**This blog is part 2 of a 5-part series on common reasons why people don't travel, as well as ways to combat those excuses**
"Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six -hundred min-utes.
How do you measure,
Measure a year?"
Yeah, you totally sang that in your head.
Well then. In that case:
"how about...
travellllll?"
Time is weird. A social construct (I'll try to not get too philosophical). But think about it. The great equalizer. No matter your make-up, age, or wealth, we all are given the same amount of time in a day, a week, and a year.
What are you doing with it?
Trip-Killer Excuse #2
"I am way too busy"
Everyone is busy.
We have school. Work. Maybe a pet. Maybe a kid. Or a partner. Life is good at pulling us in a thousand directions at once. Sometimes, we are just trying to get through the day. Or the week. With all of the obligations, how you YOU take care of YOU?
Travel can be medicine for the diagnosis of stress. Use it!
Turn off the mind and be in the present
It's hard to turn off life sometimes. With phones basically attached to our hands, we are ALWAYS plugged in. Ever feel that little bead of sweat build up when you hear an email notification? When is the last time you really felt focused on one thing or felt focused on the present?
By getting out of your current environment and traveling, you have a better chance of turning off your brain from the stressors of life. Leave those worries in your hometown when you hit the road! Focus only on the stress of choosing which fun thing you'll do when you arrive at your destination.
Something to look forward to
Do you feel like you are just going through the motions at work and or life? It can be easy to check off the days one by one and not really experience anything. (Example: what did you do last Thursday evening? You probably can't remember, right?).
Traveling gives us something to look forward to and a way to be more intentional with our time. Maybe you want to go to the beach in May. Circle that on the calendar! Maybe it's something smaller - checking out that city a few hours away that you have been meaning to get to. Regardless, those little goals/wishes are the things that can keep you going.
Accommodate as needed
Maybe you aren't the only person to be considered in the equation when thinking about travel. Perhaps you have a significant other, or a 4-legged child. While this can be used as a deterrent to not travel, it shouldn't be a brick wall. Talk with your partner about months/seasons that serve best as your "travel time". Hopefully you have times that will overlap. If you have a pet, look for trips that can accommodate your furry friend (outdoor adventures, pet-friendly hotels, etc.) Or you can take the route of setting up a dog-sitter for your time away.
Life is cray. Always has been, always will be. We can fall in the trap and reflect back what we hear often in society- "I am just way too busy". Yeap. We all can be. But take charge of your schedule! Carve out a little bit of time here and there to make plans for your next adventure. Then take it.
I promise, you won't regret it.
-MT
(P.S. - Maybe you're not too busy for a trip, but you can't find the time and/or vacation days for your trip. We'll tackle that next week.)