It’s 11 a.m. on a Monday. You’re at work, checking your work email. You grab a coffee, wishing it was still the weekend. Eventually, you check Facebook. More photos of friends on holidays or living it up in some remote corner of the globe. You take another sip of your coffee and start to wonder. Could I do that? Could I up and leave, change my life, uproot myself and move to the other side of the world? Well, yeah, of course you can! And this is how.
If you’re sick of seeing your friends post pictures from their awesome lives abroad and don’t want to work nine-to-five then maybe it’s time to uproot.
If you’re always living for the weekends when you can let your hair down, go on road trips, head to the beach and do whatever you want, then it might be time for a shake-up, time to pack up and move to the city of your dreams.
Who says you have to wait until the weekend to let your hair down? Who says you can’t do exactly what you want every day of the week? Here is a guide to quitting your job and moving to the other side of the world to do exactly what you want.
Where to go and what to do
First you’ve got to know what you want to do and where you want to be. If you want to design shoes in Italy, awesome. If you want to laze on a beach and start up your own surf school in Perú, great! If you want to move to Colombia and write about your travels, so be it! If you want to spend the next five years travelling the world couchsurfing, do it! Or if you want to move to Paris and learn French, go for it. Just know what you want to do so you know what to plan for.
Start planning
Where do you want to be based? What country? Do you need a visa to live there? Do you want to study? Do your research. If you want to go somewhere where another language is spoken, start taking classes or teach yourself. Go to groups in your city for people looking to practice their language skills. This is a great way to learn and make connections with people who have been to wherever it is you’re looking to go.
Start saving
About a year out, or as soon as you can, start saving your pennies. Open a bank account just for your imminent migration. Call it your “Escapade Account” and start to get excited. Every time you transfer money into that account write what you want to do with that money in the transfer description, for example, croissant funds, language class stash, rent in Istanbul.
Buy your ticket
Six months out, buy your ticket. There’s no going back now. There is a piece of paper that says it is all happening. So get ready.
Move out of your apartment
Three months from your departure date, move out of your apartment. Sell and give away all the belongings you no longer want or need. Move in with your parents, if that is an option, or a relative or a friend. The amount of money you will save on rent can be put towards your new adventure.
Write your resignation letter
One month from your departure date, write your letter of resignation. And know that next Monday morning, when you’re drinking your coffee, wishing it was still the weekend, you will be on a plane in mere weeks.
Have a pre-flight freak out
It’s going to happen, so be ready for it. Thoughts are going to start buzzing through your head, What am I doing? Have I made the right decision? Really? I’m going to leave my life and go gallivanting across the globe? Yep, you are. And it will be amazing and hard and challenging and it will help you grow into the person you’ve always wanted to be.
You’re never too old, too young, too shy, too weak, too strong, too whatever to start your life again, to rewrite your story, to write your story exactly as you want. So start now, because in a year from now you’re going to wish you started today.
More on catching the travel bug
Tips on bartering while travelling
Top 10 must-have travel apps
5 Surprising countries to visit to enjoy delicious wine
Leave a Comment