traditional Sri Lankan fishing boat – photo courtesy of Sri Lankan Tourist Board on Flickr CC

I’d like to thank LashWorldTour for publishing this article on their site. I love coming here and getting inspiration for my next great adventure! When you’re done reading this post, you should definitely check out their post on something even I may be crazy enough to try—cave diving in Budapest! Get inspired—this blog is the place to be!

The Practical Points of Quitting Your Job to Travel the World

It’s just a wild fantasy to most people. If you’re like the majority of us, there’s a list of reasons a mile long why you can’t just drop everything and become a globe-trotting gypsy. And hey, it’s understandable. Life gets in the way.

We have pets, bills, responsibilities, families—an entire list of reasons why it’s just too crazy to completely uproot our lives and do something we couldn’t have pictured in our wildest dreams. But no matter how long your list of reasons, if traveling the world is something you truly aspire to do, you can make it happen, and here’s how:

international currencies

Make a Plan

Most traveling is best done by the seat of your pants, but when you’re making the transition to this lifestyle, it’s important to get a plan in place before you jump on your first flight. Namely, financially.

Make sure you have a sizable emergency fund to tap into if something happens, but reserve that money, don’t just dip into at every turn. Set yourself a savings goal for your emergency fund that covers at least a month’s worth of living expenses (lodging, meals, transportation), plus a sizable amount for travel costs.

Once you have your emergency fund put together, start figuring out how you’re going to pay for things as you go. Do you have a skill that you can do on the fly anywhere? Can you work remotely? Ideally, telecommuting is the best way to earn money while you travel, without cutting into the lifestyle. More on that later.

Finally, it’s time to start looking at what it’s going to take to “shut down” your old life. Determine how long you’re going to travel and how many ties you want to cut with where you’re living. Is it worth it to keep your home? Have you set a date to have utilities shut off? If you’re keeping your house, do you have someone lined up to keep an eye on things?

If you plan to keep your home, one option for earning an income passively is to rent it out and hire a caretaker to ensure the property is maintained while you’re away. Sure, you won’t be able to drop in whenever you like, but depending on how often you actually plan on being there, it can be well worth it.

Working Online and Why It’s Every Traveler’s Best Friend

I know, there are a ton of scams out there, and not everybody likes trying to hawk essential oils and fitness drinks. But I promise you, you absolutely can work online without ever being tied to a geographic location. It’s called telecommuting, and increasingly more, these jobs are becoming extremely common. What do you think I do for a living?

As a traveler though, it’s important to remember that not every country is going to have the same internet access. Censorship and geo-restrictions can be a real problem, and not having access can literally lock you out of anything from Google to Skype.

Before you start your journey, install a VPN on any device you intend to use for work. Not only do Virtual Private Networks secure your data (so it’s safe to use public WiFi), but they also give you access to any blocked website, no matter where you are.

But you have to install one before you go. Needless to say, in places where VPNs are necessary, they’re usually blocked.

Don’t Forget the Paperwork

There is nothing more crippling to a travel experience than not having the proper credentials. Keep your passport in a secure location (something easily stolen, such as a purse or a gym bag, may not be the best option), and always keep copies of everything in multiple places.

If you can, keep the original documents in your “home base” location, whether that’s your home or a safe deposit box, and have a contact back home that you can get in touch with if you need something faxed in a hurry.

Important documents to bring with you include (but are definitely not limited to):

• Passport—original and a copy
• Driver’s license
• Copies of vaccine records, birth certificate(s) (especially if you’re travelling with young children), proof of residence (utility bill)
• Visa—if required
• Any written prescriptions for medicines you need to take

Also make sure to have hard copies of important phone numbers and addresses (Google can’t always save you), such as your local embassy. Always place these documents strategically throughout your belongings, so that if one bag is stolen, everything isn’t gone.

view of Himalayan peaks on my flight from Kathmandu to Delhi

Embrace Your New Lifestyle, Adjust Your Expectations

The life of a nomad in today’s modern era is an enviable one—exotic locales, fascinating cultures—it’s the stuff that most people only dream of. That being said, there are a few sacrifices you’re going to have to make, but don’t let them bring you down or hold you back.

Keep in mind that the more you’re away, the less realistic it will be to have pets or long term personal projects that require upkeep, such as gardens. In an age where many people are turning back to the old ways of doing things, it’s important to remember that it’s unlikely you can participate in homesteading practices such as growing your own food or raising livestock.

You can travel the world, but unless you’re comfortable with entrusting someone with a large amount of responsibility, it’s important to recognize that you’ll likely have to choose between traveling and a white picket fence—and that’s okay. Life is about taking chances, so don’t be afraid to take the plunge.

It’s hard to imagine it’s even possible, but seriously, even if you have kids, even if you have a job, it can be done. You can quit your job, start working online or renting out your house (or both) and homeschool the kids on the road. What makes a better lesson plan than immersing them in new cultures?

Traveling the world is just one of those things. You plan what you can. You make smart choices, but ultimately, you just have to take the plunge and see how it goes. With enough dedication and fire, you can make it happen—I promise.

Have you ever taken a leap of faith and made a major lifestyle change before? How did it go? Tell us below in the comments!

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