3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Traveling Long Term

Everybody dreams of taking a sabbatical or gap year and traveling around the world. With today’s widespread technology and abundant information it seems it’s just a matter of organization. But is it? The globe might be ripe for exploring, but to truly make the most of it, your mind should be in the right place.

“My mind?” You ask. Yup, that’s correct. If you spend a long time on the road you’ll face some situations you wouldn’t otherwise. And if you don’t know what they are and how to deal with them, you can find yourself jumping from one frustration to the other.

So what are they and what should you do? Let’s see:

1. Can You Handle Being Alone?

It seems pretty straightforward, but have you thought about it? I mean, how many times have you actually traveled alone? If the answer is none, you should pay attention to this advice, especially if you’re the shy type.

When I first traveled by myself I took a book, just in case I was going to be alone the whole time — I never read even one page! It was actually hard to be on my own! However, some people are not that lucky and find it hard to socialize.

I say, test the waters and go on a few mini trips alone. See how it goes and how you feel, then imagine what it would be like doing it non-stop for a year. If it was harder than you expected, don’t give up, because no trip is the same — or travel for three months instead.

Georgie Pauwels