How to quit your job and travel the world in a year

Ah, the allure of an adventure. The tempting promise of a full year of doing nothing but travelling from one country to another. Eating like the locals and being one with the culture. I guess this is a dream for the most of us.

Sadly, not everybody can just pack up their bags and go ride a plane to wherever because we have jobs. Jobs that put food on the table and that extra pack of sweets for when you are feeling down. But anybody can dream, right?

Well, what if I tell you that you can actually travel the world in a year. You start by quitting your job. Everything should be easy from that point on.

Should I really quit my job?

The first thing you have to understand about travelling is that it’s meant to free your spirit. With a job, you can’t do that because your work will always pull you back to the real world. You wouldn’t want that to happen in the middle of a ritual in Nepal, right?

But before you do. Here are some things you need to think about first.

1. Your intentions 

There are plenty of people who have decided to quit their jobs to travel but ended up in failure. It’s not because they didn’t have the money. It’s not even because they couldn’t adapt to the nomadic lifestyle. It’s because they were never really sold on the idea in the first place. Why do you want to travel? Is it because it will make you look cool? Maybe because that cute guy at the gym will totally go crazy over your stories? When you decide to quit your job to travel the world, you should be mentally ready and prepared for what is ahead of you. 

2. Your Savings 

Before you go say goodbye to your boss, check if you have enough savings. Remember that although you can still earn a few pennies while travelling, you should always have enough money to cover the necessities. Find out how much you will need to travel then save up. This means having to cut the usual twice a day Starbucks trip to zero. Don’t quit your job unless you have enough savings plus some extra cash. The last thing you want is to have no money in the middle of Mongolia.

3. Your Travel Budget

So you have your savings and you are really set on travelling the world. What’s the next step? Create a budget. Read up on other people’s experiences and create a budget for your adventure. Plot a map of your prospective destinations. “Your travel budget will depend mostly on how you want to travel. Do you want to travel in style and class? Get a stellar budget. But if you are fine with the bare necessities and a few luxuries here and there then it’s easier to create a flexible budget. Just make sure you do your research on your destinations. Ask other people who have travelled there. Be smart. Be wise.” says Thomas, a nomad who currently works as a diver at Atlantis diving centre in Malta.

4. Your Earnings 

Now this is the part where you will go “Huh? But I quit my job and now you want me to work?” But before you storm out, please hear me out first. Unless you are a long-lost heir of the Hilton’s or are the child of a Hollywood star, it will be hard for you to save up for a whole year of travelling. Getting the cheapest flights, eating cheap food, and not spending on unnecessary stuff can only get you so far. You should find a way to earn while travelling. In the past, this was quite hard and you might end up busking your way throughout the year. Nowadays, you can just bring a laptop and work remotely. It doesn’t matter if you write a blog, do some minor programming gigs, or work as a virtual assistant. The important thing here is that you should have enough income for unexpected expenses.

While quitting your job to spend a year travelling might sound like a very risky idea, it is doable if you plan well and if you are really set on doing it. Go make a memory out there. You deserve it.