came back a new person, with a vision to start my own freelance writing and editing company, specialising in luxury and adventure travel. And here I am 12 years later, still working for myself and doing what I love!"
Thanks, so before we move on, maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
"I’m a self-employed freelance writer and editor, and founded my first business, Kate Hammaren Writing & Editing in 2013.
I specialise in luxury and adventure travel, however have a wide range of freelance writing and editing projects under my belt, from luxury skincare and cosmetics, to finance, equestrian and more.
I’ve mostly written for the ranch vacations industry since 2010 and absolutely love it as a very unique niche. I offer my clients writing, editing and proofreading services, and this can include anything like blog projects, web copy, press releases, media articles, email campaigns – the list is endless, wherever there’s writing, I can lend a hand.
Digital nomading in Sri Lanka
After my first solo backpacking trip around the world, I realised I wanted to work for myself somewhere tropical so I could live a simple life in the sun, scuba diving and adventuring. So I set up Kate Hammaren Writing & Editing in the UK, and then set off with my trusty backpack again to find a spot in Asia to call my home and kick-start my freelance writing business.
I ended up spending seven amazing years living in the Philippines where my business slowly grew, and I enjoyed lovely days on the beach and in the ocean. I absolutely adore being able to do what I love and am good at for work, and being self-employed is absolutely the best thing in the world.
I have some amazing long-term clients who’ve been with me since I founded my freelance business and my work has taken me to some incredible places around the world, like Montana, Wyoming and Mexico.
Exploring Montana with Top50 Ranches
I also absolutely love being able to work anywhere in the world – as long as there’s WiFi – and have frequently opted out of UK winters in favour of sunnier climes!
Since I returned to the UK in 2021, I decided I wanted to try Vanlife and never looked back – I’ve lived in my campervan Sadie ever since! This allows me to travel and work freely, and in 2023 I set up my side hustle, WKD House & Pet Sitting which ties in beautifully with my nomadic lifestyle."
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
"1) Working as Assistant Editor for Horse&Rider Magazine (the UK’s number one equestrian monthly) in my early 20s really honed my (already strong) writing and editing skills (I was never a mathematician!!). Magazine content had to be polished to perfection and this really gave me a keen eye for great detail when it comes to writing, editing and proofreading.
2) Taking the plunge and hitting the world for my first-ever six-month solo trip was initially one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. However, I instantly got the travel bug and had the time of my life. So much so, I did it all again a year later and then spent seven years living my best life in paradise. Having this much travel under my belt and living in a developing country has meant I have a wealth of now innate knowledge about travel and other cultures and ways of life, especially solo female travel. Perfect for my preferred writing niche!
3) Spending so much time travelling solo really made me confident in myself and I think that really helped give me the boost to set up my own business, and work solo, too. A lot of my fellow freelancers really miss the office life, but as a writer, I absolutely adore my solitude, I can really focus on what I’m working on!"
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
"Working for yourself means you have to wear ALL the hats – not only do you do your actual job (writing and editing in my case), but you have to be the marketing manager, the social media manager, the accountant, the boss, the designer… the list goes on! So it can often feel very overwhelming if you’ve got a full client list with lots of lovely work, too.
To help me prioritise and manage any feelings of overwhelm, I love to write lists and tick things off. I find actually writing them (rather than having them on your phone or computer) helps relieve the mental load and I always feel lighter after completing a to-do list.
I also outsource projects that I feel are not worth my time and energy. For example, each year I employ accountants to do my taxes as I’m not great with numbers, the very thought of it fills me with dread and overwhelm, and I know I’d sit there for hours getting really stressed about it, just to save some money. I quickly learnt that those hours could be spent earning the money and ticking off mine and my clients’ to-do lists, while the experts deal with my affairs professionally and quickly! It’s always more cost-efficient, too.
I also find if I’m struggling with a project and I’m not on a deadline, that parking it for the day and going for a walk in nature, then sleeping on it almost always makes it 100% easier to tackle quickly the next day."
Read original Bold Journey article here
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© Images Katehammaren.com unless otherwise credited
Author: Kate Hammaren, Freelance Writer & Editor
Get to know Kate here
