Why You Should Never Quit Your Job To Travel
It’s a dream that many of us have: quit our mundane 9-to-5 jobs, sell all of our belongings, and travel the world. After all, life is too short to be stuck in a cubicle, and there’s so much of the world to see.
While it may be tempting to up and leave everything behind to travel, there are several drawbacks that you should be aware of before embarking on such an unpredictable adventure. It’s a permanent vacation, and many things can go wrong. Let’s explore some of the downsides below.
14 reasons why you shouldn’t quit your job to travel
1. You’ll get homesick
No matter how much you love traveling, there will be times when you miss home. Maybe you’ll miss your bed after sleeping in a series of hostel dorms, or maybe you’ll crave a home-cooked meal after eating out for weeks on end.
Whatever it is, homesickness is inevitable—and it’s only natural.
2. Traveling is expensive
Sure, there are ways to travel on the cheap, but let’s be real—traveling generally isn’t cheap. If you’re used to living paycheck to paycheck, chances are you’re not going to have a ton of extra cash to spend on activities and attractions while you’re on the road.
And without a job, you won’t have any income to fall back on if you find yourself in a bind.
3. You might get sick of it
Contrary to popular belief, traveling is not always glamorous. There will be times when you’re tired, stressed, and just plain over it.
You’ll be sick of lugging your heavy backpack around, sick of waiting in line at tourist traps, and even sick of being unable to understand what natives are saying to (or about) you.
And although learning about new cultures is fun and exciting, sooner or later, the way other people do certain things is going to start getting on your nerves.
4. It can be dangerous
There’s no denying that traveling can be dangerous—even in developed countries. In fact, many places that are considered safe for travelers have their fair share of crime.
You could get mugged, pickpocketed, or seriously harmed. And if you’re in an unfamiliar place, it can be hard to get help if something does go wrong.
5. It’s hard to stick to a budget
When you’re traveling, it’s easy to overspend. No matter how much money you saved beforehand, it will never be enough. Believe us.
There are always new things to see and do, and it’s tempting to want to do it all. But if you’re not careful, you could quickly find yourself blowing through your savings.
6. You might lose touch with people back home
When you travel, chances are you’re going to meet new people and make new friends—which is great! But as you move from place to place, it can be difficult to keep in touch with the people you left behind.
You might exchange a few emails or texts at first, but eventually, communication will start to dwindle. And before you know it, you’ll have lost touch with some of your closest friends and family members.
7. You could have trouble finding a job when you get back
When you take an extended break from the workforce, it can be difficult to jump back in. Employers might question why you took time off in the first place, and wonder if you’re truly committed to the job.
And even if you do manage to find a job, there’s a good chance it won’t be as good as the one you left. Depending on how long you were out of the game, so to speak, you might have to start at the bottom and work your way back up.
8. Say goodbye to your things
When you travel, you can’t exactly pack up your entire life and take it with you. You’ll have to say goodbye to your furniture, your clothes, and most of your other belongings.
And unless you plan on coming back to the same place when you’re done traveling, you’ll either have to put everything in storage, which is costly, or sell everything.
9. You might hate it
Fantasy is often better than reality, and that’s definitely true when it comes to travel. Yes, there will be some amazing moments—but there will also be frustrating ones.
You might find yourself in a country where you don’t speak the language, or get lost in a city with no idea how to get back to your hotel. And even if everything goes according to plan, there’s always the possibility that you’ll become bored.
Only now, instead of having a job and home to get back to, you’ll pretty much have nothing except your health. Well, perhaps…
10. You could get sick or injured
If you get sick or injured while traveling, it can be difficult to get the medical help you need. In many countries, health care is not up to par with what you’re used to, and in others, it’s simply too expensive.
And even if you do have insurance, there’s no guarantee that it will cover you while you’re abroad. So if you do get sick or hurt, you could find yourself with a hefty medical bill.
11. You need specific travel insurance
As you’ll be traveling for an extended period, you’ll need to get specific travel insurance. Gap year insurance, for example, is a type of insurance designed for those who are taking a year off to travel.
And depending on the activities you’ll be doing while abroad, you might need to get additional coverage. For example, if you’re planning on doing any extreme sports or adventurous activities, you might need to get adventure travel insurance.
12. You might not be able to get back home
Of course, you can always come home—but there’s a chance you might not be able to. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, for example, you might find yourself stranded in a country with no money and no way to get back to your family.
And if your passport or other travel documents are lost or stolen, you could be facing a lengthy and costly process to get replacements.
13. You might not have a home to come back to
Giving up your job to travel usually means that you’re also giving up your home, seeing as you’ll be unable to pay rent on a place you’re no longer living in.
This could leave you homeless when you eventually decide to come back from your travels. You might need to move in with family or friends, or end up living in a shelter.
14. You might have trouble readjusting to “normal” life
After spending months (or even years) on the road, it can be tough to readjust to a more traditional lifestyle—especially if you’ve been living out of a backpack for an extended period of time!
Keeping a regular schedule or sticking to set mealtimes will be difficult. You might also miss the freedom and spontaneity that comes with being a traveler. All of this can make it hard to settle back into life at home.
Conclusion
We get it! The allure of travel is strong, and it can be hard to resist the urge to quit your job and hit the road. But as tempting as it may be, we urge you to think long and hard before making such a drastic decision.
Traveling can be an amazing, life-changing experience, but it’s not always easy (or cheap). So if you’re considering quitting your job to travel, we hope this article has given you something to think about.