9 Things to do While You are Waiting to Travel

April 23, 2020   19 Comments »

9 Things to do While You are Waiting to Travel

April 27, 2010 19 Comments »

If you are going to travel around the world, it requires patience.

I hear from many people who want to travel, but they have to wait for the right time to begin their journey.

Sometimes they have to wait for money, for a school degree, banking enough time off, for a wedding, for a child to leave the nest, or for work reasons. If you don’t have the patience to sit it out and wait for these things, then I can guarantee that you won’t have the patience to survive the rest of the world like India, SE Asia, and certainly Eastern Africa.

I Had to Wait for the Right Time To Travel Around the World

I started my around the world trip in September of 2006, however leading up to that point I had to do a lot of waiting. I came up with the idea of taking a career break and traveling around the world in 2005, but due to financial reasons, I couldn’t just quit my job immediately and then start planning my around the world travel. Lord knows I wanted to as I was miserable in my day to day life and knew that I had to make changes. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this thought.

waiting to travel

Lady in Waiting

However, once I did some research and ran my financial numbers, I knew I had to wait for about 1 1/2 to 2 years before I could really leave my job to go travel. Two years is a long time to wait for something as exciting as around the world travel, however it was a necessary part of the preparation process.

9 Useful Things You Can do While Waiting to Travel Around the World

1. Take a Class To Improve a Skill You’ll Need While Traveling

Odds are that when you do launch into your trip you’ll want to record it digitally via photos or video. So why not use this waiting period to learn one of these skills or improve upon what you may already know. Take a photography class or video editing class and finally learn how to use your camera(s) BEFORE you are on your trip fumbling with the controls and trying to read the user manual.

photography class while you wait to travel

Camera Gear

The year before I left, I took a multiple photography classes in Manhattan after work to learn how to use a DSLR, composition, and storytelling.  Prior to that, I had never taken a photography class in my life.

For Photography or Videography, you can look online for local in-person classes in your city/region, or you can go the online route.

2.  Learn the Technology You Will Use to Communicate and Teach it to Others

A communication plan while you are on the road is important.  How will you stay in touch with family and friends when you are on the road.  If it’s texting, WhatsApp, Zoom, Facetime, Duo, Skype, Messenger, or the myriad of other technologies popping up.  If you have older family members or friends, they may not be as comfortable using this technology – so this is your time to ‘train’ them on how you want to communicate.  My parents were 75 when I taught them how to use Skype and even though it had some bumps along the way – they now know that’s how we stay in touch and can see each other when we are so far apart!

3.  Use Guide Books for Inspiration

Make a trip to your local bookstore or online store and ‘wander’ through the travel section. I could spend hours in the travel section of a bookstore. Looking thru guides and glossy photo books; reading about festivals all over the world and plotting my own itinerary and dreaming of what is to come.  This will provide you inspiration and keep you focused on your goal.

best travel books

4.  Read Travel Blogs

The travel blogs are plentiful and I can guarantee that with a little research you can find one that ‘speaks to you’ and your situations or style of travel. This is a great chance for you to ask questions and get to know others who have done what you are planning to do! Don’t just read them, engage the bloggers in conversation; we love that! Don’t know where to start? Here are a few of my favorites:

Insatiable Traveler
HoneyTrek
Dangerous Business
TravelPast50
CleverDeverWherever
TravelingJackie
Hecktic Travels

5.  Meet Up

Meet up with other travelers in your area.  This is your chance to find a ‘travel buddies’ in your area to keep you inspired.  People who you can share your plans with and ask questions.  One great way to find people is simply go to Meetup.com and search on travel groups in your area.  You may be surprised how many people there are out there like you!

meetup

Socializing after dinner via a Bookalokal event in Brussels

6.  File it!

Use the above ideas to start a file of research. Cut out clippings, save website urls, bookmark guide books and start jotting down notes about what you want to do and where you want to go. Get organized!

7.  Speak the Language

Why not start to embrace your international wanderlust and brush up on or learn a language of one of the countries you intend to visit. It will most certainly get your excited about your upcoming travels, and you’ll learn more about that country through simply becoming more in tune with the language.

I took Italian classes while I was waiting to travel.  During those classes I learned about an Italian language school in Italy.  I decided to add it to my itinerary  by signing up for a month in Italy to also brush up on my language!

8. Start Researching and Buying the Travel Gear you Will Need for your Around the World Trip

Start researching gear that you may want for travel and start getting some of the stuff you need now.  In fact, by planning early on this you’ll also find sales and specials.  One good place to start is my Amazon online travel store to get ideas of items that are great to take with you and that make your travel life easier!

Ottsworld travel gear & gift guide

9.  Start Your Own Blog

Start to record your journey; many people blog about their travels, but few people blog about preparing for their travels. You may inspire others by blogging about your preparation mentally and physically.

And if you are looking for a great course on blogging, check out Nomadic Matt’s Superstar Blogging.  This will get you inspired and motivated to start blogging about your travels so you have a record of your trip!

Consider this ‘waiting period’ as your training for future travel; if you can work at perfecting this skill, then you will be on the road to a good travel experience!

How do you spend your time waiting to travel?


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