When Your Heart Says “Travel!” But Your Head Says “Bills!”
Wanderlust is the most wonderful and yet most terrible affliction. When it strikes, you are instantly hooked on the euphoric side effects brought on by each encounter with the new and unknown. The kaleidoscope of smells, sights, and sounds of a foreign land lingers in your heart and mind, constantly drawing you back there when you least expect it. The only treatment for this affliction is to keep traveling, to experience the fresh and exciting and sometimes scary aspects of a place outside of your regular routine. Yet the more you experience all that the world has to offer, the more you yearn for that amazing, intoxicating feeling of satiation when you step into another culture and way of life.
Wanderlust is one hell of an addiction.
Sometimes the pull to travel is so strong that it literally makes my heart hurt with yearning; other times it’s just a tiny but insistent whisper distracting me from my daily tasks. But one thing is for sure — it is always, always there. And it can quickly go from a whisper to a roar, especially on those days when you’d give nearly anything to escape real life if even for a few moments. Today is one of those days for me…
It’s Administrative Professionals Day here in the U.S. — a day when the secretaries, assistants, bookkeepers, and other administrative workers who secretly run the world are supposed to be recognized and appreciated for their contributions to the workplace. As a professional legal assistant, I have spent the majority of my adult life thus far working my tail off to keep the proverbial ship afloat at my place of employment. Late nights, unexpected overtime, difficult personalities, and tight deadlines are a natural part of the landscape in this field, and many times there is no recognition for the hard work that goes along with the territory. Generally I navigate this with a smile on my face and no complaints because the job is lucrative and, not to toot my own horn but, I’m really good at what I do. But today, despite six years of dedicated service, not a single superior remembered that it’s MY day. On days like this, my heart keeps pleading, “For the love of God, quit your job and just GO!” But then my brain steps in and reminds me that I have bills to pay and other adult responsibilities.
So what is one to do when the head and the heart are in such conflict? We hear stories all the time about people who throw caution to the wind and embark on travel journeys — but what if you’re just not quite there yet? Here are some tactics that I use to keep from losing my mind on days like this:
Make a Travel Bucket List. Seems pretty obvious, right? Seriously, though, take a moment to honestly think about how often you find yourself dreaming of places you’ve been and places you want to go. Whether you write it down in a journal, type it into the Notes app on your phone, or just run through a mental checklist, making a travel bucket list will not only help to distract your mind but will also give you a starting point for planning future adventures!
Pin It! Pinterest is, in my opinion, one of the greatest websites ever invented. Before Pinterest, we were forced to use all sorts of strategies to remember cool stuff that we saw on the internet. Now we have access to a veritable one stop shop of all the internet has to offer, handily organized by subject and searchable by keyword. Rather than writing down my travel bucket list, I’ve made several travel boards which you can view here. On days when my wanderlust is in overdrive, I can take a mental expedition through any number of destinations with just a few clicks of my mouse. This is also helpful when using my next tactic:
Plan a Trip. One of the most exciting aspects of travel is planning adventures and researching information on the place(s) you’re going to visit. Why not put that wishful thinking to good use and plan for the places you want to go and things you want to see while you’re there? Whether it’s a bucket list location or just a short weekend getaway, it doesn’t cost a single cent to peruse TripAdvisor, Fodors, Lonely Planet, Virtual Tourist, Airbnb, or any number of other travel sites. Instagram and Twitter can also be good resources for ideas and inspirations for your next trip. And as a bonus, you’ll have a stock of itineraries on hand for future getaways!
Like any other addiction, the only true remedy for wanderlust is to get your fix by hitting the road for a bit. In the meantime, though, you can use some of these suggestions to stem the craving until the next adventure becomes a reality.
Do you have a favorite way to deal when your wanderlust flares up? I’d love to hear your suggestions! Please share with us in the comments below!
