Assuming we live for 85 years, we have about 60 years (discounting 15 years at the start and 10 years at the end) during which we have to travel to all the places we want to see before we die. Assuming again that we can take time off work/school an average of 3 times a year, that leaves us with 180 opportunities to travel. That’s not much – just less than 20% of the famous “list of 1000 places to see before you die”. Which means that if you have a travel bucket list and you’re serious about achieving it, you better get off your ass and get going! But society (and self doubt) has a way of nagging at your ear to put that travel bucket list on hold, most of the time indefinitely. Myths about the dangers, cost and selfishness of travel are perpetuated to deter those with less resolve. Here are some of the biggest myths which I will attempt to debunk:

1) No time 

Most working adults have some off day entitlements ranging from 2 to 6 weeks. And yet I’ve heard ‘no time’ for a sorry excuse to not travel many many times. The real problem is not ‘no time’ but not knowing how to use that time to travel when the opportunity presents itself e.g. when you’re suddenly forced to clear leave at the end of the year or when you’re in between projects. During these times, the excuse evolves from ‘no time’ to ‘I don’t know where to go’. Well, here’s how to get around that problem. They say luck is opportunity meets preparation and there is no truer statement in this context. Plan ahead: I keep an excel workbook which contains my travel bucket list with notes on the best month(s) to travel to each place, a 5 year travel plan and brief itineraries for each place. That way, when I suddenly have say 2 weeks in May freed up, I know exactly where to travel. Never let your lack of preparation hold you back on your travel goals.

2) No companion 

Here’s a revelation that my friends will find surprising about me: I like having travel companions and travel solo only when I can’t find anyone to come along with me. Humans are social creatures – we all crave and need companionship, some more than others. But we also have different schedules and life priorities and therefore cannot always be there for one another. Your friends/family members might not be available at the precise period you have to travel or even be interested in where you want to go. Don’t let the priorities of others dictate your’s. If you’ve never traveled solo, now is the time to try. You’ll feel scared, worried, liberated and empowered at the same time – these feelings are all very normal. If you’ve tried it and swear that it’s not for you, reconsider if you spent most of your time when traveling solo wishing your loved ones were there with you. If you did, that was a futile exercise and I implore you to try again. Extroverts may find it harder to travel solo but introverts can all identify with the inner peace and introspection that comes with solitude. Plus you’ll get to meet other solo travelers just like you!

3) No money 

Ah the no money excuse. Yes we can all do with a lot more money but until we find a way to have infinite amounts of money, we need to learn how to allocate the limited resources we have effectively. There are ways to travel cost effectively (see my previous post) and there are ways to save up (consider not buying so many handbags, clothes, tech gadgets etc. and not eating out at expensive restaurants). Some people have the idea of putting off all their travels until retirement when they expect to be sitting on a pile of cash. There are several problems with  this theory. Firstly, how do you know you will live to see retirement? Secondly, if you retire at 65, that leaves you with only 10 – 15 years to travel and there are many things you wouldn’t be able to do or do as comfortably at that age as compared to your younger days. Thirdly, ever heard of inflation? A trip that costs $2000 today will cost 2 to 3 times more later in your lifetime. Simple math.

And remember : It’s always possible to make more money but youth, once lost, is lost forever.