I also relate to the “swapping full time work for full time tourism” and having a hard time turning off your productivity-focused brain. Last year, I quit my job and moved all my stuff into storage to embark on a gap half year at 29. I arrived in my first stop - Rome - with a massive to do list of “creative” (secretly productive) goals, figuring I’d have so much free time if I wasn’t working full time. Not true! Traveling is a full time job! There is so much to take in and we underestimate the energy it takes just to exist in a place where the language and culture is different than our own. Absolutely worthwhile, but was pretty flooring for me to realize how much more rest and downtime I craved while living nomadically like that. Rest days are crucial to maintain long term travel. Plus, I think the level of action and productivity we get used to while working in a corporate job is unhealthy and unsustainable anyway, we just do it because everyone else is. Stepping away from that, your body tells you how unhealthy it was once you have some distance from it.
It took me about 3 weeks to finally let go of my to do list and ease into living in the moment. By the end, that mindset shift was fully set in and so rewarding! I’m going back again this year for another two months of solo travel!
Helena, thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I laughed out loud at the "creative" (secretly productive) goals and 'PLUS 1+' to the amount of energy it takes just to exist where you can't even recognise the characters of places. Impressed by your 3 weeks to let go of the to do list...I've just hit 3 weeks pretty much today and I'm still clinging on...though perhaps things are starting to shift, slowly...
I feel this hardcore. “Swapping full time work for full time tourism.” It’s almost like we’re addicted to being productive, hustling and moving at all times. It can be very intense. I’m 3 months in and I definitely think you need the balance. The sprints with the rests. It’s imperative otherwise you’ll burn out.
I remember meeting a guy who was on the last month of a year travelling in Kyrgyzstan and he said he was over sleeping in different beds every night. More than one hundred of them. Twice during his year though, he did 2 week + stints doing some farm work to reset. While maybe that's still a focus on productivity he found it satisfying labour that gave his mind a rest and made him appreciate the privilege he had that allowed him to travel for a year. Plus get some good sleep!
I did two weeks of sleeping in a different place every night in Taiwan last year and it nearly finished me. I love the idea of spending 2 plus weeks somewhere just to reset. Though I can still feel my internal wiring whispering..."but you could be seeing and doing other things"! Must. Stop!!!
I also relate to the “swapping full time work for full time tourism” and having a hard time turning off your productivity-focused brain. Last year, I quit my job and moved all my stuff into storage to embark on a gap half year at 29. I arrived in my first stop - Rome - with a massive to do list of “creative” (secretly productive) goals, figuring I’d have so much free time if I wasn’t working full time. Not true! Traveling is a full time job! There is so much to take in and we underestimate the energy it takes just to exist in a place where the language and culture is different than our own. Absolutely worthwhile, but was pretty flooring for me to realize how much more rest and downtime I craved while living nomadically like that. Rest days are crucial to maintain long term travel. Plus, I think the level of action and productivity we get used to while working in a corporate job is unhealthy and unsustainable anyway, we just do it because everyone else is. Stepping away from that, your body tells you how unhealthy it was once you have some distance from it.
It took me about 3 weeks to finally let go of my to do list and ease into living in the moment. By the end, that mindset shift was fully set in and so rewarding! I’m going back again this year for another two months of solo travel!
Helena, thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I laughed out loud at the "creative" (secretly productive) goals and 'PLUS 1+' to the amount of energy it takes just to exist where you can't even recognise the characters of places. Impressed by your 3 weeks to let go of the to do list...I've just hit 3 weeks pretty much today and I'm still clinging on...though perhaps things are starting to shift, slowly...
Remember, it's the journey, not the destination....
Thank you ADTZ, sage advice as ever!
I feel this hardcore. “Swapping full time work for full time tourism.” It’s almost like we’re addicted to being productive, hustling and moving at all times. It can be very intense. I’m 3 months in and I definitely think you need the balance. The sprints with the rests. It’s imperative otherwise you’ll burn out.
I remember meeting a guy who was on the last month of a year travelling in Kyrgyzstan and he said he was over sleeping in different beds every night. More than one hundred of them. Twice during his year though, he did 2 week + stints doing some farm work to reset. While maybe that's still a focus on productivity he found it satisfying labour that gave his mind a rest and made him appreciate the privilege he had that allowed him to travel for a year. Plus get some good sleep!
I did two weeks of sleeping in a different place every night in Taiwan last year and it nearly finished me. I love the idea of spending 2 plus weeks somewhere just to reset. Though I can still feel my internal wiring whispering..."but you could be seeing and doing other things"! Must. Stop!!!