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How many times have you had that thought? You were there, watching amazing photos or documentaries from Japan, France, New Zealand, Peru, and Cuba… and you were mesmerized. You realized that this globe was too beautiful to leave it unexplored.
But then again, you have your responsibilities. Your studies. A Job. A partner. To start traveling seriously, you’ll have to abandon them for a while. We’re talking about full-time exploration that takes way longer than two weeks of vacation. We’re talking about at least a year abroad.
You want to do it. The adventurer inside you is wide awake, demanding their rights. But the reason says no. Who do you listen to?
Answer this question honestly: Do you really want to travel?
If the answer is “Yes!” then there is nothing that could and should stop you from realizing that idea. Yes; you’ll leave important things back home. But they will always be there to wait. As for your partner, they can always hop on board and explore the world with you. If they can’t do that, but they are worthy of you, they will still encourage you to do this.
Let’s see: how can you find the strength to leave everything and start a prolonged journey? We have important tips for you!
Start Saving Money
Why don’t people travel more? Most of the time, it’s about the money. Let’s be real here: traveling costs a lot, especially when you have a distant destination to your mind. If you have to quit your job to travel, you’ll be left without an income and with a limited amount of savings.
So why not start working on those savings? When you have enough money aside, you’ll gain confidence to break into freedom.
So you need to save money. That’s cool! But how do you do it?
- For start, you need to stop buying things you don’t need. Yeah; those new Nike shoes look absolutely adorable, but do you really need to spend $200 on them? Your old ones serve you perfectly well, don’t they? Oh; and those $150 you planned to spend on a winter coat will comfortably get you through at least three days in Thailand, South America or Eastern Europe.
- Make lists whenever you go to the groceries store. What? You need to save on food, too? Absolutely! If you buy only the food you need, you’ll be surprised with the amount of money you’ll be able to save.
- Whenever you want to spend money on an instinctive purchase, ask yourself: “Do I really need this? Can I live comfortably without it?” In most cases, the answer will be “No; I don’t need it and I can live perfectly well without it.” Don’t accumulate stuff just because you like them. You’ll like traveling better!
Get a Job! – What?
You’re about to leave an office job to start traveling, so why are we talking about getting a job?
Freelancing
That’s what we’re talking about. The extra income will really give you strength to start moving. You’ll have a safe flow of money whenever you need it. You’ll just search for tasks to complete and the money will be on your card in a matter of days.
Barbara Garry, a writer for Essay on Time, did just that. “I didn’t have enough savings to get through a year without a job. So I started freelancing,” – she says. “I do what I’m best at: academic writing. But if you’re great in graphic design, article writing, coding, photography, or anything that could get you an online job, you should absolutely do it!”
Do you know where Barbara was when making that statement? On Aruba, stretching on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Take your time to process that fact.
Stop Asking for Advice
If you ask your parents whether or not you should take this trip, they will advise you not to. They are just being parents. They are afraid to let you go into the unknown, no matter how old and how responsible you are.
If you ask a friend, they will admire your courage, but they will also start warning you about imaginary dangers. You’ll star getting links to articles that inform about tourists being attacked in foreign countries. When you share the thought about traveling with your friends, you face them with their own insecurities. They want to do it, too. They just don’t have the courage and they live with excuses. If you do this, you’ll show them that their fears have always been unjustified. So show them!
If you really want to travel, asking people for permission is not necessary. They will only make you step away from this decision. Whatever information you need, you’ll find it online. If you’re afraid about your safety, you can search details for the country you intend to visit. You’ll connect with other travelers who can tell you how to stay safe. Now that’s the kind of advice you can listen to.
Make a Plan
“I want to travel” is just an idea. Until you turn it into a specific plan, it will remain just that: a great idea that you never seem to realize.
Start planning, will you?
- What places do you want to see? Make a list! Which one will you see first? Are there any destinations that are close to one another, so you can cover them in a single trip? How long will it take for you to explore these destinations?
- How much money do you need? This is the toughest part of planning, but it’s also the most important one. You need to check the accommodation prices in your destination. Don’t focus on luxury offers; you’re interested in adventures, remember? You just need a decent place that’s clean and has a bed and bathroom. You’ll be outside that room most of the time. In addition to accommodation, you need to learn about food prices, public transport, Internet, and all other living expenses.
Numbeo is a great online tool to help with that. It informs you about the costs of living, crime rates, pollution, traffic, and many other things you’ll be interested in before heading off to a destination.
- When you know what your destinations are and how much money you need, make your detailed travel plan. When do you intend to leave? When can you book the ticket? How will you get from the airport to the accommodation spot? You need to plan everything. Once you have this detailed structure of your trip, you’ll be more confident in yourself. You can do this!
Make Peace With the Things You Leave Behind
This won’t be a life-long trip. You’re not leaving your parents and friends forever. If you have a partner and they are staying back home, they will support you and wait for you. If they are not willing to do that, maybe this relationship was over before you even planned that trip.
As for the job you’re leaving, don’t worry about it. Talk to your boss about the option of getting unpaid leave. It’s possible! You’ll be out there traveling and the job will be waiting for you. If you hated that job in the first place, why worry about it? You’ll get a new, better one when you get back. Travelling looks great in resumes; it gives you that X factor that other applicants don’t have.
Be Brave!
This is your life. You’re the only one responsible for it. Yes; you have people, things, and possibly animals at home that you’re attached to. But is that bond so strong that it limits your personal freedom? It shouldn’t be. A healthy connection doesn’t prevent you from being yourself.
Stay strong! If you really want to travel, you can do it!