Based in Dubai, 5 years as a DN: the boring habits that actually kept my business alive I've been location-independent for 5 years now, based mostly in Dubai but working from different countries throughout the year. Year 1 was exciting, everything was new. Year 2 is when things started falling apart. The timezone juggling, the constant travel, the lack of routine — it all adds up. But what actually saved my business wasn't finding the perfect coworking space or a better time management app. It was 3 painfully boring weekly habits: A Friday financial review. 90 minutes every week going through invoices, chasing late payments, updating spreadsheets. When you're moving between countries and currencies, small leaks add up fast. This habit caught problems I was completely blind to. Written rules for what work I accept. Deposit upfront, scope in writing, firm deadlines. As a DN it's tempting to say yes to everything because income feels less stable.…