Factors that act as barriers for financed travelling.....

 

1. Travel is Insanely Addictive

There’s a reason people talk about the travel bug. It exists- I can vouch for it.

You go away once, sample all the incredible opportunities and experiences that travelling offers, and simply get hooked. Now, this might not sound like a disadvantage. And in some ways it isn’t. In fact, I love how addictive travel is.

2. Travel Isn’t Cheap

This disadvantage is stating the obvious, but money tends to be an issue for almost all travelers. Travelling to far away destinations and going for some time without an income can get expensive. And, though travel on a budget is always possible, the pressure that travel puts on your pockets is undeniable. When travel becomes a priority, it requires sacrifice in other areas of life and forces you to live differently. Again though, there’s a silver lining to this. After all, that very same sacrifice will lend an ever greater poignancy to your trip: whenever you put effort into something you tend to value it more.

3. Careers Get Delayed and People Move On

Everything keeps moving at home while you’re away having the time of your life. Life moves on, people get married, move home, get promotions, have babies…You get back from travelling and suddenly those awesome experiences get pushed into memory; you’re confronted with a reality where your peers are a year (or more) ahead of you in their careers, earning more money, in higher positions; maybe they’re already reaching the goals you once had for yourself. For the competitive go getter, this can be a tough pill to swallow. Of course, there’s no replacement for life experience and you’ll have that in abundance. What you do when you travel is life changing and progressive in all manner of ways. But when you’re slap bang back home, confronted with reality, with your adventures (until the next one, at least) behind you, it can be hard to see people who have moved on ahead.

4. Usual Habits and Routines Are Tough to Maintain

You’re at home, you have a set routine and structure to your day. You know what to expect and enjoy the regularity of things. If nothing else, travel is a brilliant way of upsetting this. And maybe that’s a good thing- we could all do with mixing things up every now and again, right? But what if you’re into your gym and used to going 5 times a week? Or have specific dietary requirements? Or sporting or academic goals? Or you need a particular amount of sleep to properly function? The list goes on…