How to Travel the World While Working Full-Time
- 22/01/2024
Balancing a full-time job with your wanderlust might seem impossible, but it’s entirely doable with the right strategies. Over the past eight years, I’ve explored incredible destinations while maintaining several 9-to-5 jobs. If I can do it, so can you! Here are the practical tips that have worked for me – and can work for you too
1. Be Intentional About Traveling
Traveling while working full-time starts with making it a priority. For me, this meant setting clear travel goals and treating them, literally, as non-negotiable. Whether it was a weekend getaway or an annual leave adventure, I made sure to plan and stick to my plans.
As someone wisely said, “We make time for what feels important to us. If you haven’t made time for something, you haven’t convinced yourself that it’s important enough.” Over the years, this mindset has helped me carve out time for travel without compromising my job
2. Start with Short Trips
You don’t need weeks off to travel. Short trips can be just as rewarding and far easier to plan. Use weekends to your advantage – leave on Friday evening, explore over the weekend, and return by Sunday night. In Tanzania, every region offers something unique, from cultural experiences to stunning natural wonders. Short trips also help you discover what kind of travel you enjoy most, making future planning easier
Remember Malcolm Gladwell’s words: “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” Start small, and you’ll build confidence for bigger adventures.
3. Travel with Friends
Traveling with friends makes trips more fun and easier to plan. You can split costs like fuel and accommodation, and divide tasks like booking transport or researching activities. Just ensure your travel buddies share your enthusiasm – otherwise, you might end up with endless plans that never materialize
As the saying goes, “Everyone needs this friend that calls and says, ‘Get dressed, we’re going on an adventure.’”
4. Join Travel Companies or Groups
If planning trips feels overwhelming, let someone else handle the logistics. Tour companies and travel groups often organize weekend getaways or holiday trips at affordable rates. All you need to do is show up and enjoy the experience. This is a great way to explore new places without the stress of planning
As someone once said, “Sharing adventures means enjoying them 100% more.”
5. Maximize Your Holidays
Public holidays and annual leave are golden opportunities for travel. Plan your leave strategically to extend your time off. For example, if a public holiday falls on a Friday, take leave from Monday to Thursday – you’ll get nine days off while using only four leave days. This approach lets you enjoy longer trips without exhausting your leave balance
As Charles Horton Cooley put it, “To get away from one’s working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one’s self, and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.”
6. Turn Work Trips into Adventures
If your job involves travel, use it as an opportunity to explore. For instance, if you’re on a work trip to a new region, plan a side visit to nearby attractions during your free time. Just remember to prioritize work and ensure your adventures don’t interfere with your responsibilities
As the saying goes, “Play with your salary, not your work.”
7. Invest in a Travel-Friendly Car
Having your car gives you the freedom to travel on your schedule. It doesn’t have to be a luxury SUV – a reliable car can take you almost anywhere. If your car isn’t suitable for certain terrains, consider renting one at your destination
As Jack Kerouac said, “All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.”
TLDR?
Balancing work and travel is achievable with planning and smart strategies. If you find juggling these tips challenging or lack the time, I can help. Contact me for personalized travel planning. I’ll create a seamless and adventurous itinerary, allowing you to focus on enjoying your hard-earned time off. Let’s make your travel dreams a reality