Can’t Stop Daydreaming About Travel? Try this.

*warning*: these suggestions may result in the purchase of a one-way ticket.

Trondheim, Norway

Do you get antsy the instant you realize you don’t have a vacation on the horizon?

I feel you. My mind is constantly thinking about my next destination.

Wait, is this an actual addiction? Have I rewired my brain to only be content when it’s getting its weekly hit of a new place?

Ah, well. I’ve developed some coping mechanisms for those times you can’t stop daydreaming about travel and I figured I’d share them with you all… (I’m off to look up the neuroscience behind travel addiction… will report back..)

My favorite go-to because you can enter your nearby airport as the origin and Everywhere* as the destination. You’d be surprised by the cheapest flights! Distance ain’t an accurate rule-of-thumb, that’s all I’m saying.

So, worst comes to worst- figure out how much time you need between your 2 weeks notice, and selling off all your belongings, and then use That Date + Everywhere* as your jumping off point. Or do it the old-fashioned way and throw a dart at a map. (Pictures or it didn’t happen if you choose the latter!)

Click Here to Download the App and Support Your Daydreaming On-the-Go!

or there’s always the good old-fashioned name-in-a-hat game

2. Peruse Workaway

Remind yourself of the vast array of possibilities for spending time in another country. This is the best daydream cure if you’re serious about turning them into a reality, because these options only require you to purchase a one-way flight. That’s it. No added expenses.

Regardless of practicality, it’s fascinating to see and read about the lives that people are living all over the world.

People do some cool shit.

It isn’t all farm work and sweeping hostels either. Want to teach Tae Kwon Do in Nicaragua? Or help at a bush kindergarten in the middle of the Namibian Bush?

I just spent all of 3 minutes on the site and those are just a couple of the fuc*ing awesome opportunities I came across.

Whether you’re a chef, videographer, teacher, architect, yogi, or writer* there are literally thousands of different adventures waiting for you where you can save on accommodation and food, get to know beautiful new people, and experience a new city and culture firsthand.

*I spent 2 weeks living with a wonderful family in Lisbon, Portugal that runs a travel website, in exchange for my own apartment in their attic, delicious authentic meals with the family (including fabulous local wine), and transportation to all the best beaches and neighborhoods.. all in exchange for writing a couple articles for their website and helping with some copy.

The connection with that family also led me to another writing gig for a Lisbon hostel.

Wonderful opportunities are a breeding ground for more wonderful opportunities.

Just a reminder.

Istanbul, Turkey

3. Read A Good Travel Book

Find a book that is set in one of the countries you can’t stop daydreaming about, or just choose a generic wanderlust favorite, like The Alchemist or The Beach. There is no better way to pretend you’re somewhere else than submerging yourself in the depths of a good story.

4. Look up stuff to do near you.

Seriously. Google “day adventures near *Insert Your City Here*” and you’ll be surprised by how many things there are to do right in your own backyard that you never knew about. Sometimes all it takes is a small adventure to satiate that ravenous travel-hungry monster in your mind.

Good luck wanderlusty friends 🙂

Anyone have any other good tips to combat the daydreams?