Exploration
Travel is fun, but after months, life on the road can start to drag. Thatβs when you have to remind yourself - when you are in a new place, keep your head up! Look around, have active eyes. You might just notice something special. Weβre always surrounded by unique moments, humdrum and otherwise.
When I get to a new place, I always look for vegan restaurants, dance clubs, farmerβs markets, and used/rare bookstores. I also search to see if there are any notable local foods or products, and which neighborhoods are the most βhip.β Youβll have your own interests, of course. I also look at:
For some activities, youβll need to plan ahead. During COVID, many museums are requiring that you buy tickets online in advance. But when you plan, make sure to leave space for unplanned stuff and talking to local folks.
Entertainment & Personal Growth
When I left on my five-month trip around the US, with a full-time remote job, I totally overestimated what I was going to be able to do. I calculated my time using the following:
7 * 24 = 168 total hours per week7 * 7 = 49 hours of sleep/week8 * 5 = 40 hour work week168 - 49 - 40 = 79 hours remaining
What I did not account for was the time-consuming grind of the travel itself - of looking for a restroom, eating out, waiting for your flight, figuring out your Modes of travel waiting at a bus stop. And when you are traveling, you usually want to see friends, try restaurants, and go and have a good time. Or at least I did. So the little goals I set for myself, like learning another language, simply did not happen.
Even with all that, however, you wonβt be traveling, working, and exploring 24/7. Sometimes you need to sit back for a day and relax. My e-reader was key for this, as were my bluetooth earbuds.