If you’re heading off on an adventure, you’ll need all your energy and headspace for the fantastic experiences you’re going to have along the way. The last thing you want to worry about is whether everything’s okay at home. These tips will help you make sure you’ve got everything sorted before you head off.
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Your Work Situation
If you currently have a job, don’t leave it too late to inform your employer about your travel plans. Even if you’ve saved up enough annual leave to cover your absence, it’s good practice to check with your boss that your decision to take all your time at once is okay with the team. A good team leader is unlikely to stop you, but this common courtesy will mean you leave a good dose of good-will at your back. If you’re leaving your team in the lurch, you won’t feel good about coming back to your job.
If you plan to quit your current role and go self-employed while you’re traveling, remember that getting a business off the ground won’t happen overnight. It’s a good idea to brush up your marketable freelance skills and get your side-hustle moving ahead of time, so your freelance work is fully operational before you head off.
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Dependants
Family is one of the main things that holds people back from travel. And that’s understandable. One, you’ll miss them like crazy. Two, they need you! If you have children and you’re not taking them with, it’s important to talk through their day-to-day routine with whoever is going to care for them. Whether it’s your partner or your parents, they may not know all the little things you do to make your children’s lives happy, from bedtime rituals to certain lunchbox treats.
If your parents or grandparents depend on you, it’s a good idea to find in-home care before you announce your travel plans. That way, you can let them know at once that you are going away for a while, but their needs are going to be taken care of. No matter who you’re leaving behind, your precious family members will feel less anxious as your departure date nears if they know that they will be well looked after.
Your Home
If you rent your house or flat, it’s vital that your travel dates are timed with your lease agreement. Why pay rent when you’re not here? If your dates do not line up, speak to your landlord about potentially subletting. It is not recommended that you do this without your landlord’s permission. An unofficial agreement gives you no leg to stand on if something goes wrong with the property while you are away.
If you own your home or have a mortgage and your family are going away, your house needn’t stand empty. Consider renting it out while you travel. Rental income could cover your mortgage repayments and much of your travel expenses, too. If you’re not comfortable having strangers living in your home (or you don’t want to put your things into storage) remember that you will need to factor mortgage repayments into your financial planning for your big adventure.
Whether you’re a travel veteran or this is your first big adventure, one of the most daunting things about heading off is worrying about what—and who—you’re leaving behind. These tips will help you get things sorted ahead of departure.
