Help! I am 27 years old and feel tired of life as i know it. I am getting married in December and my boyfriend and i are really thinking about travelling for a year as like a long honeymoon, the only thing stopping me is my job.
Do i leave a comfy job where i do really feel like i am getting anywhere to go and see the world for a year as a long honeymoon? It sounds like i have made my mind up, but i am unsure of leaving my job. Will i easily find a job when i get back? Will travelling boost that lacking confidence? Will travelling open my eyes to what is really out there? Help.......
Reply to this Hi Julie,
First congrats on your upcoming wedding! I completely understand where you are coming from, as I am 28 and have often felt tired of life as I know it :-) While I cannot say about the ease of finding a job when you get back (this very much depends on the industry you are in as well as the section of the country even), I can say this - I think traveling is, for many people, one of the biggest eye openers there is. I started when I was 16 and absolutely love it - so much so that two years ago I quit my job and opened my own travel planning company. For me, traveling has always boosted my confidence, because as I travel I feel like I'm learning more and more every day about the world, different cultures, history, art, language, etc... and most importantly I'm learning about myself. Plus being able to navigate yourself through countries where you have never been and don't speak the language always makes me feel very accomplished! Obviously it's a decision that your boyfriend and you both have to feel comfortable with your decision to leave your job, but I think that if you have the means and both have the interest and motivation to do it, I would go for it! For me, that would be a dream honeymoon!
Reply to this Hello Julie 😊
There will be other jobs. I dont think it is worth staying at home just to hold down a job.
I dont know if travelling will boost the lacking confidence but it will give you some fantastic experiences and memories.
Mel
Reply to this Im in a similar situation, hoping to travel around Nov and am so reluctant to give up my job that ive been good in for 6 years but its one of those life changin moments that hopefully work out for the best. Theres always a job when you get back even its a temp one until you find your feet again.
Once youve been its like a bug, you have to do it again and again, well i do anyway!!
Reply to this i support u and ur life friend to choose travelling in stead of waiting or delaying.
i think the best way to make decition that one day after ten year or twenty to say "yes, i did" it is very important"
how do i guess it u know because i am 42 years old.😊
Reply to this Hi Julie,
This is a good question. The answer may depends on one's personality and life experiences. If I were you, I would think about have a 2 or 3 months honeymoon travel, then explore the world step by step.
Wendy
Reply to this Hi There
Congrats on your wedding!
My boyfriend and I went travelling for 6 months in 2007 and I gave up my job and he arranged a sabbatical. Hence, all depends on your personal situation and on your employer. If you like your current job and it is right for you, I would advise you to ask for a sabbatical. I wanted to change career anyway and handing in my notice was easy. I found a job within 1 month after coming back. However, coming back is nearly more expensive than 6 months travelling (at least living in London) and I was under pressure to find a job asap and this makes it difficult to negotiate good terms. Depending on your finances, area of job etc, you might not be able to wait for the 'perfect' job? I was lucky as my boyfriend started working straight away and we had one income to pay the rent etc. and I found a job I liked in the area I wanted to work in.
In regard to confidence, I am not sure if travelling will boost your confidence in interviews etc but it will be a fantastic experience shared with your boyfriend.
Enjoy the trip! Em
Reply to this Have some grandmotherly advise from a 70 year old. Take that year long honeymoon. You will never regret going but, I promise, you will someday regret not going. Congratulations on the beginning of a new way of life for both of you. Happy traveling. Fran
Reply to this Hi Julie,
You realize you're asking a group of people that are primarily travelers, thus biased and will likely say yes?
To the extent it helps I'm 36, worked my "grown-up" job plus added a serving job in a restaurant for a year to save the money to do the 4 month excursion I'm currently on. Now, I had to quit the "grown-up" job as there was no way the company could reasonably hold my position for four months, even if I wanted them to (which, to be honest, I really didn't. It was time for something new). When I get back, I am promised the serving job for at least immediate cash and will find another source of income. I say this so you know where I'm coming from when I try to offer an answer...
Yes, do the trip so long as you can reasonably afford it. As Fran says, you'll never really regret doing it, but will always "what if" for not doing it. You will find another job when you return, even if it's not immediately a "dream job". There's the saying "necessity is the mother of invention". You'll eventually need food and shelter, so you'll invent a way to get income - namely meaning you'll find something for a job. As far as confidence...I would say traveling and learning to deal with situations that are unfamiliar requiring you to act as there's no one nearby to do it for you will very likely increase confidence. In fact, I've heard that everyone should actually travel on their own for some amount of time as when you have to make all your own decisions, you learn confidence in yourself quickly if you didn't have it before. I realize you're getting married (to which I add my congrats) so you'll have a companion to help with decisions, but between the two of you you'll have no choice but to make all of your decisions of yourselves. People will help you in small situations as you travel, but ultimately won't make the big decisions for you...you'll do that yourselves.
This trip is my first big trip outside the States in my life other than Canada and Tijuana (if you want to call that Mexico), plus a week in Nicaragua in 2006. This trip has really reminded me over and over to have a little faith and I will ultimately be okay. I am confident one way or another, I will be just fine with my life when I return...in fact, I think it will be better with new experiences, new stories, and hopefully this trip can even help me find a new way to make income.
So, after much writing...do it!
Reply to this Thanks for all your thoughts.... I have decided to do it! x x x
Reply to this Congrats, and please keep blogging so I can live vicariously through you when I'm sitting in my office in New Jersey! If I ever re-marry, I would love to do something similar for my honeymoon if at all possible! I am envious and proud of your decision :-)
Reply to this After you have done it, come back here and reassure all those other nervous people who are worried about leaving their cushy life to travel. There are often people asking here if it is crazy to give it all up to for a backpackers insecure life. 😊
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Fran could not have put it better: "You will never regret going but, I promise, you will someday regret not going."
I just turned 48, and am planning to begin my first backpacking trip throughout Europe and Scandinavia, then possibly a train across Russia, Mongolia, and into China where I have been before.
My suggestion to everyone who is facing fear and reservations in deciding whether to travel is to picture yourself in a Nursing Home at age 93, and think of how it must feel to look back on your life wishing you had been more adventurous.
Let's each be the one at the lunch table who have the best stories to tell.
Reply to this I agree with that last quote and also the feeling of being old and your looking back on your life etc, I also feel that if you have a feeling to do something even if you are slightly unsure you should just do it otherwise the feeling will never go away unless you do,...although I am much better at giving advise than taking it. I too would love to go on a huge travel trip around the world although my long term boyf is unable to go with a good stable job he has and also doesn't seem to have the urge as much as myself....so that's whats making me unsure whether to go at the moment,..it's either move in a beautiful house or go travel,..the only thing is i'm 26 halfway to 27 and wondering if i'll have enough time to settle down with the right person, or even if i'll still have the right person when I come home,...to have the whole white picket fence dream of which I think everyone wants one day for themselves deep down 😉..
I say def go I think it's lovely that you and your boyf (fiance),..are wanting to do it together and it will be a wonderful start to the beggining of your lifes together,..sounds mushy I know!..but think of all the memories! You'll have a wonderful time I say just go and don't regret leaving your career,..your fella will help you through getting a job and getting on the right track again when you return home,..or you might even want to try out a different career path 😊 x x x much love take care.
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