Collaborative Post
When you’ve worked hard all your life and felt the pressure of the 9 to 5 or running your own business, there comes a point when you think: it’s time for a break. This might be a sabbatical to pursue other interests, a change of career and going back to college or it might just mean a very real break. A chance to stretch your travelling legs and take off around the world, visiting those countries you’ve always wanted to see and experiencing those cultures you’ve always wanted to experience. Not to mention meeting new people and tasting new food.
And why not? Sure, you may have to consolidate some finances and consider £5,000 loans from Evolution Money as a means to get there but that investment might mark a turning point in your career and in your overall well-being.
Stressful jobs take their toll and if you’re feeling the burn, then it’s time to make some changes. We look at how you could get ready to take a break from your cubicle and step out into the world for a trip of a lifetime.
There’s no point just talking about, if you’re really serious about taking a career break, then the work needs to happen behind the scenes. Start your research by going through the pages of your favourite bloggers and travel gurus to see what takes your eye.
You’ll want to decide not only where you want to go but how you’re going to get there. Do you prefer to follow an itinerary, laid out either by you or an outside company, or are you more of a free spirit and enjoy planning as you go and seeing how you feel?
Either way, the first thing you’ll need to consider is how long you want to take and whether you should ask your manager to keep your job open or if you should hand in your resignation. If you work for yourself will you be handing over the reins to someone else in your absence? Get this decided upon and when you’re all set, take the plunge and tell your boss of your plans. Some will be supportive, others simply won’t understand why you’re willing to risk your salary, but you know that it’s now or never.
Trip ready
Your list of countries has been decided upon and you’ve let work know your plans, now comes the fun part of fine tuning your planning. First, deciding the order on where you’re visiting and planning how to get there. Whether you want to schedule your flights ahead of time or plan on buying them on the wing, make sure you have a rough idea how much they cost and investigate alternative modes such as cross-country trains and coaches.
At this point it’s probably worth making sure you have a credit card or reserve sum of money saved up, should you run into difficulties while you’re away.
Where will you stay? This is the next topic to tackle. You might find that a mix of accommodation, from Airbnb apartments, to hostels and hotels makes for the most exciting trip. Splurge now and again but sharing a hostel dorm will certainly help keep the cost down and might even introduce you to some fellow travelling companions to share some of your trip with.
Book your first accommodation before you leave, to give you time to gain your bearings and figure out the first stop of your world tour. The rest you can do as you go or book ahead from home if you’re following a more fixed schedule.
Topping up
If you’re travelling on a budget, you might feel the need to top up your finances as you go and some of the best ways of doing this are through temporary jobs that you can pick up along the way or through an agency. For example, if you’re staying in China for a month it’s entirely possible to pick up work teaching English to students out there, with just a little research. If you’re heading to Australia you’ll find seasonal work, picking fruit and so on that will help you replenish some of your pot.
While it may not be the office-job you’re used to it can certainly add to the experience and give you lots to talk about back home. It also gives the opportunity to stay on a little longer and see a bit more of the country that’s employing you.
Final preparations
Your tickets are booked, you’ve got some idea of where you’re heading and the first couple of hotels are reserved. So, now’s the time to carry out those last-minute preparations. One of the most important things you can do is to get yourself vaccinated against any diseases that might be present in the countries you intend to visit. Leave as long as possible before you leave to get this done as there can be side effects and some vaccines may require a second dose before you leave.
Finally make sure you’re fully insured. We’re not just talking in the case of a stolen camera or a lost wallet but if you’re taken ill and need to be evacuated out of your host country. The worst probably won’t happen but it’s good to know your covered in case it does. Make sure that your credit card is part of a scheme where it can be replaced within 24-hours no matter where you are in the world.
The excitement of travel is sure to distract you from those last few days and weeks in your job and why not? When you’ve put your all into your career, taking a well-earned break will not only give you the chance of fresh adventure but have you returning refreshed, ready and motivated to see what the next part of the journey is. Change can be scary and travel can be challenging but embrace all that comes with it and you’ll be making memories to last a lifetime.
