What I Wish I'd Known Before Leaving My Job to Travel

Just because you loved the week you spent backpacking around Cambodia doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy doing the same thing for months on end. Travelling long-term isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Consider whether your itch would be scratched with an extra-long holiday instead.

Specifically, how are you going to manage it? If you’ve got a trust fund or have been saving for years, great. If not, consider how to begin padding your savings account or think about the possibility of working while abroad.

Some people travel to discover more about who they are, and that’s alright. Just don’t expect all your problems to disappear because you’re in a tuk-tuk instead of at your desk. If you’re unhappy with yourself, your choices and your relationships, you won’t be able to run away and leave those problems behind.

You’re thrilled about the countries you’re going to visit and the amazing sights you’re going to see and many of your friends will be nothing but excited for you. Others might react with bewilderment that you’re leaving a traditional life path to do something unusual. Some might even be jealous. If you’re happy with your decisions, you’ll be fine.

Life is not like Instagram and not everything will magically fall into place while you travel. You should be ready for cockroaches, cancelled trains and toilets that are very different to the ones you’re used to. Then you’ll look down at an amazing view and thank your lucky stars that you were able to leave your job to travel. Be prepared for ups and downs.

Don’t bring too much stuff. You don’t want to be laden with old memories when you’re trying to make new ones. Do your research about what gadgets you need and which you won’t – a waterproof phone case might be handy, but do you really need that portable clothes lines?

If you’re a planner this can be hard, but the nature of travelling is going with the flow and seeing what looks good. If you fall in love with a city while you’re visiting, stay a little longer. If the weather turns terrible in one country, go to another! You could have the best experience by diverging from what you’d intended.

It’s impossible to do everything. Don’t fall into the trap of spending hours on review websites searching for the very best places to get street food – just go outside and experience life in the place you’re in.

You’re living your dream and that’s amazing – but your friends at home are also living theirs, which means you might miss out on attending weddings, meeting babies and going to that fabulous party. It’s okay to miss what you’ve left behind. Combat it by keeping in touch with friends and family and Skyping your dog when you’ve finally found a steady WI-Fi connection.

You’ll make friends while you’re abroad but you’ll also probably spend a decent amount of time by yourself. Being alone in a foreign country can be scary. If you’re not comfortable in your own head, it might be a good idea to learn how to spend quality time with yourself before you leave.

Say yes to the road trip suggestion and the invite to grab a beer. Celebrate your differences and work out how you’re the same. Write everything down and take as many photos as possible.