I recently traveled to Colombia for a two-week vacation, and it was the first time I’ve done any traveling like that. I’ve been out of the country a few times before, but only with big groups or with my family when I was a kid. This time, it was just me and my boyfriend—no tour packages or pre-planned itineraries. We stayed in a couple hotels, a couple hostels, and an Airbnb as we traveled from Bogotá to Medellín to Santa Marta to Palomino to Cartagena and back to Bogotá. I learned a ton about the world and about Colombia specifically, but today I want to share six important lessons I learned about myself that I intend to keep with me now that I’m back in America:

1. I spend too much money when I’m at home, and living on a budget really isn’t that hard.

It’s not just the currency exchange rate that helped me exchange money when we were in Colombia; it’s that I didn’t buy stuff I didn’t actually need because I wanted to save my money for experiences. I should be doing the same thing here! Amazon Prime no longer needs to be my best friend. Half the reason I’m perpetually broke is that I’m also perpetually spending $7 here and $11 there on things that will only give me momentary pleasure. The shmancy cocktails, unnecessary “deals” on summer dresses, books I won’t read for another three years… those can wait. A little self-control when facing day-to-day temptations will mean I can have money to spend on experiences that matter in the future.

2. Forget watching TV — I should be spending my free time learning another language.

In Colombia, I had to rely on the little bit of Spanish I remember from high school, which was incredibly frustrating because there were things I wanted to say (and even more importantly, things I wanted to hear and understand) but couldn’t. At first I made excuses to myself… I hadn’t had the time to brush up on my Spanish before the trip because I’m oh so busy. And yet I always make time to watch whatever new Netflix series is out. Instead of spending so much time “taking a break” from daily life in front of the television, I should use that time to learn another language. It’ll still give me an escape and take my mind somewhere new, but it will also give me access to people, places and literature I won’t ever be able to access otherwise.

During the school year, I spend a lot of time sitting on the couch or at my desk grading papers or planning lessons. I’m a bit of a workaholic, and I do love it. I use my work, however, as an excuse not to stay active or get enough sleep or eat real food (I’m a candy-bar-for-breakfast kind of person). In Colombia, though, we walked constantly. I didn’t have to go to the gym to get a “workout” because I just kept moving. That, of course, meant that I slept better and ate better, and then just overall felt better. Again, I can do the same thing at home. I live close enough to the grocery store to walk. When I move in a few months, I’ll be close enough to my job to bike or walk to work. And if I start doing those things regularly — staying active throughout my day — I’ll feel happier and healthier without having to force myself into the gym.

4. Instead of wasting so much time on Instagram or Facebook, I need to just do a better job keeping in touch with the people I care most about.

Living without Wi-Fi or unlimited data for most of two weeks, I realized that when I did have access, I wanted to talk to people with whom I haven’t done a great job at staying in touch. I found myself reaching out to old friends I rarely talk to anymore because they still hold a special place in my heart and I crave their friendship. I forget to stay in touch, however, when I’m inundated with pictures and updates I don’t really care about from people I hardly know. If I spend less time on my IG and FB when I’m here, I know I’ll find myself with more energy and motivation to reach out to the people who mean the most to me.

5. Writing and reading feel so refreshing, and they require less time than I think.

Again, I usually find myself far too busy to write and read for pleasure in my daily life. In Colombia, however, I spent at least 20-30 minutes a day doing each. The time I usually spend on my phone now went to my journal. The time I usually spend watching television now went to my book. And after browsing my phone or watching TV, I just feel sort of numb and mildly discontent. Writing, on the other hand, gives me clarity about my thoughts and helps me feel free and unburdened by quite so much anxiety. Reading gives me an escape like television, but instead of feeling dissatisfied after, I feel connected.

6. I have too much stuff.

I brought one carry-on-sized suitcase, one backpack, and one shoulder bag with me for a two-week trip, and I had literally everything I wanted except for my puppy. I have no explanation for why I have an apartment that’s literally brimming with stuff, but I can tell you that when I move, I’m leaving most of it (except the books, of course) behind.