The Joys of Jet Lag with Kat Medina

Kat Medina
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Jenn: Hey everyone and welcome back to the Travel Mug Podcast. So, so many of us, and like myself included, feel like our best selves when we're traveling. And like, it's so nice to feel disconnected from like the stress and the monotony of our everyday lives. I often come home wondering how I can kind of translate that into my everyday life and I feel like that It maybe happens for like a couple of weeks and then you kind of like sled back into some old habits for sure. And like for a lot of us travel is only a really small percentage of our time, but Living in the moment shouldn't only happen after we've hopped on a plane. So today we are chatting with Kat Medina. She's an entrepreneur, adventurer, public speaker, and author of The Joys of Jet Lag, how to use a traveler's mindset to not be an a hole in daily life. Which I have right here, of course. I finished it recently. Welcome to the show, Kat. I'm really excited to chat with you.

Kat: Thank you. Thanks so much for having me on.

Jenn: Yeah, so of course we have to start with what started your love for travel. I always love hearing people's kind of travel origin stories. Oh,

Kat: So, it's hard to say if it's nature or nurture, but, my mom tells this story that when I was three, I asked well, she asked what I wanted for my birthday. Apparently, I said I wanted, uh. piggy bank that was also a globe, so that's some sort of foreshadowing, but I, I grew up just wanting to be this explorer.

Uh, when I was a kid, I wanted to be MacGyver when I grew up, who also traveled the world and, and explored, and that's what I daydreamed about instead of Getting married and having kids and stuff. I just wanted to see the world. And then when I was 17, I participated in a study abroad program in France for six months. So it was my first solo trip and to a place where I didn't speak the language. And that's really what, like, I think the travel bug was there all along, but that's when it was like, there's no turning back from here. Cause it was so challenging, but it made me feel alive. And after that, I was hooked.

Meggan: What was your biggest lesson from that six months at 17 years old that maybe you didn't expect going into that?

Kat: you know, there were a lot. One was I attended a French high school when I was there. And I realized that world history changes depending on the country that you're learning it in. And so just learning, you know, a different perspective on the United States and other countries and basically for the most part you could say that when you're learning world history That in whatever country you're in, that's the protagonist for the most part. And so kind of being awakened to that, that, you know, that can change depending on where you are and also that there's a different way to live a life. And it's not that it's the right or wrong way. It is just different and there's more than one way to go through it. So that realization was really huge. I think it gave me. A lot of empathy and also, um, just going through with that challenge where I didn't know a soul and leaving there with this whole new life created friendships that I still maintain, you know, more than I think like 20 years later, um, it just gave me a lot of trust in myself that I can do really hard things and even if they're uncomfortable. it's it's on the other side of that learning curve and growth that I feel the most alive.

Meggan: And that's really interesting too, because 17 is really young to have those like big life lessons, and so that's really incredible. I spent a month in France by myself when I was 28 and that was scary enough, um, going over there, not knowing anybody, but I can't imagine at 17, but it sounds like we've sort of both had some pivotal time in France.

So that's interesting. Now how did that love of travel turn into a mindset for your life? So was it a gradual transition for you or one day you were like, wow, everything I've learned from traveling can be used for living. Or most things or some things like how did that sort of happen?

Kat: it was gradual and abrupt, both like so many things. Like for most of my life, I feel like I've been two different people. Um, when I traveled, I was my best self. Like you were saying, you know, I've lived in multiple countries, Ecuador, Argentina, France, and Spain, and traveled pretty extensively. And I noticed that whenever I was abroad, joy was effortless.

And also this knowing like that I was exactly where I was meant to be doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. And it just felt like I naturally embodied the characteristics that I was most proud of without an effort. And then I returned home and all of those feelings, especially the, the The feeling that I was doing what I was meant to be doing, but they would just evaporate and it, I was like filled with doubt.

Am I doing the right thing? Cause I, I don't feel like I'm living fully here. And so I, like most of us try to control the uncontrollable. I get frustrated when things didn't go as planned and probably worst off, I stopped appreciating the simple things like clean drinking water, a hot shower, even though I knew firsthand just how rare those things were in so many parts of the world and so many places I'd been.

And so I focused on the next trip and start planning, working and going through the motions so that I could feel fully alive again. And then one day I realized that as much as I prioritize traveling, I still spend most of my time at home and it felt like such a waste to spend my days wishing I was somewhere else instead of enjoying where I was. So a couple of years ago, I made it my mission to try to bridge the gap between my best self, my travel self, and who I was at home. And what I realized is it all came down to mindset, a traveler's mindset, because when I was abroad, that person, that mindset was effortless. So that was a huge win knowing I already somehow knew how to be that person. It was just a matter of looking at those characteristics and applying them to daily life instead of just when I was abroad. And by taking that effort and getting really clear on the differences in behavior and attitude and perspective, I was able to tap into that joy, that mindset, no matter where I was.

Jenn: that's awesome. And so how did it turn into, uh, The Joys of Jet Lag. Like, how did you decide, Oh, I should write a book.

Kat: Well, I felt like Even though out of my, most of my friends, I, I was, um, kind of the outlier, the person who lived to travel. Um, but you, when you're abroad, you meet those people everywhere you look. And, so I knew I wasn't alone in this and I felt like, okay, I'm going to write about this in hopes of providing people with simple, but impactful strategies. That they can use on the day to day to experience more joy, awe, adventure, instead of just when they're on vacation. And most of us in the United States only get like a couple weeks of vacation each year. And , even if you're not like a person who's a digital nomad or someone who prioritizes traveling during those, that short amount of time that you're on vacation, everyone knows that feeling. When it's like everything just melts away and you're able to be spontaneous and patient and outgoing and get to know people and be curious. And so I felt like this book would provide people with tools to tap into that, regardless of whether they're standing in line at, at a Trader Joe's or whatever grocery store or watching the sunrise over the mountains of Nepal.

Meggan: Right, right. I, I would honestly take either, 'cause we don't have Trader Joe's here, so I would, I would 100% take the line if I had to. Like, I'm just gonna be really honest, I love Trader Joe's. And we do live in a fast-paced world with. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, constant access to news and distractions. One of the big themes in your book is mindfulness, gratitude, and slowing down. I think that's even so much more important now as the world sort of goes in the direction it's going in. So how have you been able to adopt this in your everyday life as an entrepreneur and parent and just being busy in general?

Kat: so some of the things that have helped me most is, trying to break free from autopilot. Like in the book I call it asshole autopilot. And it's when we just do what our brains are intended to do. And that means look out for anything dangerous and ignore everything else. And it's great for staying alive, but horrible for being present.

So I try to force myself out of that and notice whenever I fall into that habit of like, Too much routine. I'm getting too caught up in my schedule to be able to pause and have a random conversation with a stranger, a non creepy one, of course that's important,

Meggan: Those are best. Yes.

Kat: yeah. Um, I think that, you know, giving yourself space from efficiency and slowing down, like you said, I think that. I used to try to rush through all of my have tos so that I could get to the want tos and right now I have a one year old and a three year old and I want to spend time with them, but there's so much to do. So I try to be like, you know, this multitasking machine get through it as fast as possible so that I can enjoy the moment and I noticed that like 80 percent of my time, my day, is filled with have tos and that's just the way of life.

And so that means I'm rushing through like 80 percent of my life. So how can I tap into presence? And tap into a traveler's mindset on the things that I don't enjoy. Like an example, I hate putting on duvet covers. It drives me nuts. Like tying the things and buttoning it. It's just like

Meggan: It's unrealistic.

Kat: Yeah, it's awful.

And you can't really be efficient at it. I've gotten as close as possible, but I had to like just a few weeks ago, my son had like a stomach bug, the youngest. And he, I was holding him on the bed and he like threw up all over like me, my phone, my Kindle, worst off the duvet cover. So I had to wash it and it was just sitting in a pile and I'm normally a person who does laundry like immediately just to get it done with that one sat there and I was like four days and I'm like, all right, enough is enough.

I'm putting this thing on. And my boys were playing like in the same room as me. And instead of rushing through it, I just kind of, I noticed, I, basically the best way to be present is tap into your five senses, what we learn in kindergarten, you know? So I, I was like, Oh, what do I smell? See, hear, feel. And I felt like the fabric, the softness of the duvet cover and didn't rush it.

I listened to my boys playing and it felt effortless. And it also felt like a key that I was missing. Cause I just think so much of life is made up of those moments. And when you try to get through it as fast as possible to get to the good stuff, you end up missing the good stuff.

Meggan: Yeah. Something you said there about, you know, in regards to those of the senses and, and, you know, being alive is one thing, but living is a different thing and how you incorporate that into actually living your life instead of just going through your life on autopilot and routine. And I think that, you know, those little moments that you just mentioned with the duvet cover are, They're like canon events almost in terms of, wow, this is such a simple task.

Or not so simple, but it's an everyday task or a household chore that you take the moment to really, you know, get into or reflect upon. So that's really beautiful actually. Thank you for sharing that.

Jenn: Yeah. I think also one of the things, um, from your book is sort of the idea of this like morning power hour and how you can kind of use your morning to set you up for the rest of the day. And that's something that I've been thinking about a lot too, as, um, obviously like there's a lot going on online and there's a lot of big feelings about what's going on online and that I'm consuming that like, like literally immediately after waking up, like laying in bed and scrolling and it's like, okay, I, I actually love laying in bed and scrolling, but maybe I should scroll something else. So, um. Like read a book, like grab my Kobo instead of my phone and that sort of thing.

So that's definitely something that I've taken from your book and I'm starting to incorporate into my life so that I'm not just filling my brain with doom and gloom, like two seconds after waking up, uh, one of the things I also want to mention from your book that I love is, This sort of recap at the end of the chapters with the takeaways the jet lag toolkit and sort of like bringing together everything that you've said in that chapter and sort of like reiterating it.

I think that's a really good, feature of your book and also a good way to, if you own the book, to go back and remind yourself of how you can actually cultivate the traveler's mindset, because sometimes you're just like, yeah, yeah, okay, yes, I should be more grateful, but like, how? And, um, making sure you use those, um, tools as well.

Kat: It's a, that's a selfish feature. Cause I need the reminder as much as any of it's like, what did I write about?

Meggan: be selfish, but obviously it's a share for the rest of us as well. So thank you. Selfish but not.

Jenn: yeah.

Kat: You know, in, in what you were saying, Jenn, like. I've been grappling with that too, with like so much negativity that is bombarding us and it all feels really urgent and really important. And it's just this really tough, fine line of balancing, staying informed and also like protecting your mental peace and everything.

And I'm like trying to figure that out right now. . What I've been trying to do is I have really limited the amount of time that I spend getting that information. And I know that if it's really, really pressing, my friends are keeping me informed

Meggan: Someone will tell you.

Kat: will find out about it, but I, it's tough because I'm kind of in a bubble. I'm in this small mountain town. Outside there's like beautiful woods and a river right down the way. And it's very peaceful and calm at the moment. Like, um, we do struggle with wildfires, which can be scary, but right now the sun is shining and there's birds chirping and it's peaceful. And so in being present, when I read these things that really terrify me, for the current and future state of my country and the world, what does this mean for my boys? Like it's scary. And Yet I look out the window and right now everything's fine. So like informing and then trying to be present in what's right in front of me. And I know that this is a privilege because right now what's right in front of me is all right. It's okay. But I find that that's helped me to not, uh, get too drained too quickly and fall into despair. And the other thing that helped is, recognizing what I can do in this stage of my life. Like right now it's kind of all hands on deck in toddler hood of how much time, energy, and attention I can give to any one thing. , and so like, I feel like at this stage in my life, the way for me to make an impact isn't necessarily through, you know, trying to run for office or maybe doing marches or organizing big things. It's just, it's not feasible for where I'm at. And so I have to look at what can I do right now? What's what's calling to me, because what calls to you is where you'll find energy too. Not what should I be doing? And so, um, just an example is. The other day I reached out to, like, all of my mom friends that I know here and was like, Hey, like, would you guys want to meet up once a month and we chat just concerns about climate, but also like current future state of the country and the world where we can share our concerns, our resources, our anxieties. And some good news, like end it with some something good that we noticed so that, yes, we have that space to vent our fears and angers, but that it also ends on a note that hopefully energizes us and lets us know, like, we're not alone in this. And. There is hope, uh, and kind of tapping into that has been helpful. And, it's all I can do right now is connect with others. And I, I don't know, I figure like each person has their own thing, but that's been what's helping me right now.

Jenn: for sure. And that's really good advice is that, you know, at one person, we can't change everything obviously, but we can change something, even if it's just, um, a little thing. But, uh, yeah, I think that's really important to realize. And I want to talk about to you in your book. Um, like we've said, a lot of people are kind of like existing in our everyday lives, but part of your book is like dreaming bigger, dreaming for more. And I think a lot of people are like, I don't even know how to do that. Like how do I even start daring for more? So how did that kind of process kind of work for you?

Kat: It started for me, which is like, I, I used to have a pretty regular journaling habit and that's kind of shifted the last couple of years finding time for it. But what I did is just create space. To be free from distractions, which is actually harder than most people realize this day and age. Like usually there's always something podcast, uh, audio book, news, and even music, there's always something and, or the people that are around us. I feel like the only time nowadays that we aren't getting like our attention grabbed it is maybe when we're in the shower. Like not even the toilet is safe anymore. A lot of it's going to decompress in more ways than one. But, um, I just creating space for you to let your thoughts go and daydream and imagine what could be possible. It's so helpful. I know a lot of us now because we're so used to the instant gratification of a lot of like social media or whatever. It feels really boring. And, um, what I've known from growing up when I did, you know, being born in the eighties. Like before internet and when boredom was very prominent, is that just on the other side of boredom is where creativity, curiosity, wonder, and imagination all live.

And you have to prioritize that space because otherwise it'll never come to light. And so, is huge to write down just anything you want out of life and try not to limit yourself. A lot of us Try to mute it. I don't know, maybe for fear of disappointment or seeming silly that you want something so big. But when you do that, then you just make it even bigger and kind of rid yourself of the limitations that you're just creating in your own mind.

Meggan: Yeah, I, I was born in 76. So I'm Gen X and I miss being bored. I, I really, I miss and I miss not having anything to do and therefore having to get out and find something to do rather than just picking up my phone or turning on Netflix or whatever the case may be. So as a kid, much like I believe yourself as well, I sported a mullet too.

Um, And I, I distinctly remember when I knew it was time to grow my hair out. Like, it is a canon event of my own is when I was like, this isn't, this isn't right anymore. Um, and I also loved MacGyver. Richard Dean Anderson was everything. , so talk to us. much like you were actually sort of just touching on as well.

Talk to us about how resourcefulness in particular has benefited your overall well being and ability to have joy. I think you can probably touch a lot of people with this answer because I think finding joy and all the things we've talked about that might be swirling around us is very key right now.

Kat: Um, so a lot of it started just when I was a kid, my parents got divorced when I was three. And then it was like chaos ensued from That time until I was 18, I moved 20 times. Uh, and a lot of it was because of my mom, you know, attracting the wrong guys and us having to do fresh starts. But some of the homes that we, I went every other week between my dad's house and my mom's house.

And like my dad's house, uh, was usually more consistent, but he ran his own business. So he was rarely there and I would just spend afternoons, evenings, nighttime alone, usually with my dog, uh, wandering the woods behind my house. And then at my mom's house, it would change. It was just constantly moving.

At times we were living in like rat infested trailers or one point in sixth grade, uh, we were between homes and living in a tent on the beach. And luckily I was, I was an adventurous kid. Um, and So I kind of thrived in it, but there were, as I get older, I've kind of put down the rose colored glasses. And now I see some of the things that I adopted to survive as a kid.

I've outgrown and now they're kind of damaging. And so it's like addressing that, like this hyper independence, this stage of my life, I'm now learning like. Asking for help is brave and like connection is key. Like I know I can get through it alone, but I don't want to anymore. , and as a result of this kind of chaotic, crazy, at times, very scary upbringing, um, I tapped into my imagination and did have to do some fast thinking, there was a lot of luck involved in different situations.

Um, Like that actually let me get through them, but it, it forced me to level up. And as much as I am still dealing with some of the effects of it, um, overall, like I wouldn't change it because it, I think that fed that desire to see the world and also gave me the confidence to go anywhere by myself, anywhere in the world and know that I will do it.

And. I used to joke that I was more comfortable outside of my comfort zone. And I really think that the more time we spend outside of our comfort zone, the more rich and deep our life will be.

Jenn: I love that. Um, so like we've, I don't know if we've mentioned, but you've traveled to more than 35 countries. Are you able to pick a favorite or maybe like top three?

Kat: And it's such a hard question,

Jenn: I

Kat: but I have, uh, I I've learned an answer that helps me, so I'm going to choose a continent.

Jenn: Okay.

Kat: Um, South America is way up there and that's one of those places. I feel like everyone. has a spot that they've always dreamed of going. And that when I was a kid, it was South America.

And so I did do solo trip there to Ecuador and Argentina and traveled pretty extensively while I was there. And it, it exceeded all expectations, just the, the, people. The food, the nature, it's, it has it all. Um, so that's, that's going to be up there. New Zealand, if we're choosing an individual country, I did a three week road trip for my honeymoon with my husband, um, exploring both islands. And, uh, it's like the most consistently beautiful country I've ever seen. Like driving and driving. And it's like, Oh my gosh, look at that. Look at that. Look at that. There were no armpits in the country that we could see. Stunning. Um, and then I'll do a number three. Um, Hmm. I think Nepal is up there right now. It just, I did a lot of hiking when I was there and super hospitable, kind people and stunning, stunning nature.

Jenn: Hmm.

Meggan: I want to ask you about the Northern Island in New Zealand because we follow a YouTuber and he's from Willits, California. So he grew up in Northern California and all throughout California itself because his parents were also split. So he lived in a couple of different places including Oregon And he said that the North Island Reminded him so much of the landscape in California. Did you find the same thing? Oh,

Kat: There was a, there were parts of it there that I was like, my gosh, this is just like where I grew up. And actually one of the places that I lived with my mom, one of the not Like great houses was in Willits. So I'm familiar with that.

Meggan: wow. What a small world.

Kat: But actually like we found out there's this city there that we stayed at. Um, I believe it was called Rotorua and they have Redwood trees and it's the only other spot in, uh, this is what they told me that anywhere else in the world, besides California that has those coastal Redwoods. So it is very similar,

Meggan: Okay, cool. Yeah, that's very interesting indeed.

Kat: but California definitely has some armpits. Like,

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: There is a difference.

Kat: yeah,

Jenn: Yeah. Yeah. New Zealand's been high on our list for a couple of years, and we've just been a little bit intimidated by the flight and then taking enough time off to really be Be able to enjoy the time there because it is quite far from the east coast of Canada. So, uh, yeah, we need the time enough time to make that journey worth it.

Cause it does take like 27 hours or something to get there from here. So hopefully I'll get there soon, but, uh, Not this year for sure. Um, I also wanted to ask do you have any travel tips for someone That is maybe new to travel or wanting to get more into exploring?

Kat: Um, okay. My first one is kind of unconventional. Um, it's to bring and use a travel journal. And I, before that trip to France, when I was 17, I didn't have one packed, but my best friend at the time gave me a blank journal and she kick started this incredible habit where From my first day landing in France.

Anytime I go on a trip, I write every single day. No excuses, even if it's just a couple minutes, that's better than nothing saying what you did. And now I have like this huge stack of journals and that is, they're one of my most prized possessions besides my passport. And they helped me to write my book and just hold so many memories. and details that I know I would have forgotten. So even if you're not a writer, it doesn't have to be poetic or beautiful. Just write down what you did because it's something that you'll look back on and you can kind of pair it with the pictures that you take. So it makes it a really cohesive like, um, tool to remember your trip.

Jenn: Yeah. I love that. I'm a big travel journal person. My husband gave me a travel journal as part of our, I think it was like our first Christmas gift when we were, um, together. And, uh, something that we use all the time. And yeah, I definitely like look back on it 'cause you do forget things. Like, you think that you're gonna remember all of the details and, uh, you just can't apparently

Kat: Yeah, and it's fun to like, I would even write down like a typical lunch and the cost and seeing like revisiting these countries years later to see how it changed. It's just fascinating. And I started like, Uh, several years ago, I, I, one of my friends and I, we, we would go, she was my travel buddy. We'd always go on trips together and she happened to be a, a photographer and oh man, if you can find a friend who's good to travel with, who's a photographer and journal keeper, it's like amazing.

Meggan: cool.

Jenn: Yeah. Best friend ever. I

Meggan: That's amazing.

Jenn: yeah,

Meggan: the statement I wanted to sort of, you know, uh, we talk about and I know that we sort of talked about daring for more, but I want to understand where your actual statement of silence. Doubt and pursue the daring life you were born to live. So I guess I want to just delve into that a little bit deeper. I know you touched on it, but where do you think people should even before, you know, start daring, I guess what's the kicking off point for them before we let you go? I really want to like circle back to that and understand sort of what that means from your perspective,

Kat: so a lot of it has to do with creating that space free from distraction to be able to listen to whatever you're, whatever you want to call it, you know, your, your inner voice or your heart or your gut or your intuition to be able to listen to what it has to say. Um, a good question to kind of prompt this is what, what would I do if I wasn't afraid? What would I do if people's judgments weren't at the forefront. What would I do if should wasn't weighing on my decision and just listening to that. And I think that for me, like so much of my life when I was younger, I, you know, I, I wanted to make my parents proud, make my dad proud of me. And so I tried to do things in alignment with the expectations.

Yes, that he had. But also probably more so the expectations I thought he had for me. And there were a handful of times in my life before I started living this way more intentionally, where I did listen and it changed my life. And I think like, like an example is I graduated college with a business degree in the heart of the recession was 2009.

And. I got a job and then that company went under and then I was just thinking things through and I was like, I really, I want to go to South America. I had never been at that point. And I just, I couldn't ignore it. It was like the volume was being cranked up inside me. And I was like, I should find a different job.

I should do this. I should use my degree. What would my dad say? What would everyone say? There's like, but then I was like, I just, I have to go. And like, I was my then boyfriend now husband as telling him about this. And I found a way to go and go solo. And that brought on a lot of judgments from a few number of people or people like she's in a committed relationship. How could she do this? There's

Meggan: the nerve.

Kat: 20 years now. And it's like, it may not be the way most people do it, but I couldn't deny what, what was going on. And. So I tried to let go of that doubt and listen and act on it. And it, it changed my life. And that's, what's happened with so many of these decisions that seem to be opposite of status quo or what the expectations are, what you should do with this life. And when I, you know, grow some ovaries and do it, um, They're tougher than balls, you may,

Meggan: Yeah, we all know that.

Kat: but I, it, it, I just think like, you got to like, it's like that, um, Mary Oliver poem that ends about like, what will you do with this one wild and precious life of yours? And really, will you live it the way you think you should with the expectations you have for yourself or you think others have for you? Or will you listen to that tiny voice inside you that is persistent, but quiet. That's trying to guide you to what you're meant to be doing.

Meggan: Yeah, what a perfect.

Jenn: that, yeah. Perfect way to end the

Meggan: It is.

Jenn: think they're like kind of

Meggan: that goosebumps moment. Thank you so much. I knew I was recircling back. I knew I was doing it for a reason and I think what you just said too could apply to travel but obviously much like the focus of your work could apply to just life in general. So, you know, thank you so much for sharing that.

Kat: Yeah. Thank you.

Jenn: awesome before we let you go. Uh, where can people find you online and order your book?

Kat: Uh, my website's KatMedina. com. It's Kat with a K. I have a monthly newsletter about finding joy in the day to day, uh, short and sweet. And, um, I'm on Instagram at KatMedinaWriter, and then my book is available where you can find books, you know, Amazon, Barnes Noble. I highly recommend bookshop. org, which directs you to independent bookstores, or you can just go into your local indie bookstore and request it if it's not already there.

Jenn: Ah, amazing. Uh, thank you so much, Kat, for coming on.

Kat: Thanks for having me. This was a lot of fun.

Meggan: Our pleasure. So we will make sure there are links in the show notes to your website and social media as well, just so people know that they can find you. As for us, you can find us on Instagram TravelMugPodcast and our website, TravelMugPodcast. com, where you can also find our downloadable packing list and more.

Again, Kat, thank you. This has been inspiring. And until next time, everyone, bye.

Kat: Bye.