How can we fit together our full-time job and traveling? Is it possible? It might seem unreachable at times. We are conditioned to think that by working a 9 to 5 job, all we can have is one, at most two vacations per year. My experience as a full time legal advisor and avid traveler says otherwise. Here is everything you need to know about time management at the workplace and in your private life, in order to fit in as many trips as possible.
Byline Barbi
Instagram @barbii.balazs
When I first started working a 9 to 5 job I was determined to prove that being a full time employee and a traveler could fit well together. I work as a legal advisor for an American company with affiliates all over the world and I am mostly dealing with international contracts which involves a great deal of work, meaning that I work at least 8 hours per day, sometimes 9 or even 10, depending on the urgency and complexity of tasks. One would think, such a profession doesn’t allow for an employee to be very flexible. Well, that is certainly not true, although it takes good time management skills and determination to make everything work.
1. Find a remote or hybrid job
This is what could help you the most. Working remotely or in a hybrid work model, can providehuge freedom and flexibility. Maybe you have an early afternoon flight and if you work remotely, you can start working as early as you want in the morning and go directly to the airport when you finish, without having to take the whole day off or having to rush to the office and then to the airport. Maybe you have a long layover and you would be able to work from the airport. Maybe you want to do a trip for one month and you would like to work for a few days during your trip. Many people think that only people working in IT can work remotely, but nowadays, almost any profession can be transformed into a remote job. Be creative and try to figure out how your profession could be fit in this category.
2. Find a job that respects you and be honest with your employer
An employer that respects you and sees your talent wants to keep you. Be honest with them and tell them that traveling is important to you, that is how you relax and you would appreciate the flexibility regarding your work schedule, days off or the possibility of working remotely. Of course, in return, that means that you will have to do a great job, which sometimes means some sacrifices, extra hours or going the extra mile when you don’t necessarily feel like it, but your employer will see it and will be more comfortable to trust you and give you flexibility. If your employer is not very flexible in this regard but also does not give real reasons on why they don’t provide this option, or they try to micro-manage you, then ask yourself, is this the place you’re meant to work? There are thousands of jobs out there and surely you can find an employer that respects you and your priorities.
3. Use those extra work hours
If your employer lets you work extra hours in return of time off,it is a good idea to gather many hours, and take them off as days when a travel plan comes up. This will help you have extra time and your employer will also see that you are as serious about your job as you are about your trips.
4. Use the bank holidays and weekends
Try to plan vacations for periods that include one or two bank holidays and/or weekends. Surely, these trips need to be planned way ahead for them not to be very expensive, but it is definitely worth it when you can do a long weekend trip without having to take a day off. It’s amazing what you can cram into a fun packed weekend!
5. Don’t be afraid to ask
Many times, we are afraid to ask what we want. Do you want to go on a three week trip to Indonesia? Chances are that your employer, if they really value you and you are an asset to their company, would let you take those three weeks and go on your dream holiday. Good employers understand that a happy employee provides quality work. But if you never ask, you’ll never know.
6. Prioritize but be reasonable
If you want to travel frequently, that has to be on the top of your priority list. Since you cannot prioritize everything, you need to choose carefully. For me, this list consists of work, travel, friends and health. I couldn’t prioritize more than these four things, as that would drain me. Be reasonable about your priorities and be careful that you don’t drain yourself, otherwise you will not be able to focus on any of your priorities properly.
7. Have a plan
Have a plan for everything. Plan out the countries that you want to visit during the year. Plan out your work days. Plan out your private life, the events you have to go to, the birthday parties, anniversaries, concerts and so on. If you have a good plan, you will instantly see which ones are the less busy periods, where you can fit a trip in. If you have a plan and you try to respect it, it will take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders.
8. Take care of yourself!
Take those vitamins. Eat healthy. Move your body. Drink plenty of water. Just do all the things that take care of your body and soul! This might seem like it doesn’t belong strictly to traveling, but let me tell you a story. I have been in a situation, where I have overworked myself and tried to make everything work so that I can go on all of my planned trips. During this hustle period, I forgot to take care of myself properly and just before my planned trip I got sick as a result of not listening to my body and neglecting my health. So, yes, be careful and give yourself everything you need!
If traveling is really what you want, I encourage you to follow these tips, or at least some of them. Give yourself a chance, step out of your comfort zone and start planning that holiday or workation! You will see, it’s worth all the effort.
About the author: Hi! I’m Barbi and I’m a legal advisor, dealing mostly with contracts for the Middle-East and Africa, speaking 5 languages and aspiring to learn more. I am based in Romania but I’m of Hungarian nationality. I love my job but I love traveling even more, so my days usually consist of working, planning my next trip, going to the gym and hanging out with friends. You can find my travel stories, tips&tricks on my Instagram page: barbii.balazs.
Life Lovers Magazine® 