As the title says, there are 7 days in a week, and someday isn’t one of them. Let someday be today. No excuses.
Like many people, I’m a victim of procrastination, especially when it comes to taking a trip. For years I would look up airfares and say to myself, “I’ll just wait until the prices go down,” or “I’ll wait until life is slower and I have time,” or “I’ll wait until I have more money.” I wanted to travel, but the old saying is true: when you have the money, you don’t have the time; when you have the time, you don’t have the money. Someday when you’re retired, someday when you quit your job, someday when your kids are grown…well, each week has 7 days and someday isn’t one of them.
I worked in an office for five years and traveled, but rarely. I had the money but didn’t want to take those precious days off. For five years, I regret not living my life to the fullest and feeling like I wasted my best years. Why have days off if you’re not going to take them? Make the most of being young, fit, and able and get out there to see the world even if it’s only little by little.
I left my job and had no source of income, so I thought outside the box and found a way to travel and make money. It required traveling for 9 months, but that was great for me! At least I had time and money. This is an option for the right person, but not for everybody.
Can you travel without having an overseas job? Of course! Don’t let money hold you back. Without a job, you’re more flexible; you can search for the cheapest days in the cheapest seasons to travel. You can choose the cheapest places to go, with actually are usually the most off-the-beaten-path and interesting places. And I always say, if there’s a road that looks interesting, you should always take it because you never know what you could find at the end. If you find a flight to Bosnia and Herzegovina in February for $300, don’t think about, just do it. (Just for the record, Bosnia is in a beautiful part of the world!)
Also, if money is the issue, don’t be scared of hostels, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnbs. Hostels aren’t as bad as Americans think; they’re not crawling with bugs and criminals. In fact, hostels are only different from hotels in that they’re missing the required amenities of hotels (whether it’s a 24-hour front desk, TV in the room, it isn’t located on the first floor of the building, etc.) Hotels have strict requirements and hostels can be better, just missing one crucial part. So hostels actually are more similar to bed and breakfasts, which Americans believe are quaint and cute (and they are!) Airbnbs are actually one of the best ways to travel because they’re cheap, sometimes negotiable, and give you a local vibe. Check all options and don’t be scared of a stereotype if you’re on a budget.
What if you have kids? The way I see it, you have three options: take them with you for a family vacation, get a babysitter at home and go on a romantic couples vacation, or take turns going somewhere solo or with friends. There’s always an answer to any excuse because at the end of the day, that’s all you’re doing: making excuses. Instead, make plans.
The only thing you need when you’re planning to travel is a good attitude. There’s no good excuse for putting it off! Let someday be…
What motivates and inspires you? How do you grab “today” by the horns and make it your own? Leave me some inspiration in the comments below!
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P.S. You might also like I Swear I Lived and 10 Reasons Why Traveling Is a Terrible Idea
Love Love Love the title….I could relate to it very well. I had quite my job three years ago and started traveling, and I wonder why I couldn’t have done it sooner 🙂 Yes, I did reach a point where I have to look for cheaper means of travel, but then again, I noticed it’s more fun now..it means i get out of my comfort zone more and more…
Love this! Very inspiring and feel like you are giving the motivational words that I want every person I know to hear. Someday is TODAY
I agree…. Sometimes you have to step out on faith…. I’m so much more happy making less money working part time yet having the the flexibility to travel whenever
Wow – I love love love this article and spoke to the heart! Great writing style too, by the way! It’s so true though, we need to stop making excuses. We WILL find a way if we really want to do something! I am so excited travel more in 2016!
I love this!
Ever since I could start working the purpose was to make money to go to places. I’ve been lucky that I’ve always had understanding bosses who have encouraged me to make the most of my life.
While the work I do can be tedious, I recently read a Cheryl Staryd quote that really hit home: ‘The useless days will add up to something. The shitty waitressing job. The hours writing in your journal. The long meandering walks. The hours reading poetry and story collections and novels and dead people’s diaries and wondering about sex and God and whether you should shave under your arms or not. These things are your becoming.’
I love this quote! Really makes you think 🙂
Totally agree! Lovely written post. I think we should just do more rather than thinking what could be done! the world is too beautiful than not to be seen 🙂
Couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂
Why put everything off to the future, when now is the only real thing you will ever know! There is nothing like right now… travelers know this 🙂
I’m the queen of procrastination when it comes to boring things, never with travel though. Life’s just too short to miss out on seeing the world!
I agree!
I’m not a huge fan of this whole “Quit your job and go traveling for the rest of your life” thing, but this is mainly because I do love my job 😉 It’s great to see others following their passions, though! I think it is very brave to leave your comfort zone and everything secure and plunge into a new adventure, so well done!
It’s hard to quit your job and travel for the rest of your life anyway because you need to be able to support your travels, but I was letting my job get in my way and finding excuses not to travel. For 5 years I barely went anywhere because I was afraid to take time off of work. Now I realize I wasted 5 good years of my 20’s! I just want to keep people from making the same mistake. But if you love your job….hook me up! I want to love my job too!! 🙂
Well that job wasn’t for you, then! It’s a good thing you quit!
Haha and I don’t know if you would like my job, I work as a legal secretary! I do have interesting cases but it can be quite stressful, too. It has never kept me from traveling either, so I’m quite satisfied with it. Maybe blogging about your travels should become your new job then? 😉
Lovely and inspiring! I always have loved that Dr. Seuss poem with “You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
🙂
Leaving the comfort zone is one of the hardest things to do. I’m not sure I would ever be brave enough to just leave, but I will always admire those who do. I see you visited Croatia too during your trip 🙂
The thought of leaving your comfort zone is harder than actually doing it – once you’re there, it’s not so different from being home (even if it’s a different language)! The scariest moments are leading up to that big flight! And yes, Croatia was incredible – we spent 5 days in Dubrovnik, which was actually our longest time in one place. I wish I had checked out more of the country while we were there though, I have to go back!