I love being a travel blogger. Since I started this blog a year and a half ago, a whole new world has opened up for me. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to build this blog and maintain my presence in the travel world.
I’ve been afforded some opportunities to travel professionally (for my day job), personally and through being the Editor-in-Chief for Will Drink For Travel. I’ve loved every single second. Once you begin to travel…I mean really travel and go places off the beaten path (see: Iceland), you become addicted to the feeling that travel brings. The feeling of exploring new places and each day being different than the last is incomparable.
I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the opportunities I’ve been afforded, both personally and professionally. I’m not ungrateful. Really, I’m not. But earlier this year I experienced what I’ve termed “travel fatigue.”
To me, travel fatigue is the act of resenting travel more than appreciating it. For example, I only had two weeks between lengthy trips to Haiti, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, back to Haiti, and finally London & Iceland. Two weeks may seem like enough time to become adjusted to being back home and then hit the road again.
But in that time, I missed the birthdays, graduations, proms & several gatherings for some of my closest friends and family members. Not to mention I was working full-time, trying to maintain my social life and keeping up with my blogging duties.
I began to resent not being home to share in the memories with my friends and family. Those are memories I won’t get back. I began to wonder if my hectic travel schedule was worth the sacrifice. During my reflection time, I’ve learned the following lessons:
1. It’s okay to take a break.
I’ll never be the type of person to let any job take complete control over my life and while I love being a travel blogger, it’s only one part of who I am. Personally, I need the balance of being home to make me truly appreciate my love of travel.
2. All travel bloggers are different.
I follow several travel blogs and while it seems like some travel more than others, everyone has their own style. I need to do what works best for me. And that may mean turning down some trips or laying low for a bit.
3. I love what I do.
I never dreamt of being a travel blogger but due to life’s twists and turns, here I am. I’ve found my passion and I love it.
4. Traveling locally is perfectly acceptable.
Of course, I’d love to be in the Maldives or Sri Lanka, but traveling to destinations close to home can be rewarding too. Exploring more of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. is also a fun way to reacquaint myself with my hometowns. You’d be surprised at how many local treasures are right under your nose.
I’ve purposely not booked any trips lately in an effort to regain some of my home/life balance and in that time, my travel fatigue has subsided to about 98%. I’m looking forward to hitting the road again soon, but in the mean time, I’ve come to appreciate my time at home just a little bit more. My opinion may not be the most popular one amongst travel bloggers, but hey, it’s my blog and I can cry if I want to!
Have you experienced travel fatigue? Sound off below!