Why there’s no need to quit your job to travel and be happy          

If you love to travel and have a massive wanderlust you’ve probably found yourself wondering how would be to leave everything to go and explore the world.

Have you felt some frustration while researching about your dreamed trip around the world? It’s probably because you’ve read one of the thousands of articles that circulate on the Internet and promise that happiness is traveling. But also that happiness is possible only if you give up your job to travel the world indefinitely.

I’ve always felt a bit of mistrust and suspicion when someone has to tell others how to act or what to do to live their lives. And I think most of us, especially those who write, fall into this many times.

I don’t have any issues on sharing experiences, and that’s mostly what this blog is about, my problem starts when this becomes a dogma about being ‘cool’ and modern, that gives me almost allergy.

There are so many articles written about ‘Quit your job to travel the world,’ ‘Why you have to leave your work to be happy’ ‘If you work you will never be happy enough’ ‘If you want to travel you can’t do it having a 9 to 7 job’ etc, etc, etc.

If it happens you found any of them in your search and you’re living this life, you’ll probably feel bad.

 

What makes you happy?

To be happy, we must strike a perfect balance between what we do well, what we like to do and also what we love and have the passion. The issue is that someone can not always drop everything and move to solve their existential questions, or just experiment and see the world leaving everything behind.

For some, this is just not possible and those stating ‘leave your job to travel’ are only generating frustration in those who read them hoping to find some inspiration.

Not everything that is on the internet and social media is real nor is necessarily better than your current life. Probably not even happening at this very moment.

Don’t fall into despair because you see your favorite Instagrammer upload a photo in an island paradise and then taking champagne in Paris. The only thing this will encourage is FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

Many of those who write articles promoting and indicating that happiness is only for who leaves everything to travel, are in positions that allowed them to take that big step. Or they have jobs that allow them to generate online income, or have big savings, or travel on a really low budget and generate some income while traveling.

You think you know, but you have no idea.”

If there is anything I’ve learned in my years of travel is that we are all very similar as human beings, but we all have different experiences and, therefore, I try to be very cautious when I tell someone: This is how you can be happy.

Because to me, travel is my passion, it doesn’t have to be to everyone else.

I decided to have a nomadic life.  It’s a life of travel what suits me, but it doesn’t need not be yours. We are all different  – and thank God we all are! – and diversity is what makes this world so beautiful.

Everything depends on the travel style you have, but probably if you are traveling and not just take a few day vacation you’ll experience some issues on the road. If you are stressed out at home, you’ll still be stressed while traveling. Or if you’re a workaholic you will continue to be so while traveling (one of the reasons why I started this blog while traveling the world)

Perhaps you prefer stability to adventure

Maybe you are happy with the routine, you are comfortable to know exactly how much money you will have in the bank at the end of every month -well, maybe most of us are more than happy with that-, to know what you’re going to have for dinner tomorrow, what clothes you want to buy when you get your next paycheck, with your beautifully furnished flat in that exclusive neighborhood, or to party every night at the trendiest places.

Maybe you have family that you are emotionally or financially responsible for, and you must be physically there to help or support them. Perhaps your partner does not like to travel, or your children have health needs or you just do not feel comfortable being out of your comfort zone for a long time.

I know many turns very stressed after more than three weeks traveling, they begin to miss their routines, known flavors, and familiar places. They are just not happy being on a long journey.

Not necessarily what is good for some it will be for everyone.

But, what if I want to quit my job to go traveling the world?

Before deciding to lead a life in constant movement, I didn’t know how miserable I was while I was doing my many attempts to have a life that was normal and acceptable for others. It was not until a year of constant traveling I finally recognized my reality: What makes me most happy is traveling.

At a certain point, you have to ask yourself if you are exchanging money for happiness. While I don’t share it, I know there are people who love to have a routine and that suits them. Happiness to them is on knowing what they will be doing within next days.

While I believe that happiness is made much more by experiences than material things, I do really love to sleep in a spacious, large bed with smooth and perfect white linens, I love to buy face lotions and some clothing that makes me feel more beautiful. But there are many things that I have discovered that I don’t really need, and therefore, generally all my income is intended to do what I like: to travel the world.

 Live every day as if it were the last

Realities are very different in different continents. For example, there are countries where it is considered quite normal quitting your job and even leave it on pause for several months, and after your trip you can pick that job back without any consequences.

In Chile and South America, in general, this is impossible! If you’re traveling for more than two months – that could be what you accumulate for vacation- you will never have your job waiting for you. So it’s not just decide to leave everything and go. Because you have to organize how can you make your dream to Travel-the-World come true.

If you do it : Keep your relationships, because when you get back they could help you find a new job

 

Travel the world forever is an exaggerated idea

First, I love to keep the point that almost NOTHING IS FOREVER. Things, circumstances and even yourself will change over time, and there is nothing that makes you change faster than long-term traveling. There are many experiences that will model your personality and character to become who you really are.

If you are thinking of leaving for your first trip, you Might be interested in the following information.

Nowadays, it’s accepted that a worker with experience in travel has many more tools than someone who has not, and there are cultures and work environments that value this. Many workers have developed independent careers and there are lots of ‘permalancers’ with all the freedom to carry out their work from wherever in the world.

Moreover, the concept of job security has varied greatly in recent years and the hope to develop your entire working life in the same company is not as common as it was few years ago.

Labour mobility is so common and it’s expected for you to have over 6 work at least over your working life. This gives the ability to try and find several job possibilities, we are in a globalized world, so if your dream is to live abroad or travel the world, more than any time before: Yes, you can!

   

To lead a life of travel, you need to get organized.

Deciding to go and travel the world is not something to be taken lightly, there are many factors to take into account. From the destinations you will visit, how much money will you need, if you need to generate income while traveling, you’ll do with your stuff while you travel, visa requirements for countries that want to visit? What about health insurance? What will happen to my partner, family, and friends? And an infinite number of etcetera.

If travel really means your biggest dream, to follow your passion you must organize yourself with the same passion. While I believe in the magic of the universe, it’s a bad idea being  so naïve and to pretend that just because you want something that will happen. Perhaps the events begin to line up in your favor, but of course, this will not happen without work on your part.

And believe me, a lot of hard work and a great organization it’s also needed to bring your goal alive. I think the most irresponsible recommendation anyone can give to another is that the life you have always dreamed happen magically just because they want to.

Leave everything behind including your family and friends need to have a very clear decision, or a lot of guts and / or be deeply desperate. The constantly live outside your comfort zone you will know your limitations and capabilities.

Being out of the comfort zone makes you can not hide for long the real you, or yourself, or others. Or even that nothing can happen, nothing really changed and you do not find that you went to look at the world with such enthusiasm.

The experience of traveling can be one of the most valuable in your life, if you know avail. Your perspective and world view will change and learn to solve problems in a practical way.

Perhaps most important to keep in mind if you really want to make a long trip it is:
In the best case scenario you can find your place in the world, or a job that suits your tastes and needs the end of your trip. So even find how to live your life as a digital nomad. And in the worst case, you will do the same as before but you did not like a place you like most and definitely a life experience that will help you better understand the world around you and yourself.

You don’t even need to be rich to travel the world –> Check here more about!

At the end of the day, to find happiness, like the Buddhists, it is to find a deep equanimity inside ourselves.

                                Dreams are possible, maybe it will not be easy, but will be worth it