How to travel the world with a Full Time job?
Living Young, Financially Responsible & Free
So many people feel pressured to quite their 9–5 jobs to travel the world. Don’t know what to do with your life? Wondering if you should quit your job or take a year off to travel? You’re not alone. So many of us (Millennials) are opting for the travel now and work later lifestyle. While this might sound like a dream come true for many, for others it might not be as easy as it sounds. Not having a stable source of income to cover your student loan debt or car/house payments, can often be enough to keep many of us grounded. But, there is a way to balance both work and travel. I am about to propose an alternative for those who want to leave their suits and ties behind but love their job, their communities and the people around them too much to pack it all up and leave without a plan.
For me, life after graduation was not quite how I imagined it at first, but I definitely made the changes necessary to shape the type of life I wanted to live. I landed a solid Marketing job with a up and coming startup, got a new car, weekends off and paid vacations and benefits. Doesn’t get much better than that right? Wrong. There was still a part of me that felt empty. Like many others, i knew I had to start making every moment in my life count. If not, one year would quickly turn into 5 then 10 and I would regret not taking the time to travel and explore this beautiful planet. Here is different ways you can introduce a Work/Travel Balance into your lifestyle and make sure you can take the time off you need to get lost and explore.
- Bring your Work Abroad
First off, this is not always an option, but if you have a job that can easily be accomplished with a laptop and a good internet connection, you should be able to convince your employer to accommodate your travel lifestyle by being a digital nomad. With the rise in tech startups, you will most likely be able to find a job that fits this description. But be aware, you will need to gain your manager’s trust before being accepted to work outside of the office.
Don’t be fooled, this will not be a walk in the park. Working abroad will take some discipline, as you will be required to work at unusual hours to make up for the time difference. However this can be a great way to allow you to prolong your stay. In many cases, some people find it easier to work while away on vacation, due to the warm sunny skies and comfortable beach chairs. I know this would definitely be enough to motivate me to do amazing work.
2. Find a Seasonal Job
This is another popular option. Why not find an employer that only works during the spring/summer then get away during the cold winters or vice versa? Obviously you may need to save a bit more for that travel fund, however you have the luxury of being off for an extended period of time, which can be utilized to travel around the world.
Remember since you don’t get to choose what period of time you want to travel, look for popular destinations for the seasons that you are not working. Avoid going to areas during the rain or tropical storm season.
3. Bank Overtime hours for Vacation Time
Only have two weeks paid vacation? No problem, ask your employer if you can work overtime and bank that extra time towards your vacation days. This will allow you to extend the stay and explore places across the atlantic ocean that may require a bit more time.
4. Travel during Slow Periods
Can you escape the office during a slower period of time to avoid leaving your co-workers in unmanageable work conditions? If so, why not make this time count and take the possible time off to explore! Like in the case of a seasonal job, it’s important to remember to look at weather conditions and best times to visit certain places since you don’t have the luxury of choosing the period of time that you can travel. But, when you have the urge to travel, you will take advantage of every opportunity to travel available. The only thing that stand in your way is others looking for a getaway. Therefore make sure you plan your vacation time in advance.
5. Time-Off Without Pay
Now, I wouldn’t recommend this strategy, unless it was a last resort. But it is an option if you can afford to leave your job without pay for a certain amount of time. Now the length of the salary freeze will depend on the savings that you have managed to accumulate of course.
If you are able to work while traveling or have other sources of income on top of your full time job, then this will become manageable and you can then extend your trip for as long as your employer will allow. You might need to consider the timing of your trip again like I mentioned above to simplify the approval process, but if you have all your cards lined up, this is an option that will allow you to explore on your terms.
Don’t let your 9–5 stop you from doing the things you love
I am extremely happy to say that I have managed to introduce a balance in my life even with a busy full time job and part time consulting obligations. I have organised myself to make the most of every moment and take every trip possible before it’s too late. I first started living this lifestyle in 2015 after a year of full time employment when we visited Central America and Backpacked across Costa Rica. Now, South East Asia is on the horizon for March of 2017! This is only the beginning, as I look forward to keep traveling to the many backpackers destinations that exist around the world.
My advice to you, don’t let your 9–5 stop you from doing the things you love. You don’t have to quit your job to make the most of your life. You’re never too busy to follow your dreams. Instead of counting the days until your retirement, why not make the days count instead.
