Things To Consider Before You Take THAT JUMP
You hate your job. You hate your routine. You can’t wait to leave that mundane life of waking up, sitting in a cubicle and going home. You look out of your office window, wishing you could escape and bask in that glorious sun. Fortunately, you’re not alone. In fact, I was in that exact same position 3 years ago. It was only until last year that I decided to pack my bags and embark on my travels.
Many questions raced through my mind and it was definitely not an easy decision to make. It took me about 2 years to plan and realize my plans while I was at my corporate job. After traveling and reflecting, I’ll share my 2 cents worth before anyone decides to take that leap of faith.
What Are Your Intentions?
Are they caused by impulse? Are they caused by emotions? Some might think by walking away to travel, a solution to their life will miraculously appear overnight. Well, for most of the time, this is not the case. However, if you always have that burning desire, then this journey might be appropriate for you.
Having lived in various countries for work, I developed the interest of discovering and living in places with different cultures. Two of my bucket lists were to live in a new continent and to improve my third language (e.g. French). Hence, I decided to leave for Paris and take a language course to fully immerse myself. After that course, I moved out of Paris and travelled around on a one-way ticket.
What Kind of Traveler Are You?
Are you a long-term traveler or are you a short-term traveler? I’d consider anything more than 6 months as a long-term trip. The length of your travels affects your budget and is dependent on your comfort level of being away from home. Some are contented with a good balance between a short travel and having a comfortable life. And, of course, there’re some who never want to settle. For new solo travelers, I’d suggest taking a short trip alone and try not to have a detailed itinerary. If you can pass this test, then you’re good to go for longer trips.
What kind of lifestyle do you want to have while traveling? What preferences do you have when it comes to lodging? You could take a short-term trip and spend more money on your lodging by staying in a mix of Airbnbs, hotels and hostels. You could also take a long-term trip by staying in a hostel or couchsurf which are more economical alternatives.
For me, I prefer staying in hostels or with the locals. This allows me to meet people of different cultures and nationalities. Plus, I save on my lodging so that I could visit more countries and cities. Staying in a hostel has its downsides too. Besides having your fate sealed by the receptionist, who choses and decides your room and bed, you might also get a smelly room or loud-snoring roommates. On a side note, I remembered once my roommates and I had to evacuate our room as a guy was snoring horrendously loud. We ended up congregating in the reception area not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.
Food. This is something we can’t live without. Most of the long-term travelers, whom I met on the road, cooked their own meals most of the time. If not, they’d go a cheap local eatery, a kebab shop or a street stall to fill their stomachs. Some of these travelers eat simply just to “live another day”. If you are someone who’s a foodie for the-Michelin-or-restaurant-kind-of-food all the time, then maybe long-term backpacking is not for you.
How to soothe your fears?
I couldn’t sleep well for the 2 weeks before my departure. Many doubts clouded my mind and I was unsure of what I was doing. To my relief, I wasn’t alone. Many travelers I met faced the same predicament. Through our conversations, I identified 3 common fears that people normally encounter: the fear of uncertainty, the fear of financial constraints and the fear of giving up a comfortable life. Despite that, having a rough plan and mental preparation would alleviate those fears.
Budgeting
From the start, I saved up enough money from work to make this trip possible. Part of my preparation includes doing a little budgeting. I set aside a part of my savings for “rainy days”. For example, I’d estimate my monthly expenditure at home. Then, I’d make sure that I keep 3 to 6 months of the monthly expenditure amount in the bank as emergency cash. This is my way of “buying time” after my whole journey ends. The time freed up allows me to figure out what I want to do in the future. I could also use the time to identify and apply for jobs that I’d be interested in.
Work and Travel
As mentioned in my previous article, working while travelling is a good way of keeping yourself financially afloat. At the same time, you could travel to wherever the jobs are. Again, some of these jobs are available in workaway.info and wwoof.net. I have friends who got referred to more jobs through fellow Workawayers and some even got offered a full-time job.
Alternatively, you could be a freelance designer or writer. Or, you could find a job in a country where your skills and foreign talents are needed. For example, you could do a teaching gig or a corporate job in an Asian country. From there, you could use your earnings to travel and experience the real Asia.
Mental Preparation
Long-term solo traveling is not for everyone. You have to be prepared for what the journey entails—the rewards and also the setbacks. Culture shocks, societal and peer pressure, and readjusting your life are some of the consequences that you have to face after you return home. It’s not going to an easy ride but it’s important to take your time, shut out the distractions, and find your own directions.
Conclusion
Not everyone is made the same. Some enjoy the journey better when their worries are taken care of. Some enjoy the uncertainty and risks that come with it. For them, fear magnifies the appreciation and the end reward. Either way you choose to go, tell yourself this is a trip of personal discovery, and an investment to better manage your well-being.
Comments