There are many types of people. Some people can’t sit still, some just want to stay home, and others can’t wait to hit the road but keep getting in their own way. This goes out to all the people who fit in that last category. You probably know dozens of them.
“I really should finish paying off my debt,” says the morally responsible, socially conscious college graduate, fresh out of school. “I’ve always wanted to see the world, but I just can’t abandon my responsibilities. I’ll find a good job in no time, right?”
“I’m definitely going soon, but I want to really enjoy my trip, so I’m trying to save more money before I leave,” says the detail-oriented forward thinker, approaching 30, swamped with bills. “Maybe if I get a good Christmas bonus, or if the car doesn’t need any repairs this year.”
“I don’t know where I would go, and I don’t want to go alone,” says the indecisive yet free-spirited middle-aged ball of anxiety. “I just need someone to come with me, but my friends all have families or can’t afford to come with me.”
“It just doesn’t seem possible, so I’m going to focus on enjoying myself at home,” says the worn-out, white-haired pessimistic still pretending to be an optimist. “I was never passionate about seeing the world anyway. Maybe when I retire, if I still have my health.”
There are many excuses to choose from. Whatever yours is, please do yourself a favor and recognize that your attitude is the biggest limitation you’re facing! There are always going to be reasons to stay right where you are. The best travel advice anyone ever gave me is “if you have the money and the time, then just book it and go.”
If you don’t have the money or the time, this may mean changing your lifestyle to match your goals. The easiest way to plan a budget is to treat it like any of your other bills and work it into your budget. Any good budget should have a little wiggle room in it anyway, so playing around with the numbers can show you exactly what you need to do to make your trip happen. This could mean sacrificing some of the activities you enjoy, or not going out to eat as much. Maybe it means working up the courage to ask for a raise or an adjusted work schedule. You may even find yourself looking for a new job or sidestepping into an entirely new career path. And you know what? Those changes are all perfectly okay for you to make, no matter what people say.
Honestly, one of the best and most rewarding things about travel is the unfamiliarity of everything. New climates, new people - even just unfamiliar grocery stores can feel like an adventure. There's a reason people describe their travels as "life-changing" so get out there and change your life for the better.
P.S. Send me a postcard when you get there!
