"Travel While You’re Young"

Travel While You’re Young, But How?

I remember hearing it for the first time from an older colleague at work. "Travel while you’re young," he said, with a smile. He talked about how he wished he had seen more of the world before life got in the way before mortgages, kids, and career ladders tied him down. At that moment, it sounded like a dream. But as soon as I snapped back to reality, I thought, How?

So you’re telling me, while I’m paying rent, covering car payments, managing student loans, and trying to save for the future, I should just drop everything and go backpacking for three months?

The idea is romantic. The reality? Not so simple.

The Struggle Between Dreams and Responsibilities

I always wanted to travel. To see the world beyond my tiny apartment and the daily routine of work, bills, and responsibilities. But every time I tried to plan something, I hit the same wall, money, time, commitments. Just because I don’t have a family to support doesn’t mean I can afford to drain my savings on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

I used to scroll through Instagram, seeing people my age island-hopping in Thailand or road-tripping through Europe, wondering how they did it. Were they just luckier? Did they come from money? Or were they just braver than I was?

The Wake-Up Call

One day, I had a conversation that changed my perspective. A friend who had just come back from a month-long solo trip to Japan told me, "You don’t have to drop everything. You just have to start small."

That hit me. I realized that travel doesn’t have to mean selling everything and disappearing for months. It can mean a weekend road trip. A budget-friendly flight to a nearby country. Even just exploring my own city in a new way.

Finding a Middle Ground

So I made a decision, I wasn’t going to wait for the "perfect time" to travel because, honestly, there never is one. Instead, I started to plan smartly:

1. Start Small – My first trip wasn’t a grand escape, just a weekend away to a place I’d never been. It was enough to ignite the travel spark inside me.

2. Prioritize – I looked at my budget, cut down on small luxuries, and started saving specifically for travel.

3. Be Smart About Travel – I found ways to make it work without breaking the bank, budget airlines, hostels, and travel rewards became my best friends.

4. Work and Travel – Eventually, I started working remotely a few days a week, which let me extend my trips without taking unpaid leave.

   
   

Travel Isn’t Just for the Young

Looking back, I understand why older people say, "Travel while you're young." It’s not because they think we have endless money or time, it’s because they know life only gets busier. But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t have to travel right now, and you don’t have to travel like everyone else.

The truth is, adventure isn’t reserved for your twenties. You can travel at any stage of life as long as you make it a priority when the time is right for you.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to “travel while you’re young,” don’t. Travel when you can. When it makes sense for you. Because the world isn’t going anywhere and neither is your chance to see it.