Balancing a full-time job with a love for travel while working a 9-5 job can indeed feel like a tricky puzzle. You have responsibilities at work, deadlines to meet, and limited leave days.
But here’s the good news. It’s entirely possible to work full time and still explore the world.
With a bit of planning, creativity, and some mindset shifts, you can make travel a part of your life without sacrificing your career.
Whether it’s weekend getaways, remote work opportunities, or squeezing in adventures during work trips, it is possible to travel the world without having to quit your job.
Let’s delve into how you can embrace both your professional life and your passion for travel, even if you have an addiction to travel.
Make the Most of Weekends
Weekends are a golden opportunity to travel, even on a full-time schedule.
A two-day break may seem insignificant, but it is enough time to explore nearby destinations.
• Plan short trips to places within a few hours of your home: Research destinations within a manageable distance for a long weekend trip.
• Utilize public transport or quick flights: Avail trains, buses, or short flights to ensure time consumption while travelling.
• Focus on quality over quantity: Immerse yourself in one or two experiences instead of trying to see everything.
For instance, I once made a weekend excursion to the Covent garden region in London.
It was only a couple of hours by train, but it was like travelling to another world.
Sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery-even just for a day or two-to be incredibly refreshing for travel withdrawal symptoms.
Ideas for Weekend Getaways
• City Escapes: These are weekend deals spent in a nearby city to enjoy its cultural attractions, local food, and shopping.
• Nature Escapes: Visit national parks, hiking trails, or beaches for a dose of natural beauty.
• Adventure Activities: Kayaking, biking, or zip lining in locations closer to home.
• Cultural Trips: Visit historical sites, museums, or attend local festivals and events.
Extend Work Trips
If your job involves travelling for work, take advantage of those trips to explore new places.
Work travel doesn’t have to be all meetings and conference rooms.
• Arrive a day early or stay a day longer: Use your free time before or after the work commitments to explore the area.
• Make use of the evenings: Visit local restaurants, landmarks, or attend events during your evenings off.
• Small itinerary adjustments: Incorporate sightseeing into your trip by making small changes to your schedule.
During one of these work trips to Scotland, Inverness, I extended my stay by a night and spent the time wandering around the Inverness museum and art gallery and taking a boat trip on Loch Ness.
It turned a business trip into something I still remember fondly.
Tips for Extending Work Trips
• Combine business with pleasure: Plan your business trip around local events or festivals.
• Use company perks: Take advantage of corporate discounts or travel loyalty programs offered by your employer.
• Leverage company resources: Ask for local recommendations from colleagues or clients.
By being strategic about your work travel, you can turn obligatory trips into enjoyable experiences without extra costs.
Use Your Annual Leave Strategically
When working a 9-5 job, your annual leave is so precious, so use it wisely to maximize your travel opportunities.
• Combine leave days with weekends and public holidays: Extend your vacations by adding leave days to long weekends.
• Plan trips in advance: Book flights and accommodations early to get the best deals. I find that booking at least 6 weeks ahead can save a significant amount of money.
• Take more frequent, shorter holidays: Instead of one long holiday, take multiple shorter holidays during the year.
One year, I used a bank holiday weekend and just two leave days for a five-day trip to Florence, Italy. With good planning, those five days felt like a proper holiday.
Maximizing Annual Leave
• Leave calendar: Leave should be planned in advance at the start of the year, aligning it with public holidays and long weekends.
• Plan at strategic timings: Time your travels in off seasons so as to avoid crowding and fetch better deals.
• Merge business with pleasure: When possible, ensure personal trips are aligned with business trips.
Being strategic with annual leave can greatly maximize how much you can travel without dipping into your leave balance.
Embrace Remote Work Opportunities
Remote working becomes more and more standard to this day, so opportunities abound for exciting travels.
If your job allows this feature, working from anywhere opens up a whole world.
• Places with strong Wifi: Look for a spot that has good internet access with a decent workspace. It helps to ensure you’re ready to work well.
• Balance your schedule: Work during office hours and explore during your free time.
• Choose time zone-friendly locations: Pick destinations that give you a good overlap for your work hours.
I once spent a week in Lisbon working remotely.
Each morning I worked from a coworking space, and I spent the afternoons exploring the bustling city and drinking coffees in local cafes.
Finding Remote Work Destinations
• Research coworking spaces: Many cities have coworking spaces that provide a professional environment for remote work.
• Check internet reliability: Ensure your destination has stable and fast internet to avoid disruptions.
• Consider lifestyle amenities: Look for destinations with a good mix of work and leisure options to balance your day.
Remote work allows you to experience new places while maintaining your job responsibilities, which is quite an ideal solution for people suffering from wanderlust.
Plan Micro-Adventures
Travel doesn’t have to be a big deal all the time.
Micro-adventures let you explore without taking time off from work.
• Day trips to nearby towns, beaches, or nature reserves: Plan quick escapes to nearby locations.
• Take a new activity: Enjoy regional explorations-whether that means hiking, biking, or touring a winery.
• Camp at night: Take in an overnight camping trip-even a close-to-home adventure to the park.
One Friday evening after my 9-5 job, I drove to a nearby forest for an overnight camping trip.
Waking up to the sounds of birds and fresh air was just what I needed to prepare for work on Monday.
Benefits of Micro-Adventures
• Inexpensive: Micro-adventures are low in cost since most of them don’t involve long-distance travelling or require costly hotels.
• Time-efficient: They can be planned quickly and require only minimal time off from work.
• Rejuvenating: Such short trips can you a mental break to recharge for the forthcoming week of work.
Micro-adventures are a great way to inject travel into your routine without major disruptions or costs to enable you to save money.
Travel During Public Holidays
Public holidays are great to sneak in a quick trip.
They give you that extra day to play with, and many destinations offer really cool events during these times.
• Plan around public holiday calendars in advance: This way, you make the most of your holidays.
• Be flexible: Sometimes, during holidays, the place might be more crowded or costly; hence, consider other less touristy places.
• Local festivals: The holidays can be utilized to experience the cultural celebrations and local events.
Once, I had been to Bruges in Belgium during one Easter weekend.
The city was pulsating with spring markets and festive decorations, which made it an unforgettable short break.
How to Plan Around Public Holidays
• Holiday seasons: Plan your trip during Christmas, New Year, or summer vacations to have added charm to your travel program.
• Less crowded and less discovered: Avoid the crowd at the very well-known tourist spots and explore hidden gems during peak holiday seasons.
• Immerse in local traditions: Engage in local customs and traditions for a richer travel experience.
Public holidays are, therefore, a great opportunity to travel without having to take extra leaves, hence ideal for short trips.
Make Travel a Budget Priority
In simple words, travelling while working full-time comes down to priorities, and by being cautious with budgeting, one can accommodate frequent travels without feeling strapped financially.
• Set aside part of your income for travel: Create a fund dedicated just for travel, where money regularly goes in.
• Budget-friendly destinations: Consider staying in affordable places or choose hotels that are affordable, stretching your travel money further.
• Flexibility in travel dates: You can find cheaper flights, better deals on hotels if you are flexible with your date of travel.
Living a travelling lifestyle, I always save a small percentage of my salary every month for travel.
It adds up really fast and so when an opportunity presents itself, I can make that booking without any guilt or afterthoughts.
Budget Travel Tips
• Travel on budget airlines: Utilize low-budget airlines for flights such as Ryanair or Frontier Airlines.
• Use hostels or low-range hotels: Save on accommodations by opting for hostels or low-range hotels.
• Prepare your meals yourself: Save on food by cooking some of your meals.
Prioritizing travel in your budget helps you plan regular trips without compromising your financial stability.
For me, planning budget travel in Europe is very helpful because there are many affordable options available.
It’s a great way to gain new experiences without straining the budget.
Make Use of Loyalty Programs
Travel loyalty programs are great ways to save money on trips and make them even more accessible.
• Sign up for airline and hotel rewards programs: Earn points for future travel. Look for bonus points, discounts, etc.
• Use credit cards that offer travel points: Gain travel points or cashback on bookings.
• Redeem points for free or discounted flights and stays: Save on travel costs by using accumulated points.
Points can be utilized to upgrade flights or hotels for a higher class of service.
Over time, I’ve earned enough points through a frequent flyer program through Emirates airline to cover a round-trip flight.
It’s like a little bonus for sticking with one airline!
Stay Organized
Staying organized requires good organization to balance work and travel. A little planning goes a long way in ensuring you can enjoy your trips without added stress.
This is particularly important for those who embrace slow travel, as it allows you to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings without feeling rushed.
• Use apps to track travel plans and work schedule: Keep everything organized with travel and productivity apps.
• Pack smart: Save yourself time and hassle by packing less stuff for short trips.
• Keep essential travel items ready: Maintain sort of like a “go-bag” of toiletries, chargers, and all the paperwork.
As a minimalist traveler, I practice the same way of living while at home by keeping things organized in storage baskets with all my essentials.
It’s a simple trick, but it saves so much time when I’m packing in a hurry.
Talk to Your Employer
Sometimes, open communication with your employer can create opportunities to travel while working full time.
• Consider asking if you can work from home or adjust your schedule: Many companies will consider flexible arrangements if you can show you can still be as productive.
• Tell them about your love for travel: Let your employer know that travelling invigorates you and actually enables you to perform better when working.
• Ensure your work performance remains strong: Build trust with your employer by consistently delivering high-quality work, making them more likely to support your travel plans.
I once approached my manager about working remotely for a week to visit family abroad.
They agreed, and the trip gave me a much-needed change of scenery without affecting my 9-5 job.
Tips for Discussing Flexible Work Arrangements
• Prepare a proposal: Clearly outline how you will handle your responsibilities while travelling, and that your work will not suffer because of this.
• Be Proactive: Offer a trial period to show that it is possible to work effectively from home or with flexible hours.
• Stay connected: Have the right tools to keep in touch with your team when you travel.
Open communication with your employer can lead to flexible work arrangements that will enable you to balance the job and travel desires.
Choose Destinations Wisely
Not all destinations suit a short trip or a remote work setup; hence, you need to choose carefully in view of time and goals.
Living in the UK means Europe is always the top choice for me when looking for a quick and affordable getaway.
• For weekend trips, stay within a few hours of travel: This maximizes time at the destination and reduces travel fatigue.
• Remote work possibilities: When it comes to remote work, seek out places with coworking spaces, reliable strong internet connection, and a comfortable environment to get work done.
• Consider off-season travel: Travel in the off-season when it’s less crowded and more budget-friendly. It’s a good way to have a more relaxed and economical experience.
I spent a three-day weekend in Amsterdam arriving on Friday and returning on Sunday evening.
The city is relatively small, and with its excellent public transportation, I was able to see everything without rushing around.
How to Choose Destinations
• Accessibility: Select destinations that offer easy accessibility by car, train, or short flights.
• Amenities: Look for places with amenities that support your travel style, such as coworking spaces for remote work or family-friendly activities.
• Safety: Consider whether the destination is safe to travel to, especially for solo travellers, families, or specific needs.
Choosing appropriate destinations will help you maximize your time and make every moment of your travel worth experiencing, while also ensuring you stay safe while travelling.
My aforementioned trip to Amsterdam was just over an hour-long flight, which went by quickly, giving me plenty of time to work, explore, and relax on arrival.
Make Travel a Habit
The more you incorporate travelling into your routine, the easier it becomes to balance with full-time work.
• Set goals to visit a new destination every few months: Even if it is some local place, setting travelling goals helps to keep one going.
• Create a list of dream destinations and tick them off gradually: This will keep you focused on your travel goals.
• Intentional travel: Be intentional to take breaks and make time to travel, putting travel as part of your life and not a luxury.
What has kept me going is making travel not a luxury, but a necessary part of my life.
It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating moments that refresh, inspire me and help me grow as a person.
Integrating Travel into Your Routine
• Plan routine: Incorporate planning your travels into your routine, like devoting a specific time every week to researching places or making travel bookings.
• Frequent trips: Make frequent short trips instead of waiting for that long vacation.
• Keep inspiration going: Read travel blogs; watch documentaries on travel; meet fellow travellers and know about their experiences.
Make it a habit, and it will become part of your life to enrich your experiences, opening up your horizons even wider.
Managing Travel Addiction and Travel Withdrawal
While travel can be rewarding, it is equally important to recognize the signs of travel addiction and manage travel withdrawal once you are back at your desk.
Recognizing Travel Addiction
• A constant urge to travel: One might be seized by the desire to plan or take a new trip.
• Neglect of responsibilities: The preference to travel over work, relationship, or financial considerations.
• Chasing the next adventure: The desire to recapture the excitement of travelling to fill a gap or avoid reality.
Travel Withdrawal Symptoms
• Stay connected with the travel community: Utilize social networking sites, forums, and travel groups. It’s also a place where you can share your experiences and learn from others’ to help reduce feelings of loneliness while travelling.
• Plan another trip: Having something booked in the future gives a sense of something to be looked forward to and works off travel withdrawal symptoms. This can be especially motivating while working a full time 9-5 job.
• Relive past adventures: Browse through your photo albums, journals, blogs.
For example, after long-distance travel in Indonesia, I experienced travel withdrawal symptoms and missed the excitement about new impressions.
In this regard, planning future trips, being engaged with a community of travellers, and cognitive reliving of the recent memories helped me in these conditions using travel journals.
Finding the Perfect Rhythm
Travelling while working full time is all about finding the pattern that works for you.
With the right mindset, a smidge of planning, and some flexibility, you’ll go anywhere without putting your career on hold.
• Prioritize making travel happen, no matter how small: A weekend getaway, a remote work stint, or an extended work trip is all an opportunity to feed your wanderlust.
• Creating memories: Every trip, no matter how short, is an opportunity to experience something new, to create lasting memories. Therefore, embrace the opportunities that come your way to travel and enrich your life.
With careful planning, open communications, and a proactive attitude, it’s possible to balance a full-time job with a passion for travelling.
Embrace the possibilities, stay organized, and remember to prioritize your love of exploration.
With 195 countries in the world, there is no shortage of destinations to explore.
So take the plunge and make your travel dreams a reality, even with a full-time job.
