There are many reasons why you might want to dip your toe into the nomadic lifestyle. Many young people choose to take a gap year before entering college or university, which allows them to spend some time traveling the world and gaining as much life experience as possible.
Or you may have the opportunity to take a few weeks, months, or years out of your schedule and embrace a more nomadic lifestyle, working on the go. Whatever your circumstances, here are some tips to help you get started on your journey.
- Funding your adventure
As much as we’d like to pretend it isn’t, money makes the world go round. Money is also what enables us to do what we want to do. Before you even start planning your trip properly, you need to decide how much it will cost you.
The good news is that you have many options for financing your adventure. It’s always a good idea to save money before you go, at least to cover upfront costs and to make sure you have a safety net if needed.
You can also continue to earn money along the way. You can take on a temp job where you travel, or work from a laptop as a digital nomad.
- Planning where to go?
Once you know how much you can afford to spend, you need to plan your itinerary. Give yourself some flexibility to explore, but if you want to visit certain places, you need to plan them.
You should also check what and when the booking is needed. This can include flights or trains, accommodation and even events you plan to attend. In short, figure out where you’re going and when you’re going, then everything else can fall into place.
- Surviving
When you travel as a nomad, you will have to leave some creature comforts behind. This may mean finding cheap accommodation, or even living out of your van or in some areas out in the wild.
This means you need to be prepared if you want to not only survive, but thrive on your adventure. Talk to other people who have gone on these trips and learn from their mistakes. Travel light and make sure you can contact people when needed.
Before you jump into specific industries, research them so you know what you’re getting into and what risks you may face.
- Take care of your old life
Unless you’re planning to become a permanent nomad, you’ll probably be worried about your life and your belongings when you move home. If you’re renting a property, it’s best to find a place to store your furniture and other belongings while you travel. StorageArea.com has some great options for you.
You should also try to keep in semi-regular contact with your family and friends. This will help you maintain your relationship.