THINKING ABOUT QUITTING YOUR JOB TO TRAVEL THE WORLD FOR A YEAR? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Want to travel the world?
Leaving your life and your job behind is a big decision. Especially if you’ve spent a good number of years working your way up the corporate ladder.
As a travel blogger, my natural instinct is to support you and tell you to go for it. But after a year on the road, long term travel isn’t for everyone. There are some important things to consider before taking the leap.
Ask yourself why you want to travel
Are you running away from life or are you going towards a life you want to live?
Travel is not necessarily the solution to a job you dislike. Have you researched a possible career change? Starting a business? Whilst travel can provide short term relief, lingering problems without a resolution can be the source of stress and anxiety.
In other words, procrastination is not the answer.
If you have an intense desire and curiosity to explore the world, travel will be for you. Travel is a great way to reset your mind and focus inwards. One friend told me when the year behind you looks like the year ahead, it's time to shake things up.
For me, ever since I was 13, it's been all I can think about. It was time to stop putting it off.
Get off social media and delete Facebook + Instagram + whatever else for a month
Do you spend time scrolling through Pinterest, planning out travel itineraries (even at work!)? Whilst gazing out the window wondering when it’ll be your turn?
It’s easy to let the envy monster takeover when you’re bombarded with images of people living a dream life on the road. Social media does a great job of enhancing the highlight reels of other people's lives.
Delete social media for a month and check in with how you feel about yourself at the end. When you’re not comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel, it’s much easier to appreciate what you do have.
Things are rarely what they seem in a single photograph on Instagram.
Save up your travel fund + emergency fund + coming back home fund
Yep, that’s three different funds. :)
Let’s start with your travel the world fund.
It’s true that depending on where you travel and how frugal you’re willing to be, you can get by on $20-50 a day. Think about where you want to travel and budget accordingly. Europe carries a much heftier price tag than South East Asia.
Do you want to house sit along the way, volunteer or couch surf? How much are you willing to live without?
Are there things you might regret not doing on your travels?
When the opportunity to trek Torres del Paine last minute for $1000 came up, I knew I'd regret not taking it.
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Once you’ve worked out the travel fund, always have an emergency fund.
And always buy travel insurance!
I’ve been to the hospital in Thailand due to a broken arm and other minor injuries. After a severe case of food poisoning in Cuba, I promptly checked myself into a 5* hotel. It happens!
Sometimes you'll need to pay the cash up front before your insurer reimburses you. Check your policy conditions before you buy!
I always keep at least 3 months living costs saved in case of an emergency. This is up to you. If you’re travelling through the US you might want to save more than if you’ll be in South-East Asia
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Finally the coming back home fund.
Perhaps you’ll need to find a job and find an apartment. Maybe you plan on making another country your home. Give yourself a little leeway so that you’re not financially stressed out after an amazing year around the world.
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Do I really need to?
It will be less stressful if you do. Many bloggers and influencers receive payment or sponsorship to travel. That’s not the reality for everyone. When you pay for every little thing, it can add up.
I've been putting a set amount away each month since I started working. Over time it's added up. I set myself a budget for traveling, emergencies and coming back home. Thankfully, I haven't needed to dive into the emergency fund this time around.
Consider taking a sabbatical instead of quitting
It’s not necessary to quit your job. I met many people, who had taken a sabbatical (including myself). This gives you the added security or coming home and not having to look for work right away.
I ended up quitting in the end but that was a personal choice. My life had moved on and going back to what I was doing would have really sucked.
Perhaps taking redundancy or an extended gardening leave when you resign is an option.
Explore your possibilities. It can help take some of the weight off of your mind.
I’m worried about having an extended gap in my CV and finding a job later
If you can take a sabbatical or an extended leave of absence this can help relieve that pressure.
If this is not a possibility, think about how time out is going to be of benefit your a future employer. Will you learn a new language? Experience new cultures and ways of living that make you more open as a person?
Travel IMHO enhances one perspective of the world. In a world that is becoming more globalized and interdependent, it can help open more doors. Learning to accept and appreciate cultural differences becomes increasingly important.
German, Arabic, French and Dutch are some of the most in-demand languages in the UK job market. Learning a new language will only enhance your employment prospects.
People will start to care less and less about where you go
Whilst a year feels a lot like a month when you’re hopping from one place to another, life goes on for everyone else at home.
That mountain you climbed? It’s no more interesting for your friends, as them telling you about an annoying colleague at work.
It's hard coming back home and no-one really cares. My parents or my brother have not once asked me about the details of my trip.
This is where keeping in touch with some of the amazing people on your travels comes in handy. A had dinner with a girl I'd met in Patagonia and she couldn't have been more excited to hear about the rest of my trip after she'd left.
Have a project to work on
It’s not 100% necessary but it’s a lot of fun!
Do you want to start a travel blog? Learn Spanish in South America, tango in Buenos Aires, volunteer, the list is endless...
A side project not only increases your skill set but can provide some structure to your travels. It's also a great talking point.
I've been working on my travel blog :) It's my way of putting my adventures out there, freely available for anyone passing by.
Long term world travel isn’t for everyone
I traveled for a year and I can say it was tiring by the end.
This is giving myself time to chill in places and an extra few days instead of rushing to get through my itinerary.
A year is a long time. Think about what works best for you. What do you miss whilst you’re away? If it’s a stable home, perhaps you’d prefer to find somewhere you can settle for longer periods. If it’s family and friends, a shorter trip could be more suitable for you.
Try a two-week trip first, or a one month trip. How do you feel at the end?
What do I do with my stuff? I have an apartment and car I love
Can you rent out your apartment? Loan your car to someone? You’re not required to sell everything you have unless that’s what you want to do.
Funny thing, after returning home, I’ve sent 4 bags of clothes to the charity shop and thrown out many belongings. If I've survived a year without these things, do I really need to keep it all?
I prefer to keep the essentials and what’s of value rather than cluttering my life with mundane stuff I never use. Also, coming home, I felt different. Like my old life could no longer just fit. It was time for a new beginning.
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