A Week in the Life of a Digital Nomad Running an Online Shop

I grew up in a middle-class home, studied petrochemical engineering, and started my career on plant floors with alarms and logbooks. Today I run a dropshipping store from a laptop and a phone while I travel. If you notice, this is not a fantasy, it’s my reality. You will get my real week: times, tools, tasks, sleep, food, costs, the odd panic, and how I handle it. I also have a secret sourcing app that I use to make my life easier.

One sourcing platform gets a single mention where it actually appears in my day. The rest is plain steps combined with good habits. My mantra: Measure what matters. Fix one thing. Move to the next thing. You can copy me if you want. But I’m just telling you, here is what a week in the life of a digital nomad running an online shop looks like. At least mine.

Monday: My Start of the Week

Here is how I start my Mondays:

06:00 — Wake up

Two glasses of water. Five deep breaths by the window. Black coffee. I write one line on a sticky note: “Sunscreen page: rewrite opener, compress first image, add mini-FAQ.” You could keep this habit if you need a clean start.

06:20 — Light workout (5 minutes)

Neck rolls, wrist circles, calf stretch, 15 easy squats. This keeps me pain-free on buses and in cramped flats.

06:30 — Start with Work

I check out what’s going on in my store. Here’s where I start looking:

• Store dashboard: orders, refunds, top pages by views.
• Analytics (custom view): add-to-cart rate, checkout starts, on-site search terms, device split (mobile/desktop), first-response time.
• Inbox: filtered by Unread and my Orders label.

07:00–09:00 — What I actually measure

• Pages with views but add-to-cart under 5%. I keep an eye on them, they need fixing.
• Cart abandons by item and device. If mobile is weak, I look at image size and button placement.
• Refund notes, labelled by cause: sizing / packaging / shipping speed / quality.
• On-site search terms people typed: “MagSafe charger”, “no white cast”, “soft ear pads”. My copy must match buyer words.
• First-response time: aim under 2 hours while I’m awake; under 12 hours across time zones.

09:00–11:20 — Publish a concrete improvement

Whatever is wrong wherever on your site, I know I can’t fix all my pages and content in one day. So I start with small changes. 

So I talk with my designer and developer, and see what pages need improvement. I do a little content audit of anything that's going wrong. And based on, however, the last week went, I publish one concrete improvement. 

It can be either optimizing the photos on my website, or putting up a caption post on my Social Media, or writing a mini FAQ under my blog post, something along those lines. As a digital nomad, it's important that I communicate with my readers, and I understand this better than anyone. So I post accordingly.

12:30 — Good Food = Good Mood

Oats, banana, peanut butter. Three sets of 15 push-ups. Shoulder stretch. I log last night’s sleep (7h 35m). You’ll know your shop suffers when sleep drops; mine does.

14:00–15:00 — Answer customers’ emails and messages

Q: “Will this charge through a 2.8 mm case?”
A: “Yes up to ~3 mm. On a 20W plug it usually goes 18%→80% in about an hour. I tested with a case like yours—photo attached.”

Q: “Tracking shows ‘label created’ for 24 hours.”
A: “Carrier scan not done yet. If there’s no movement by tomorrow, I will reissue the label and upgrade shipping.”

Q: “How many pumps of serum?”
A: “Two at night after toner. Press, don’t rub.”

16:00–17:00 — Maintenance sweep

I scan yesterday’s orders for tricky postcodes and add delivery notes (gate codes, security desk, dog on site). I pull three buyer phrases into my copy notes file: “no sting”, “sits well under make-up”, “not greasy”.

Problem I hit today: The Wi-Fi dips at 10:15. I switch to my phone hotspot (I always keep 5 GB spare). If both links fail, I switch to offline tasks: batch-cropping photos and drafting copy. No day is wasted.

21:30 — Wind-down

Rice, dal, vegetables, a walk, phone charging outside the bedroom. Lights out 22:30. You can call sleep my cheapest growth plan.

Tuesday: Product Work and Sourcing 

I do not keep stock. I do test sample units sent by suppliers so I can write honest pages and check packaging. This is not a warehouse; it is a single unit in my flat, used for photos and checks, then given away or recycled.

06:30 — Wake, water, coffee

Sticky Note: “Build 3 bundles; price and publish; check one new sample.”

So here is how I go about it.

07:00–09:30 — Three product bundles for my page

1) Commuter Set: slim wireless charger + 20W plug + case.

• Photo: the three items on a café table; cable coiled; case on phone; taken by a window.
• First line: “Drop the phone on the pad while you sip. Thirty minutes covers the ride home.”
• Reason: weekday lunch traffic spikes; many DMs mention dead batteries by 5 pm.

2) Dorm Desk Pair: gaming mouse + closed-back headphones.

• Photo: on a plain desk; laptop lid closed so the gear stands out; clamp gauge in frame.
• First line: “Quiet outside, full focus inside. Pads that don’t pinch after class.”
• Reason: students ask about clamp force and mic clarity.

3) Night Routine Trio: gentle cleanser + toner + facial oil.

• Photo: all three on a towel; a hand shows “two pumps” of oil.
• First line: “Three steps. Five minutes. Skin calm by lights out.”
• Reason: night-shift buyers keep emailing for simple routines.

10:00–11:00 — Price, shipping, and publish

I set clear prices, fair margins, and list the shipping fees up front. My goal is to offer great deals, something my customers look forward to. These bundles will be featured on the storefront when they’re browsing through stuff to buy. It’s a gentle nudge for upsell.

11:00–11:30 — Where I actually source

For sourcing I use Spocket. I set filters for the United States or Europe, then filter by processing time, price range, and supplier rating. You can order single-unit samples without MOQ and have them sent to your current address, so you can check packaging and take your own photos. Stock stays in sync, products import in one click, and branded invoicing puts my logo on receipts, which helps trust and repeat orders. I cross-list to Shopify and AliExpress, and I test print-on-demand when I want my mark on a case or tote. I use Logome for making my product logos.

12:00 — Lunch and a short nap

Eggs on toast, fruit. Fifteen-minute nap with an alarm. I wake once.

14:00–15:00 — Sample check

When a sample arrives from a supplier, I do this in 10–15 minutes:

• Packaging: any dents or leaks? If yes, I message for sturdier mailers.
• Tech: plug fit; buttons rattle; ten-minute warm test; cable length matches listing.
• Skin/cleaner: texture; scent; residue after two minutes; a single swipe on a glass or a patch of skin.
• Scale photo: next to a bank card or pen so buyers can judge size fast.
• Notes: words like grippy / matte / soft pads / no residue. I paste these into the product page so the words match real life.

Late afternoon

A supplier says restock is late by three days. I pause the listing, add a date banner to the page, and reply to any open queries with a swap offer. Calm tone. Straight dates. No drama.

19:00 — Walk, stretch, paper book

Lights out 22:30. No screens.

Wednesday: Customers and Content

Here is how my Wednesdays usually go:

06:30 — Routine start

Water, coffee, stretch. Sticky: “Send weekly letter; publish micro-blog; 90-minute DM sprint.”

07:00–08:00 — Weekly letter (my running template)

I respond to emails…..

Subject: “What changed this week (+ a small thank you)”
Body:

• One change: “Sunscreen page rebuilt—two-finger image added.”
• One tip: “Pat with a cushion puff on hot commutes.”
• One nudge: “Reply ‘night’ for the trio link.”

08:00–08:30 — Micro-blog post

It’s time for a blog post!

Theme: one travel lesson that helps buyers. 

Today’s task: Station cafés often cut Wi-Fi at lunch. I pre-draft replies and carry a small power bank.” 

I link the bank I sell; if you don’t need it, you still get a tip. Make a quick post on my blog and tweet about how my day’s work. Drop the affiliate link on the post to entice buyers a bit.

09:30–11:00 — Respond to Emails and DMs (Again)

• Rugged case + charger?
  “Yes up to ~3 mm. If your case is thicker, I’ll swap you to the cable kit. I tested both—photos attached.”
  
  
• “Delivered” but not found:
  “Courier left it with security at Gate B at 12:41. I called them; it’s under your flat number. If it’s gone, I’ll reship.”
  
  
• Headphones pinch:
  “Stretch gently over two books overnight. If it still pinches, I’ll switch you to soft pads—my cost.”

What numbers I glance at after replies

• Email open rate and link clicks from the letter (did the tip land?).
• Add-to-cart on yesterday’s edited page (mobile first).
• Response-time trend (am I slipping?).

11:00–12:00 — Comments worth pinning

A buyer posts a tidy desk shot with my stand. I ask to pin it and add a note: “She charges while journaling; the stand slides under the notebook to save space.”

14:00–15:00 — A small, useful video

Twenty seconds. “Three items on my desk that prevent chaos.” On-screen labels only. Posted to two places. Then I log off and walk.

Problem I hit today

A one-star review says, “Charger failed after a week.” I email first: “Sorry this broke on you. I will replace it or refund, your call.” Then I add a short “Care & Use” line to the page: “Do not sandwich the pad between phone and metal stand; it will overheat.” A poor outcome becomes a clearer page and a buyer who feels seen.

Thursday: Follow ups and Check ins

Here’s what I do on Thursdays. 

I basically switch things up a little bit. In the morning, I do some deep meditation for 10 minutes. I take a look at my emails again and respond to supplier messages. If there are any pending orders and returns, I address them one by one. 

I am happy to share with you my notes from the previous days. I know my week can look a little chaotic, and that's why I am self-organized. I use Notion to take notes on the go. I write some reminders for myself as well. I keep losing track of things sometimes, so I go through them. 

If I missed any orders or haven't responded to anyone in particular, then I do that now. Thursday is also a great day where I can take some short breaks. I connect with my graphic designer and photographer and have a chat with them:

• “What's lined up for the week?” 
• “Have our product photos been optimized?”

I take a quick look at my store listings as well, see if I've used the right keywords. I also take a look at the traffic. Then I follow up with my dropshipping partners and see what they are up to, whether there have been any slip-ups in the past two business days, if any orders are in pause, and how my customers are faring. I also followed up with a couple of my customers today to see if they are happy with their orders and ask them some questions or collect feedback.

Then I slowly wrap up the Thursday like this:

11:00–12:00 — Returns done with care

I approve fair returns with a short apology. This is the perfect time to address grievances and calm down angry customers.

14:00 — Rest and reset

Twenty-minute nap. 15 squats, 15 push-ups, 30-second plank. Enough to wake me up for the last block.

16:00 — Reply to suppliers messages

“Need ETA for charger restock. If it is over five days, I will pause the listing. Please confirm a date.” Straight, polite, dated.

19:00 — Mobile check for simple snags

On my phone I open the top five pages: are the “Add to cart” buttons big enough? Is the size chart visible without hunting? Is the first image too heavy? I fix one now and schedule the rest.

Friday: Money, Prep, and Safety Nets

Fridays are not so fun but it’s the day I review my week to close smoothly.

06:30 — Start

Water, coffee, stretch. Sticky: “Cash sheet; set targets; weekend autopilot; VA brief.”

07:00–08:30 — The cash sheet 

I open up my Excel sheet and take a note of my cash inflows and outflows for my business. Here’s what I look at:

• Cost of goods
• Shipping and platform fees
• Ad spend (if any)
• Sale price
• Net per unit

If the net is pocket change, I change the offer or retire it. I set next week’s target: units, average order value, and cash buffer. If you need a rule: never plan living costs above your “floor month.”

What I spend on each month (varies):

• Store plan + small apps: ₹2,400–₹8,500
• Samples/testing: ₹8,000–₹25,000 (not every month)
• Ads: ₹16,000–₹80,000 (only after pages prove they convert)
• Tools: Notion + Toggl (free or low)
• Cowork desk (when needed): ₹4,000–₹10,000

What I earn (typical):

• Low months: ₹90,000–₹1.5 lakh
• Solid months: ₹2–5 lakh

There will be swings. You should hold cash for dry weeks.

09:00–10:00 — Weekend autopilot

• Auto-tag orders: fragile / gift / remote area.
• Post-delivery email at 24 hours: plain text “All okay with your parcel?”
• Low stock alerts: on, with push to phone.
• Pinned FAQ on the home page if I will be airborne.

Do I have help?

Yes. A part-time VA for 10 hours a week. Tasks: inbox triage, simple courier chases, a three-line daily report. She uses saved replies I wrote. If you need to, start with five hours.

Afternoon — Week summary and next steps

Three lines in my week note:

• Win: “Night trio page raised conversion on mobile.”
• Problem: “Clamp force question asked 4 times—add fit line and pad option.”
• Next: “Shoot Commuter Set clip on Monday morning.”

Evening — Off switch

Cheap dinner, call home, a walk, early bed.

Saturday: Field Notes and a Bit of Life

I walk markets and bus stops with a small notebook. If you notice, the feed can mislead; streets do not. This is the day I don’t do much work. I just have fun. The perk of a digital OMAD is you get to party hard after working day. We don’t get work-life balance but we can certainly take some downtime for ourselves.
I sit in a park, eat something simple, call a friend. My VA handles first replies and flags me if something needs me. Only if it’s urgent. I also meet up with my parents. They live just across the neighborhood in the same city. We plan a family getaway, something short and sweet for a couple of hours. No meal prep today since I’m eating out.

Last Saturday was a bit of a drag. A buyer messaged me about a gift deadline. I synced up with my VA and had to address it. Took a few minutes. Thankfully, nothing serious. There are days like that, but most Saturdays are chill.  

Sunday: No Work Today

That’s it. No work today. I make it clear in my shop that I don’t work Sundays. I go for movies, chill with my friends, and do some catching up. We all need some sanity in our lives, don’t we? Monday, I get ready for what’s about to come. My phone is switched off on Sundays.

Conclusion

So that's how my typical week as a digital nomad who runs an online shop looks like. I know I'm not a very huge dropshipper currently. I'm just selling stuff, making money and connecting with suppliers. It does look like a very monotonous and boring job, but at least it's online and I get to work from home, which is pretty cool. So that's what my week looks like. 

Nothing fancy, nothing special. It's just that boring is good because boring means I'm consistent. This didn't happen overnight. When I first started my business, I just struggled a lot. And transitioning from my career to where I am today now took me a lot of work and time. So, hope you guys had fun reading and stay tuned for more.