Don’t quit your job and travel - Why and How We Travel With Full Time Jobs

I wrote this original post - Don't Quit Your Job and Travel, back in 2014, when all the "Quit Your Job and Travel" posts were doing the rounds, and everyone nodding was vigorously. But I was starting to wonder, how many of these people will actually ever quit their jobs to travel, and does it really make sense to do so? Back then, we understood the need to balance out that desire to explore the world, and the importance of being grounded. Now, it's 2018, and we're surrounded by so many stories of people who quit their jobs and are now struggling to make a career comeback, or struggling on shoestring budgets as they "travel" across the world. And let's face it, a majority of them, aren't happy. So here it is, a revised and updated, even truer than even before version of "Don't Quit Your Job And Travel."Note: We're so glad that as a Travelling Couple we agree on something as important as this. If you really do want to quit your job and travel, we're not going to dump a load of negativity on you. Godspeed and all that. But do take some time to read through this, and truly consider your options, so that you make an informed decision, and not a reckless one.

Don’t quit your job and travel - Why You Shouldn't Quit Your Job

1. A roof over your head
2. This one’s a no-brainer. Your career is what’s going to put food on your table. Why say goodbye to a steady income? Depending on your priorities, having a little spending money is definitely a good idea.
3. Health comes first
4. What if something happens to you or a dependent? Will you have the finances and support you’ll need to get back on your feet or deal with a terminal illness? Don't Quit Your Job and Travel if it means you'll suffer later.
5. Live a Meaningful Life
6. Produce, don’t consume. If everyone quit their jobs and travelled, how would airline companies, visa offices and the hotel industry function? You want to look back on a meaningful, productive life, not a selfish one. Don't Quit Your Job and Travel, if it means you'll be doing nothing with your life. As creative people, we find it extremely important to have a satisfying job, to be able to create something, and sleep contented at the end of each day.
7. Don't Run Away From Problems
8. Address the real problem. Don't Quit Your Job and Travel just because you're unhappy. If you hate your job, change companies or get into an industry you’re passionate about. Join the travel industry if you must (Check out these best travel jobs) but find something that makes you happy. Charles has always been in love with his advertising agency job, and wouldn't give it up for anything, even though he spends weekends following his photography passion. I've personally gone through a freelance phase and switched companies till I found an agency job I love. And we love the fact that our day-job (and night job) gives us so much satisfaction.
9. It’s nice having nice things
10. Think of it this way, the more you earn, the more you can afford. Don't Quit Your Job and Travel to slum it for no reason. So you needn’t be foraging for the nearest McDonald’s or whipping up some crap in your hostel when you travel. While we're minimalists who prefer having fewer but better things, having a steady income means we can stay in luxury hotels, or enjoy a last-minute luxe weekend in Seychelles, spend on Michelin Star Restaurants, Helicopter Rides in Australia, Opera Shows and more.
11. There’s no turning back
12. When you do want to come home, you’ll realise you’re a different person, people have moved on and relationships drifted apart. Don't Quit Your Job and Travel if being social matters to you. Getting back into your career seems impossible, and home just isn’t home anymore.

Don't Quit Your Job And Travel - How to manage with a full-time job?

1. Plan around Public Holidays & Long Weekends
2. For example, in 2014 alone we managed to travel to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, the Barossa Valley, Cebu in the Philippines, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangalore. That’s a total of 43 non-work related travel days. This is after wasting several long weekends unwell, working or redesigning the blog. We've rushed straight to the airport from meetings or jumped right back into work while still jet lagged, but it's completely worth it every single time. (Would you rather be lying in bed stressing about rejoining work tomorrow, or enjoying a few extra hours in your new favourite city/ museum/ lying on the beach?)
3. Time off between jobs
4. This is the best time to take off without a care in the world. And you'll come back recharged and full of interesting stories. I spent some time alone in Paris between jobs where I was free to revisit my favourite spots and discover new ones without a care in the world, and I would highly recommend the experience!
5. Save more to travel more
6. Naturally everyone needs to figure out their priorities and between champagne and airline tickets, you need to take your pick, so you can actually enjoy one of the two. Think of your non-travel time as your saving period. For eg. We know eating out at the fanciest joints in Mumbai is not worth the money at all, we’d rather eat at the best restaurants while travelling and then recreate the stuff in our kitchen once we’re home.
7. Choose destinations wisely
8. There’s another way to get more mileage out of your money and time. Pick destinations that are off season or a cheaper alternative. The Philippines as we just discovered is a great alternative to Bali.
9. Travel v/s vacation
10. Don't Quit Your Job and Travel. Ask yourself why you’re travelling. If you’re looking for a vacation every single time, you may need to wait for when you can really afford to cut off, but remaining connected to the office remotely, mixing a bit of pleasure on a work trip, getting workshop and conference opportunities really lets you travel more. Charles has done this several times, most notably his shoot trip to Colombia.
11. Working abroad/ E business
12. Of course if your line of work is one that can be handled remotely (like an E-business) you’re free to live a nomadic life, and then there’s always the option of working abroad for a while (preferably in the same industry, because no software company’s going to hire someone with experience as an English teacher in Africa on their CV).
13. No more excuses
14. Stop procrastinating and get out there! Having a day job should never be a hindrance travel, but in fact an enabler. We get home from work no earlier than 9 pm, and spend several weekends at work too. It's virtually impossible to plan a holiday schedule or use long weekends when you're working in a hectic industry like advertising. So if we can do it, so can you!  

So take it from us, Don't Quit Your Job and Travel. Do you have any rants that you think can't be solved? Or any experiences or tips of your own to share?Disclaimer: There are plenty of people who will profess living the digital nomad lifestyle, backpacking and couch-surfing works for them, but remember this - the adventure is exciting only while you're young at heart, healthy, and still have a little bit of money. It's not easy, it's not for everyone. And not everyone gets a hefty inheritance, or makes it big with a location-neutral job. So place your bets cautiously and good luck with whatever it is you choose!