Wednesday, 11 December, 2024

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These days I’m reading a lot of articles “I quit my job to travel the world.” “I’m a full-time travel blogger and I love it”. Yes I totally understand that and I think that this is great but not for everyone.

Why I'm not a full time travel blogger-2

Why I’m not going to be a full time travel blogger….!!

There are many reasons why not. But let me start step by step with 5 reasons why I will not be a full time travel blogger.

  1. I’m not 20 anymore

Ok, I know there are lot’s of people out there that passed the 20th even some a long long time ago. And they are full time travel bloggers. So this is not an excuse. You are right but for me it is. I used to travel a lot when I was younger. I always traveled. I studied in another country, lived in many different cities and countries but then I wanted something stable. Normal hours a normal life. I had this kind of “unstable” life and it was fun. It was great at that time and I will never ever forget that. But its over.

2. I have a job

I did so much for my education. All the years I studied and worked so many hours. I helped many companies to be successful. Then in 2009 I decided that I want to focus only on my own business. I don’t want to work for others anymore. Everything I want to do I want to do for myself. Just me. If I work 60 hours a week – so what – it’s for me. If I take a day off because the sun shines. Yes still my business. I’m the boss. But of course everyone who has an own business knows that it’s not easy at all. You have to work harder and more and you still sometimes will not get what you want. You don’t really have holidays because if you work on your own your “company” has to go on. If you don’t work – no money comes in. And it’s not a nine to five job. At least not mine and I don’t know any business owner that has this kind of office hours. Your head is always there thinking of new thinks. New ideas, new clients and so on. Make a long story short. All the time, the efforts, the passion I put in my business. It’s starting to get better and better from day-to-day – all of it – my blog and my business. I will not leave everything to travel the world.

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3. Balance

I have different jobs. I’m a Journalist for different magazines, blogger for my blog. I’m a Speaker and I do coaching (off- and online). I’m even starting a new project with a friend soon. I have a family, a dog and a house.
And sometimes I feel being in a cage. So many appointments and so many commitments.

I get many travel offers but I don’t take them all. That would not be possible. But from time to time I enjoy being on press trips or traveling for myself and expiring new places. Having time for me, the destinations, the photos, my blog and to know new people, new Cultures and Countries. This is my balance. I need this to be happy. Both sides – the working time in my office, my family and on the other hand the traveling part of my job in a (possibly sunny) place.
Just to be clear – press trips are not holidays. But it’s ok. It’s perfect for me.

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4. Freedom

Having an independent job that pays my bills, my nice clothes and lot’s of other stuff gives me the freedom to write whatever I like on my blog. I don’t need to compromise. If you have only a blog you have to rely on you have to write lot’s of things you may don’t want to. Sponsored posts that maybe wouldn’t find the way to your blog. Advertising all over. Sometimes I see blogs full of advertising campaigns on the blog. Sometimes I have to leave the blog because they are making me crazy. Pop-ups then more pop-ups, bling here, bling there.

 

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Paris

5. All that glitters is not gold

Being a full time travel blogger. Quitting the job. All that is not easy. It is not being all the time on vacation. Traveling the whole world costs money. You may get some free stays but you also need to pay for lot’s of other stuff. I’m not the hostel type. But many travel bloggers are. They have to. I think there are very few that are full time travel bloggers and sleep only in 5 stars Hotels. Hm, let me think. Don’t know anyone. They post great photos of wonderful places. Always smiling and having fun. But the reality is different. It is not all that gold that glitters. Trust me.

 

NYC

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Resume:

The most important thing is – I love my life the way it is. I wouldn’t change it. Of course there is always something that needs to be optimized. There is still room for improvement but I think this is normal. Sometimes I want to change and do things differently. And then I do it. Because I’m the owner of my life. I can do whatever I want. Even having commitments doesn’t mean not having possibilities. Otherwise it would be boring. 

I think everybody should do what’s the best for himself. If you are free, alone or whatever then do what you feel to do. You want to change your life? You want to travel the world – then go. Time flies. When I was younger there wasn’t so many possibilities as they are now. But even then I did what I wanted to do. I already wrote in another post about “what makes you happy”. I think that much more people should try to do the best out of their life. If you decide that quitting your job is that what makes you happy. Perfect. But don’t forget. There is no perfect life, perfect work or perfect solution. Whatever you do – it’s work. Relationships – work. Travel blogging – work. Earning money – work. The most important thing – if you love what you do it doesn’t feel like work. The passion and love for the things you do is like an engine. It keeps you going. And sometimes it let us grow beyond ourselvs.

I think that is the beauty of life. There is no stencil for it. You have to find your own way.

 

Why I'm not a full time travel blogger

 

 

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33 Comments

FabioVirgi May 10, 2016 at 12:00 pm

Love this article. I think it’s so important for everybody to do what makes *them* happy.

If for you that means settling down in one place, then so be it. I personally hadn’t travelled much until last year, and worked flat out through uni and then went directly into work until I was 26. Now at 27 I’m working for myself like you and enjoy the flexibility of going away whenever I want. It’s just about doing you, isn’t it?

Too many people get caught up in stereotypes, thinking they *should* be doing things a certain way.

    nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Fabio, I totally agree with you. I think that many people are unhappy because they do things that others expect from them – or they think others expect that. But we should do what WE want to do. I think it’s so important to see the world. It opens your eyes, your mind and your heart.
    It’s great to hear that you found your way to be you! 🙂

      FabioVirgi May 10, 2016 at 12:10 pm

      Most definitely! I was so miserable working a 9-5 job and commuting for 3 hours a day and now, I work from wherever I want and it’s for me. The way I want.

      People have a tendency to follow the crowd but if you want to be happy, you’ve got to figure out what that means for yourself.

      Can’t wait to read more from you ???

        nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 12:14 pm

        That is so cool Fabio. Really. Reading this makes me happy. I like when someone change things. Not complaining all the time but doing. I wish you lots of success and fun.
        Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂

Veronika May 10, 2016 at 12:17 pm

Same here! The best is just to find a balance that works for yourself. For me, it’s still cool to see how people are quitting their jobs and travelling the world and I wish them all the luck, but I wouldn’t want to throw myself in the same kind of life. If you love what you do, travel blogging can be a great hobby. No need to turn it into a full-time job 🙂

    nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    I think if you want to turn your blog into a business, it will be a business. With all the efforts and also the money you have to invest.

ourfamilytraveladventures May 10, 2016 at 2:08 pm

Great post! Our family has been traveling full time for the last few years but we could never afford to do it if we were full time travel bloggers. We both have full time jobs and just blog for fun. I worry whenever I hear someone say they are going to quit there job and travel the world. A much better idea is to find a new job that allows you to travel the world : )

    nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Yes you are right.
    I still think if you are very young you don’t care and this is totally ok. But if you start to build something it will be more difficult.

corinnevail May 10, 2016 at 4:21 pm

I agree. You don’t have to blog, or even travel for that matter, full-time to lead a fulfilling life.

The Tiny Book May 10, 2016 at 5:01 pm

It’s great to start reading a few more sensible posts, not everyone can give up on everything, not everyone wants, even if you love travelling you’re not less of a travel blogger if you also do other stuff. Thanks for sharing.

    nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 5:11 pm

    Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your comment.

Allison Fun Family Vacations May 10, 2016 at 5:08 pm

You have to do what works for you! Having owned and sold multiple businesses, I agree with all of your thoughts about being a business owner. Thanks for sharing.

    nonsoloamore May 10, 2016 at 5:12 pm

    Yes business owner are not easy. Always something new in mind. 😉

Bob May 10, 2016 at 5:30 pm

Great article. There a lot more part time travelers that blog than “digital nomads”. I know the popular thing is to sell everything and live out of a backpack but for most people it’s not feasible and frankly most people don’t want to.

    nonsoloamore May 11, 2016 at 6:52 am

    Thank you Bob. For me this “selling everything and traveling the world” would definitely not fit. But as you said. It is ok if someone wants to do that. If this is what he/she wants – absolutely perfect!!

NextStopAbroad.com May 10, 2016 at 9:24 pm

I hear you girl! 🙂 I am getting ready for my business journey too and the idea of “just” traveling and blogging (and not enjoying other perks of life) does not impress me that much. 🙂 It is great to read a post where the author keeps it real – I do agree that traveling is awesome, but so is my newly bought flat, nice clothes and dinners with my friends.

    nonsoloamore May 11, 2016 at 6:50 am

    Hahahaha, yes I totally agree. New Flat and great clothes. 😀
    Life has so many different faces and there are many ways to be happy and enjoy traveling.

BBQboy May 11, 2016 at 8:35 am

There’s a time and place for everything.

We’re full-time travellers but are in our late 40’s and financially secure. We don’t fit in that stereotype of being 20-ish or having to live off a blog (I think you’ve been a bit one-dimensional in what a full-time traveller is). In fact I think it’s a mistake travelling full-time when young, it’s when people should work on a foundation in their lives (business/savings etc) because it might sound great to be a full-time traveller at 25 but where will you be at 35? People and priorities change.

    nonsoloamore May 11, 2016 at 8:42 am

    Thank you for your comment. I think it is a difficult decision to take and everybody should do what it’s best. If you finish your studies and you start your job it will be difficult to find the possibility to see the world. If your job is good you will have lot’s of possibilities to grow and get better positions. If you always think “but I wanted to travel the world and now I’m here” feeling that this will not make you happy.
    I just said that a full time traveler is not someone who enjoys life 365 days a year. I said that even traveling means working.
    Or maybe you have enough money in your pocket to travel the world without working. But this is very rare.
    Many people have this idea of “full-time-travel bloggers” that they are just having fun the whole day.

2traveldads May 11, 2016 at 1:51 pm

I feel ya’. Truly. It’s funny, because I hadn’t intended on becoming a travel blogger at all and then it just happened… and now it’s a beast that I have to try to control. I struggle with the balance and I’m not full time at it. Thank you for saying a lot of what I’m continually thinking. …but a lot of what glitters IS gold… 🙂

    nonsoloamore May 11, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Hahaha you are right. Sometimes it glitters a lot and it is indeed gold… 😉

    nonsoloamore May 22, 2016 at 9:45 am

    Sometimes in life everything comes different as you think. And that is the most beautiful part of life. 😉 BTW. yes you are right – sometimes what glitters is GOLD 🙂

Sell All Your Stuff (@SellAllYurStuff) May 11, 2016 at 3:27 pm

Great post! It’s hard travelling full time that’s for sure. We travel very slowly since we house sit full time and are working on our online businesses. Travel and House sitting for us is a cheaper option than living in one place – at this point.

    nonsoloamore May 22, 2016 at 9:47 am

    I think that is so cool. You can save money because you don’t have to pay rent. Instead you get money for house sitting and in the meantime you earn working online. Really cool.

Ann May 11, 2016 at 8:42 pm

I love blogging and want to profit from it, but I also don’t want to be a full-time travel blogger. Because I really get stressed at the idea of sharing my travel experiences with other people and I feel like that is not is what a travel blogger should do. it’s great that you know what you want!

    nonsoloamore May 22, 2016 at 9:43 am

    Thank you so much. I think it has to be the right balance to everything you do in life.

RoarLoud May 12, 2016 at 2:30 am

I had dreams of being a full time blogger, until I started blogging. Part time is very time consuming. I see retiring from work one day and traveling while blogging:)

    nonsoloamore May 22, 2016 at 9:44 am

    That sounds like a really good plan. I think I would love traveling and living in a warm place at least 10 months of a year when I retire. That would be a dream.

Dale May 27, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Great article and thanks for sharing! At one time I thought about making a living from travel blogging, but no longer. For me, it seemed to replace much of the pleasure of travel with the stress of work. Now I blog when I want on my own schedule. Meanwhile,I’ve been building another small, non-travel related business that mostly lets me work remotely. I love what I do now. It uses so many skills that I’ve accumulated over the years and it helps people.

    nonsoloamore May 30, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Thank you so much Dale. Yes I think you are absolutely right. Being a full time travel blogger means working. You can not see or enjoy anymore the places when you have to think all the time how to sell the story. I also totally enjoy working on my own schedule. I love it!

Dale June 5, 2016 at 7:39 pm

You’re most welcome Claudia. I totally agree. Being able to travel is just one aspect of a more experiential existence, but being able to work doing something you love is also important and fulfilling. I love the creation process!

    nonsoloamore June 7, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Yes I love this process as well. I need from time to time to change the things I do because I have so many different ideas in my head. I think it’s important to grow (also just mentally) and develop “yourself”. Whatever you do. 😉

Kristin S. July 26, 2016 at 4:21 pm

I needed to see this today. Sometimes l forget. Work be happy!!!

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