Having a full time job doesn’t mean you cannot travel and write about it at the same time. Before I started to write the blog I read many other blogs of digital nomads who continue to inspire others to quit their job and travel the world. Who would not want that. I would admit that many a times it has inspired me to do the same however for various reasons I am not yet at that stage but I have learnt something that to travel the world and be a travel blogger you need not necessarily have a nomad life. You can have a job and travel too.
1. Plan! Plan! and Plan Ahead
Once a year go some place you have not been before- Dalai Lama
An ingrained habit of being organized and a well planned person, has been one of the biggest reason how I can juggle my most demanding passion and work. Weekends are the only times I have when I am on leave. If I’m heading away for the weekend then I head straight to the airport on Friday after work and return on the very last flight on the Sunday evening, maximising my time in the destination. I don’t bother with doing chores/preparations for the week ahead on a Sunday night, and I’m happy to arrive home after midnight on Sunday before heading to work on Monday morning, I can survive on 5-6 hours sleep. Actually travelling to a place takes time so it’s all about being efficient with time. My planning does not end with just travel as blogging comes next. Thanks to my Isha Kriya (Yoga) I don’t need more than 5-6 hours of sleep as the sleep I get after Isha Yoga is very restful and keeps the energy on to write the blogs post a long day at work. A good post can take 3-4 hours or sometimes two days if I have to be satisfied with the outcome though most of my write ups are straight from the heart. Once I complete my blogs I schedule them on various social media platforms a night before and can peacefully work without having to bother them to post on all social media pages. Technology works here and while I am busy concentrating at work during the day, the schedule automatically posts my blogs.
2. Get lost in your own city
No matter where you go, there you are
This may sound a bit like a fool’s consolation at first but wandering around your home city can be a good alternative if time is an issue. No matter how long you’ve lived in a place, there’s bound to be some hidden corners yet to be explored. A good way to gain a new perspective to the city you live is to go for staycations. Try living in another part of town to get new perspectives of the place. It might just surprise you. Thanks to my Job I have moved 5 cities in the last 9 years with the same company. This has given me ample new opportunities to immerse completely into new places and search for stories in the backyard because that is the place we often overlook. You do not always have to travel far to quench the traveler in you.
A beach in my backyard. Every time watching sunset here is a new experience
3. Going on a business trip? Extend it!
We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us
Most suitable to those who hold jobs that involve traveling, it’s an excellent way to get to a new place, especially since the plane ticket is already covered. If your business trip ends on a Friday, extending it by 2 additional days won’t hurt work-wise. Taking additional weekdays off after a business trip may also be a good idea, depending on how you discuss it with your employer. I explored California and Las Vegas as an extension to my business trip this year. You must have a sense of balancing both and not let the work get impacted by personal trip and the vice versa. 5-6 hours of sleep gives me ample time to choose from. While you are on a business trip, the workshops, meetings are usually followed by cocktail dinners which are imperative to attend and you are left with no time to explore the surroundings. Waking up at 0430 AM has always sounded alien to most of my travel colleagues but following that has given me 2 additional hours to explore the nature and serenity. Rather than hitting the gym go for an outdoor walk you will be amazed on the encounters you have with the nature, people and return with some wonderful stories for your blog.
Out for a morning walk on Beverly Hills-Los Angeles
4. Take A Longer Break
On my longest break for 40 days in Abu dhabi
5. Make Travel Your Priority
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
When you want something really badly, you need to work towards it. Yes you need to start it somewhere. As an annual family ritual I always travelled into Himalayas for 2-3 weeks during summer holidays with parents as my dad loved to travel and at that stage I did not have to worry about anything but as you start to get independent planning and making time for the travel depends on your interest and priorities. Whether you stay in the corporate world or consider going freelance, like most things in life it is not enough to want to travel, you have to turn action into words and choose to fuel your passion of globetrotting. Whether that means saving money or giving up a holiday to see the world, deciding to make travel your priority will start to frame how you spend your money and manage your time while balancing a full time job.
How do you travel with a full time job?
Great tips Monica. Glad to have found your blog 🙂
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Thanks for inspiring Swati. I love reading yours too.
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Exactly my point. We are a couple with a full time job, a toddler and a great love for travel. And we do blog. We have shared some similar tips from our experience at our blog, do check out, let us know what you think
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Neha I liked your article, true its similar thoughts, I think its the wanderlust that makes one find ways for the passion rather than excuses. We all have different life situations but as long as the calling is strong one keeps going.
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It’s a wonderful read. Although I m yet to receive a wake-up call @ 4:30 AM from my body n senses…. but loved the way u have added one more benefit of doing it. And if I can’t implement what I read, I m sure reading ur blog will help me to visualize the places I always wanted to visit!
Keep travelling n keep blogging!
Best 👍
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Thanks Tanu. I hope Visualizing inspires you to travel too.
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All valid and superb suggestions and we live by thattoo!
Traveling is not the only thing in life! There are so many aspects of life that we sometimes feel that folks who “drop everything and go see the world” are missing out on so much more that life offers besides being in far off lands.
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True that Mel &Suan, The idea is to keep the travel bug alive and inspire others to travel through your experiences.
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Absolutely!
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Valid tips..It’s really inspiring.
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Thanks Divya
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Great advice. Thanks!
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I can really relate on what you putted on this blog. Having a job plus doing some blogs is somewhat requires time management as well as the drive for this hobby. In my case, I’m connected in medical field so it is very hard for me to find a time to blog my travel stories but the willingness and the passion for this hobby keeps me motivate to pursue more. Thanks for the tips. Greatly appreciate your blog. 👍
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Thank you for dropping by and inspiring me. It really requires a lot of discipline to keep your passion alive with full time job. I am a hotelier and Nov to Feb is the busiest period for us. Neither am I able to keep up my post updates nor travel 🙂 from past couple of weeks. I am sure my upcoming trip will motivate me to start writing with more discipline.
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Agree with you. 🙂 keep on updating and posting. XD
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great post!
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Thankyou
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I work full time and my blog is my passion 🙂 Great tips…This will help me balance my job and blogging career. Thanks 🙂
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Thanks glad you found it useful. Its fun to do multiple things.
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Great tips! It’s great to read about people like yourself who are able to balance work & travel. Exploring your own city is so underrated – I’m having a great time seeing new sights in Hong Kong even though I’ve lived here nearly all my life!
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Thanks for encouraging. Explore explore and blog for us to read
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I get this so much! I would love to quit my job and travel but it just isn’t feasible for everyone so I am making do with getting the most out of my (very generous) holiday allowance and working full time to afford it! My sister just quit her job and is spending 6 months travelling Asia. I can’t say I’m not a little jealous but it is reassuring to read this post and remember there isn’t just one way to do it! Thanks!
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Laura its true that reading about people who quit their jobs to travel can be jealous but I have still not figured out how they do it. Also it rather depends what stage of life you are in and how much risk you can take with your finances. So enjoy both working and traveling-thats even more fun 🙂
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Laura, I would love to do this too haha!
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I also work a full-time job and travel. There’s so many different avenues for different lifestyles, which is great. And nothing could be truer than if you want something bad enough, you’ll work to make it happen! (Although, for me to make things happen I’d definitely need a few extra hours of sleep!!)
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True that. Sleep is the essence to thrive and most important pillar of wellness. Travel keeps me going though
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great post. I love to travel, but having a job and owning a home means we can’t all pick up and never come back! I love the working and travelling lifestyle, its all about balance xx
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Yes balance is the key. I saw your 2016 travel list is very interesting.
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Following you to get inspired from your blog 🙂
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This is a very informative blog, Thankyou 😊 I have just started my travel blog after many years of thinking about doing it and while holding down a job too, I hope I can learn some things from you x
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Thankyou and all the best. Let us inspire each other
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Let’s bed this post! Check out mine at http://www.anythinggirly.com I’d love your opinion!
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Wow Monica, I really admire you, you are truly inspiring! Me being a hotelier I know how challenging it’s to keep the work-home-work balance. Great job! All the very best!
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Nice One. Inspiring. I have shared it on my facebook page Chai Masalas
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Thank you
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Great post! As the last item says, it really comes down to priorities. I took 30 vacation days last year, plus weekend time, using many of the tools you list. I’ve been blogging my travels for about a year and a half, but only recently started promoting it and trying to drive traffic…it is a lot of work, and I am a 9 hours of sleep kind of person! (Maybe I need to try that yoga style you mention!)
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Thats inspiring. I too write more as a hobby and help the traveleres with ideas and tips. I promote the blogs through closed communities to get the right traffic that is of mutual help. All my travels are now based on the feedback that I get from other blogs. That really helps. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and reading. followed you 🙂
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I love this article! I try to squeeze the life out of every day – I am a hard working weekend warrior. However, I’m finding it difficult in my industry to find a place that values experiences outside of the office. Hopefully, one day, I’ll find something that works for me!
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I do understand that different situations and stages in life have different demands. As humans we must renew,refresh and rejuvenate or else we harden. Travel keeps me rejuvenated so I make time for it. May be you have found your rejuvenation in something else too which instill the energy back in you to keep going. We always find way and time for our passions; the idea is to put yourself in the MOST important place in life. Hope that helps 🙂
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Love your flow 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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Great blog! I’m hoping of travelling whilst working myself as the thought of being unemployed and spending money scares the hell out of me!
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Agreed. Its important to find the balance. Though continuous travelling can be fun for some but I prefer to balance.
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So refreshing to see other people who travel and work. I don’t think I could ever ‘quit my job’ and successfully travel and enjoy my life. It’s all about balance for me.
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I have not yet come to terms with that either.
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