Why I Say “DON’T Quit Your Job and Travel”

I don't tell people to "quit your job and travel." Read why on Passport & Plates!

After quitting my job last summer, I somehow became the resident expert amongst all my friends who were thinking about quitting their jobs. Or at the very least, hated their jobs enough to threaten to quit.

I always listened attentively and offered my two cents. After all, most of these were problems I’d heard before. Then the conversation would come to this: “Maybe I’ll just quit my job and travel.” And that’s when I stopped the discussion.

The thing is, that’s exactly what I did…to some extent. I had reached a breaking point with my job and ultimately decided that I was going to “figure things out“. Newsflash: apparently nobody ever does. *facepalm*. I didn’t pack up my life and move across the world (although that thought has crossed my mind more than once), but instead settled for a 6-week solo trip to Europe.

If you Google “quit your job and travel”, I can guarantee that hundreds, if not thousands, of articles will show up in your Google search results. All will say something along the lines of “it’s easy to quit your job to travel if you just…sell all your stuff / become a digital nomad / become a flight attendant / move to Mexico.” Those articles are partially right. If your sole goal is to leave the Western world for an extended period of time (we’re talking months or years here), then it’s “easy” to quit your job and travel. You can pick up odd jobs, teaching jobs, and / or simply choose to travel through a region that won’t break the bank (I’m looking at you, Southeast Asia). But, if you’re looking for something else, I may well say “don’t quit your job and travel”, because in the long term it’s certainly not the easy option.

 

But why do I say “don’t quit your job and travel”?

The reality is, quitting your job is hard. So is long-term travel. It’s not as easy as our favorite travel bloggers make it look, and it’s definitely not a decision to be taken lightly. The harsh reality is, unless you are planning to say goodbye to the Western world for a while, or you’re really keen on embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, quitting your job to travel isn’t something that everyone can do. It’s hard. It’s uncertain. It may mean doing jobs you don’t really want to do so you don’t blow all your savings.

I’m sure that plenty of people wonder what I’m doing with my life. I wonder all the time, to be honest. I’ve spent more money and time on my blog than I’ve earned, I haven’t jetted off to many exotic locations, and I’m actively pursuing a job in social media or content marketing (someone hire me, please?).

But I have backup plans. And no debt. And savings. And a travel blog (maybe I’ll be able to live off of it one day!). But it was ultimately these backup plans and savings that have led me to be somewhat comfortable with my current state of (f)unemployment. The reality is, I’ll always answer with “don’t quit your job and travel”, because the uncertainty that it can bring is heart-wrenching. Unless you’re fully committed to a life abroad, or have incredibly supportive parents and a lot of savings, then quitting your job might not be the best thing for you. Looking for a new one is something I can get behind.

Yes, you can quit your job and travel. But you’ll never hear me tell you to do it. We all have our own unique set of circumstances, and I won’t pretend that if you work hard enough or do what the travel bloggers do that you’ll be able to do it too. Do what’s good for your circumstances, and know what you’re willing to sacrifice before making a big decision on a whim.

So, at the end of the day, if you really want to quit your job to travel, remember that long-term travel is hard work too. If you’re not up for the job, then maybe you’re simply overdue for a vacation – or a new job.

 

2020 Update: Nowadays, I’m a full-time travel blogger and freelancer. I have a couple of social media clients and spend the rest of my time running my blog full-time. It’s been quite the up and down ride and I do (occasionally) miss the days in an office. But to me, the flexibility to work from anywhere is still worth it. 

 

What do you think? Do you agree when I say don’t quit your job and travel? What has or hasn’t stopped you?

I tell people "don't quit your job and travel". Read why on Passport & Plates!
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81 thoughts on “Why I Say “DON’T Quit Your Job and Travel”

  1. Travel Hund says:

    Oh thank goodness! I am so sick of that message as well. And you’re right – the realities of doing so are that it is HARD. And not for everyone. Not everyone has the type of personality that works with that kind of workstyle and lifestyle anyway.
    Plus, as I am finding out right now, making an income on the road is tricky.
    Thanks for the awesome post!

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Definitely! I’m really fortunate that I have home to come back to and savings and stuff. But you’re right – people make it sounds so easy and the reality is that it’s doable but difficult and full of sacrifices. Glad you liked the post! Best of luck on the road – I’m sure things will turn out well 🙂

  2. RoarLoud says:

    Love this! I want to quit my job and travel everyday. The reality of 4 kids that aren’t ready for me to be gone long term stops me. Maybe one day I’ll retire and travel the world:) Love the (f)unemployment:)

    • Sally E says:

      Thanks for reading and commenting Cathy! I know what you mean – everyone has their own unique set of circumstances, and not all of these circumstances are conducive to the ‘quit and travel’ lifestyle. I think it works for some people but I do get frustrated seeing bloggers selling at as a sort of “vacation package” if you will. It’s hard work and uncertain and you have to really want it – sometimes what people really need is an extended vacation or a new job instead 🙂

  3. 1dad1kid says:

    Yeah, it isn’t very practical advice. I did it and 5 years later I’m still very happy I did, but this lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Instead, I focus on encouraging people to live their dreams (whatever those may be) as well as encouraging them to do all sorts of travel, whether it be as a tourist in their own town or on another continent.

    • Sally E says:

      That’s awesome that you were able to do it! I agree with you – if travel is your dream and you’re willing to put in the effort and make the sacrifices to do it, then by all means – do it! But quitting and traveling isn’t necessarily the solution if that isn’t something you want to do full-time or even for an extended period.

  4. Emma Hart says:

    I always read the posts saying “quit your job to travel” and they completely grind on my nerves. The reality is you’re always going to have to have some sort of job to earn money and full time travel, like you say, isn’t that easy. I’m sure everyone has that thought go through their mind at some point, god knows I have, but that isn’t always the solution. Sometimes, you just need some kind of change 🙂

    • Sally E says:

      Definitely, Emma! I think the issue is that some websites sell it like a package lifestyle, where in reality, it’s quite difficult. It’s filled with sacrifices – career, family, financial – and it definitely isn’t for everyone. If it’s your dream and you’re aware of all the work and sacrifices, then do it. If not, then maybe a sabbatical or vacation is in order 🙂

  5. Claire and Rosemary says:

    Nice write up. The reality is much more difficult than most think. Agree, every circumstance and situation is different, and every decision needs to be carefully considered:)

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Thank you! I agree – everyone should know the reality behind quitting and traveling before making such a big decision. Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Thanks Karen! I’m glad you liked it. Oh really? I haven’t heard many people say that! Is your job flexible?

      • Karen Wanderlustingk says:

        No, I live/work in one city with my partner in an office job, but we often use his work conferences as an excuse to visit a place together for half price (for him). Compared to working as a graduate student where I’d be lucky if I could even take a bus trip to visit a friend in a neighboring city, I love being able to save each month for the trips on my (and my boyfriend’s) bucket list and we often try to take weekend trips somewhere new once a month. If anything, working makes me appreciate traveling more and allows me to travel more often without having the long recovery periods where I’m working 2-3 jobs to pay off my previous trips. We traveled more together (not including his solo trips!) in the first six months of working in Europe than I did my entire time during study abroad in SE Asia where I was on a super tight budget.

        My boyfriend consciously chose a job area that would allow him to travel a lot, which is why I think working can be a great way to travel more often. Similarly, coming along with him (instead of staying in the US) meant that I’ve been able to find a job in a field that I enjoy with a great work/life balance with enough (too many!?) days for vacation. I see investing in my career as a way to ensure this long-term, which might be important when we move back to the US.

        • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

          That sounds awesome! It’s great that you’re able to save for big trips and take smaller ones in the meantime (gotta love Europe!). And your boyfriend’s job sounds perfect for your lifestyle…lucky you :).

          I’m so jealous that you’ve made the jump from the US to Europe as well! It’s something I’ve been working on doing as of late. I love the vacation time policy there haha!

  6. Michael Huxley says:

    I wholeheartedly agree with this. There’s nothing wrong with dropping out in that way and travelling for an extended period, hell I’ve done it myself, but it isn’t for everyone and this pervasive message in travel blogs that EVERYONE should do it is wrong. I say if that’s what you want to do go for it, but make sure you have a damn good back up plan for when the money runs out and you return home. I personally would argue for having the best of both worlds and having a career AND quitting to travel the world for a part of every year. Do both. It can be done, I’m living proof! Fantastic post.

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Thanks for reading and commenting Mike! What you just said is so on point. It can be done (I did it as well!) but “quitting and traveling” isn’t like a vacation package to the Bahamas. Sometimes travel bloggers make it seem like that – and make it seem easy as well. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice, and people don’t always realize that. There are people that do it (like you!) but it definitely isn’t for everyone, and I don’t think people should sell it as an “everyone lifestyle.” That being said, I hope to be able to do it one day as well 🙂

  7. Lisa // Fjords & Beaches says:

    Definitely agree with this! It’s not right for everyone, and it’s something that must be considered VERY carefully before making a decision! It’s easy to get blown away by the travel blogs that make it seem so easy, and I’m sure that’s why everyone seems to think it’s a good idea 😛
    — LisaLDN.com

  8. Ivy says:

    Amen- I couldn’t agree with this more. I’m obsessed with planning for the future and I can’t imagine what would happen if I didn’t have my fulltime job, and the decent pension and healthcare benefits that come with it. I also want to start a family in a few years so there’s no way I can do that if I’m on the road all the time. A few vacations a year is good enough for me 🙂

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Thanks for reading and for your comment, Ivy! That’s exactly what I meant when I wrote this post. Every person should choose the lifestyle they feel comfortable with. For you, not having a full-time job is stressful, whereas for others, a full-time job is stressful. At the end of the day, it’s up to us to make the choices that are best suited for us – and to understand the pros/cons of each choice 🙂

  9. Tiffany Robinson says:

    You’re like my soul sister! I also quit my job and ended up taking a 6 week euro trip (only, my sister and I did it together). And while I had an awesome experience, I don’t recommend it to everyone because realistically, not everyone can do it. I lived at home with few responsibilities, had a healthy savings and a backup plan. I think it is important that everyone make sure to consider their personal circumstances when making decisions and not just what (us) travel bloggers have to say.

    Loved this!

    • Sally E says:

      How funny! We’re basically leading parallel lives :). I’m pretty much in the same boat as you, and you’re right – it’s all about personal circumstances. Some people simply can’t do it, and it irks me a bit to hear bloggers claim that everyone can. Thanks for reading and your comment 🙂

  10. In Between Pictures says:

    I completely agree. Some bloggers fantasizes the idea of quitting jobs, travel full time and blog in paradise when reality is very different and most don’t mention the real struggle of it. Some people may really enjoy stability and this is not for everyone. I don’t tell anyone to do it but if they do it, I fully support it as I think is a very brave move.

    • Sally E says:

      You couldn’t have said it better! I agree. Stability is amazing for some people and death for others so it depends completely on the person! There’s definitely a struggle behind travel blogging that most people don’t see, so I wanted to share my perspective that while I love it and think it’s amazing, I don’t think it’s something everyone would enjoy. Thanks for reading and commenting!

  11. RunawayBrit says:

    Yes, I have quit my job to travel in the past, but, like you, I would never tell somebody else to do it. I am lucky in that my career is easy to pick up again after a while away. I am a high school English teacher, so I can literally work anywhere in the world.

    I had a wonderful year out travelling, and I could have sustained myself for much longer, but I moved to Sweden to teach after my travels. I wouldn’t tell others to do what I did, because they might not be able to pick up a new job as easily as I did.

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      That’s awesome that you were able to quit and travel and easily pick up a job afterwards! There’s definitely a high demand for teachers, which is quite advantageous.

      I agree with you completely! Right now I sustain my travels with a remote job and by blogging, but it wasn’t easy to get to this point. People sometimes make it seem like it’s easy to just quit and leave whereas that could be a difficult reality for some. Each person has to recognize his / her circumstances and make decisions accordingly. Thanks for reading and commenting!

  12. Daisy | FistfulsOfLife.com says:

    Hey Sally, I travel with a job (in fact, the job is why I travel so often) and yep, people often forget there are pros and cons to each choice. Thanks for sharing those points. I’ll be putting it out on Twitter soon. 🙂

    • Sally E says:

      That’s awesome, Daisy! It’s definitely pretty ideal to have both a job and get to travel often.
      Yes there are definitely pros and cons to both. I have a remote job and this blog but it took awhile to get to this point. I think full time works for some people and freelance works for others – neither is “better” since it totally depends on the person.

  13. Shayan Naveed says:

    This article sits so well with me and something I have been thinking of since day 1 of starting a travel/lifestyle blog. I have so much to say about it and it is perhaps better if we talk about in person!

    But you basically summarize everything really nicely. I would also never tell someone to quit their job and travel because that is not something I would do either or could do – parents, society, etc. But I would also take as many trips as possible and definitely look for a job that doesn’t feel like a job.

    Heads up, I am quitting my job soon but not before I have set up a small business that will allow me to work on my own terms.

    • Sally E says:

      Thanks Shayan, I’m glad you like it! There’s definitely a LOT to say about this topic but I think ultimately every person has to decide what works best for his or her lifestyle. For some people, that means freelancing. For others, it means a full time job. It’s not up to me or any other blogger to tell someone to quit and travel because that is a HUGE decision.

      Congrats on advance on setting up your business! That’ll be awesome to get to work on your own terms 🙂

  14. Edgar Hernandez says:

    Hey Sally. Just read the article and it hit home. My wife and I are planning a 6 month trip this year and she is quitting her job and I’m planning on taking a leave of absence (which I hopefully get approved for). This has been a long time coming, we’ve both been pretty tired of our jobs and the monotony of the M-F routine. We’ve always talked about seeing the world together and finally decided this was the best way to do it. We are starting a blog and are very excited for this trip. What I liked about your article is that it was real. I’m not imagining this to be easy or think a life on the road will be glamorous. However, I think what we get back from it will be well worth it all. Again, great article. Thanks!

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Hi Edgar!
      First of all CONGRATULATIONS! That’s a big step and I’m really glad to hear you and your wife are working hard to make it work. Where will you be traveling?

      And thank you for your kind words! I absolutely love what I do and wouldn’t change it for the world, but I do think it’s very important that people know that it’s not a “get rich quick” scheme and not at all effortless despite what social media shows on the contrary :). But if you love what you do then you’re willing to put in the effort and reaping the rewards of that is the best feeling in the world!

      Enjoy your trip!

      • Edgar Hernandez says:

        We plan on traveling around Europe, Asia and South America starting this upcoming fall for 6 months. A little nervous but more excited than anything. Thanks!

        • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

          You’re going to love it! Please do reach out if you need tips or recommendations. I’ve traveled extensively in Europe and in a few countries in both Southeast Asia and South America :). Have an amazing trip!

  15. Travel Pockets says:

    I always wondered what people do after they quit their job and travel! I love traveling, but I love money too, so I can never quit my job. Don’t think I could do those jobs I hear about to survive traveling the world. I’m a bit of a princess too 😉 Great post!

    • Sally E says:

      Hahah too good! I quit my job because it was slowly killing me, not just so I could travel the world. After I came back from my trip, I kept on job hunting until I found something I could do remotely and that allows me time for blogging. But yes I’m definitely enough of a princess to not do certain jobs that people are willing to do to travel. To each his own – each person needs to figure out their own path before making such an abrupt decision! Thanks for reading!

  16. Suzie Ch says:

    Damn ! I just love how you manage to take a step back and look at things with objectivity. Knowing what you have done right and wrong, what was good and bad. Most of travel bloggers will never tell you that it was hard for them to quit their job because they want to write what people want to read and hear. But what they actually need is to to be told the truth and know that it’s not going to be easy because if they know that, they will be prepared for their world trip or whatever and they won’t face all this difficulties, all these deceptions.
    I really love your work though hahaha !

    • Sally E says:

      Thank you :D!
      I think it’s REALLY important that people know the amount of work that goes behind travel blogging / nomadic life. The fun comes in exchange for lots of hard work and time in front of the computer – plus lots of instability! I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I do think people need to think very hard about making such a big decision – especially if they think they’re going to make money on the road by blogging or freelancing. It’s pretty uncertain and doesn’t work for everyone but if you’re willing to put in the effort, it has tons of potential 🙂

  17. KRPS says:

    Great post and so true. I sold my house and quit my job to travel and blog about it, but I spent over a year preparing, and it’s still hard, as money goes fast when it isn’t coming in. But it is a decision I will never regret! Sounds like we have a lot in common. Happy Travels!
    www.happycoconutstravelblog.com

    • Sally E says:

      Thank you! Yessss even if you’re prepared it can be incredibly difficult, especially managing finances and travels while not knowing what your next project or source of income is! But agreed – zero regrets :). Life is an adventure. Happy travels!

  18. Katie Dickinson says:

    I’ve given a lot of though to it – especially in the past few months. I moved back to the US after 4 years in Korea (being able to take 7-day+ trips twice each year); and the re-acclimation really hasn’t gone smoothly. The main thing that has stopped me from chucking it all to travel had been the desire to not take my next major trip alone. I’ve taken so many solo trips, and would like to take an indefinite-length trip, but I know I want to do it with a partner (or a buddy). So for now, I have made the hard decision to stay where I am so I can save and put myself in an ideal position to jet off when the time is right! For now, its small trips to feed the addiction 🙂

    • Sally E says:

      Oooh that’s quite the hard transition! Your reasoning totally makes sense to me. Solo travel can be fun but it definitely wears on you after awhile because it does require a lot of extra effort to socialize, plan, etc. It’s definitely a hard decision but I’m glad you’re taking some small trips for now! Those can be just as fun to be honest :). And saving money is always nice!

  19. dany2306 says:

    Love this honest talk!

    Like you said, there are thousands of articles on Google encouraging you to quit your job and move across the world. Also most of them have such generic advises that don`t apply to lots of people – like give up on your gym membership (don`t own one) or quit buying coffee from Starbucks (I don`t even like coffee).

    I believe it`s important to have a back up plan and a strategy on how to earn an income while `living the life free of the corporate job`!

    • Sally E says:

      Thank you!
      Absolutely :). I do think that by giving up some superfluous spending you can afford to travel more. However, to give up a steady income? It’s definitely not for everyone! I’ve made it work with a remote job I hustled hard for as well as blogging, but there was a long period of uncertainty and I was lucky to have money saved a strong support system. You definitely have to be aware of the risks before such a big decision. Thanks for reading and commenting!

  20. Nanouk van Gennip says:

    I totally agree with you! It really isn’t for anybody especially because of the uncertainty and the hard work that is involved. People around us think it is a full time holiday while it is definitely not.

    We did quitted our jobs and left with our baby to live as digital nomads. People around us said we were irresponsible, that we took away all stability for our baby (obviously, we disagree) and lots of people say we are lucky for the life we live, that they are jealous but cannot have such a life due to school aged kids and mortgages. Well, I think that’s bs. They just think of excuses not to take the leap. And that’s OK, but don’t say we are ‘lucky’ cause we work damn hard day in and out to maintain our traveling lifestyle 🙂 but it’s definitely worth the hard work 🙂

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      It is definitely NOT a full-time holiday…how nice would that be?
      I agree with you 100%. Most of the time, it’s a mindset – one of sacrifice, hustle and determination. I’m a firm believer that you can work hard to have the life you want. 99% perspiration forsure and totally worth it :). Happy travels!

  21. Urban Xenophile says:

    Great post, and I’m certainly grateful that the idea of quitting your job to travel the world is so well documented by bloggers like yourself. I had a different situation happen to me; When the economy crashed in 2008, I was laid off and couldn’t get a job anywhere in my city. I decided to sell my apartment, throw my belongings in storage, and travel the world for a year. I loved it, best decision of my life. But I missed my family. Babies were born, my father passed away, and my brother graduated from college. I missed some major milestones, and realized that traveling full time, in the long run, wasn’t for me. I still take longish trips (3 weeks – 1 month) at a time, multiple times a year. And working on both sides of the industry as a writer and travel consultant, I get my fill, while watching my beautiful family and community grow. Thank you again for writing this post, and for all of your work. I’m a huge fan 🙂

    • Sally E says:

      Thanks so much for your kind words :).
      Sounds like you get the best of both worlds, which is awesome, although I imagine it must have been scary to make that decision after you were laid off. You certainly made the most of it!
      I’ve come to realize that I’m also never going to be a full-time traveler. I miss my family and friends. But like you, I do take frequent long trips and am fortunate enough to work remotely so I can leave (and come back) whenever I’d like to. It’s definitely not easy, but I work hard to live my dream – it’s just not a dream or lifestyle that is right for everyone, no matter what people think. Thanks for reading!

  22. Danielle Wolter says:

    This is so refreshing. I see so many travel bloggers who have quit their jobs to live the digital nomad life, which is great for them, but not me. While I do dream of the day that I can not have to work a 9-5, I also enjoy the steady paycheck it brings. I absolutely love to travel, and do so whenever I have the chance, but am not sure I want to do so for a living. The idea of quitting your job to travel seems so obvious and easy when you read some blogs, but traveling for a living is a job too!

    • Sally E says:

      Thank you Danielle! Yessss I strive to be as honest as I can about what it means to live the digital nomad life. I currently travel often and work remotely as well – I get the best of both worlds with a steady income but it is by no means easy and requires a LOT of sacrifice and self motivation! I hate reading blogs that make it seem like an easy lifestyle when that is definitely not the reality. What works for me doesn’t work for everyone and it is not a decision to be taken likely. I’m glad you’re able to make travel work for you with a full time job!

  23. Brooke says:

    You are absolutely spot on Sally and most of the bloggers out there ‘making it’ didn’t make a dime for the first couple of years or maybe broke even if they were super turbo charged and had a bunch of good connections or bought some good followings/followers by spending money to get there. It costs money to buy a domain, host that site, pay for social media tools to help you get noticed fast enough for people to pay you any notice, to pay for someone to help you if you run into a tech problem you can’t fix. for the experiences you need to have TO write about etc. Unless you really want to work on farms, sleep on couches and live off of other people’s charity (which I don’t and that’s not my style) or you have a lot of savings and a firm plan it’s never something to go off and think it will be your paycheck or your new career. The fact is those who are in the limelight paid to get there. Many even faked it to get there( buying tons of followers to look more important to score gigs, etc).

    If it’s something you really want to do, try it first on a small scale (take trips and do articles at home). Get a more flexible job. Or.. if you’re young try a year abroad teaching English to get a taste for expat nomadic life and try to build your own biz on the side while pulling in that paycheck to pay the bills.

    But if you’ve got a nice lifestyle and career it can be a HUGE gamble to quit and go without a plan (and money put aside) to cover you for 6 months when you go back home while you’re looking for your next job. And you need to work your ass off to do enough during that time at a professional level so that you don’t lose your ability to be hireable.

    • Sally E says:

      Brooke, so true and so not something I knew or thought about. I fortunately quit my job independently of my desire to travel. I was able to travel a decent amount but ultimately was not happy with my work or my career are the time and made the decision to leave. I should write a little update at the bottom of this post but now I work remotely and blog because you’re right – blogging 100% does NOT pay the bills. I’ve been fortunate to be able to make a little bit of money off my site this first year but working on farms and couchsurfing isn’t my style of travel either. Without my current position I would not have the luxury of being able travel in the way that I currently do.

      Anyway your advice is totally SPOT ON. Do you mind if I update this article with some of your advice? I’ll credit you of course!

  24. Brooke says:

    My most successful blogger-writer friends have day jobs. But those jobs accentuate and help them in their writing endeavors (such as working in marketing or for a magazine or for a travel company). And… they worked MANY years to get where they are

  25. A Woman Afoot says:

    Good point! It’s good to be sensible about it all – first trying to combine reliable work with travelling (cutting hours? half-time? working from home?) than just quit everything. I want to travel more, but I am not quitting my job – I am looking for ways to combine those two 🙂

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Totally! I think some people do well with the uncertainty of not having a job but I’m certainly not one of them – and I’m fortunate to have found a remote job that lets me do both :). I highly recommend looking for a remote job!

  26. Ashliegh says:

    I absolutely agree with your points! So many people ask me why I don’t quit my job and travel! As much as I think I’d like the nomad lifestyle, I know I would also be miserable and constantly working to make sure I make ends meet! I much prefer having a steady full-time and traveling part time on weekends, extended trips, etc!

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      Totally! it’s honestly not for everyone and it is pretty tiring to be constantly working on the road. I think everyone should get a clear understanding of what it’s really like before making the decision :).

  27. Meg Cale says:

    I did it. I left my nine to five (and health insurance) behind, threw caution to the wind and set off to travel the world. 4 years later there’s been a ton of tears, a couple break downs, and lots of adventures. I built a business that allows me to travel. While I’m not rich, I’m surviving while living a life I love. It’s 100% not for everyone. You’ve gotta have some intense grit to make it work.

    • Sally E says:

      That’s awesome, Meg! I’ve read some of your content before and love it. I also left my 9 to 5 behind and now I work remotely. It’s hard work and really not for everyone but if you hustle and pour your heart into it, I’m a firm believer you can do it (as you did!). I think most people don’t really understand how hard people who do work and travel actually work. So many articles make it seem like we’re just sitting around typing articles on a beach when the reality is so much more than that. The decision to be an entrepreneur or work remotely or do something outside the norm is definitely not to be taken lightly!

  28. Jennifer Pepple says:

    I really have no interest in quitting my job to travel. I have a FT job, am saving for retirement, and am traveling a ton now. So, I think it’s the best of both worlds! I like what I do and where I work too. But, the great thing is, there’s all different types of people out there and that’s what makes the world go round! Enjoyed your post!

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      That’s awesome! Sounds like you really are getting the best of both worlds (jackpot!). At the end of the day, everyone should make their own informed decision! I just hate seeing all these posts that make it seem like a piece of cake when the reality is that there’s a ton of hard work behind working – whether it be in one place or on the road! Thanks for reading and commenting!

  29. Tailor says:

    Absolutely I agree. Soooooo many people rabitting on about the bliss of a digital nomad lifestyle. Might be fab for some and the only way to travel, but I prefer to actually holiday when I travel, which is often. I’m also on a mission to be an excellent ‘tourist at home’ and have been madly visiting local sites and blogging about them. So much on our own doorsteps.

    • Sally from Passport & Plates says:

      haha I’m totally with you! People think I’m on vacation all the time when the reality is that I spend just as much time working as I do exploring (and oftentimes, much more). I love being a digital nomad because many jobs in the U.S. don’t allow the flexibility of frequent travel but it’s definitely NOT all butterflies and rainbows! That’s awesome that you’re being a tourist at home – it’s something I need to be much better at!

  30. Alok Singhal says:

    I would never advise it either. Better to earn and travel, than be in a constant fear of losing your savings!

  31. Lena Ameri says:

    Loved this post! Thanks for being so honest And I love how you describe your travel blog, “full time unpaid internship with the occasional stipend” haha!

  32. Megan Smiley says:

    This is great – an honest insight into the trade-offs. On one level I dream of chucking it all and traveling forever, but my very practical, law-trained self also knows that is probably not the right answer for me. I’m a lot closer to 40 than 20 at this point, and the right life balance is still elusive 🙂 But, I’m really enjoying diving into this community of travel bloggers!

    • Sally E says:

      Definitely! It’s doable but it’s a challenge (like most things I suppose). I just don’t like the dishonest rhetoric of “you can quit, travel, and make a bunch of money easily!” Some uncertainty in exchange for flexibility works for some people but definitely not for everyone. I think we’re all chasing that elusive balance though, ha!

  33. Finalrentals says:

    I totally agree with you.
    I am also sometimes on the verge of if, but somehow I control and think of the realistic side and continue my work! Obviously needless to say and travel in the summer months.

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