6 Things That People Who Travel Often Do Differently

Here’s the thing about traveling as often as you possibly can without losing your job or home:  You never quite leave the journey behind.

You can’t help it – being away from home and far outside your comfort zone moulds your personality and impacts the way you approach the world… Even when you’re back on your home turf.

How could it not?  Those who globe-trot and get away whenever they can have a huge range of experiences that they’d never have otherwise.  And, in both subtle and significant ways, those experiences change who they are.

Here’s how…

1. They use ALL of their vacation days (and then some)

According to a Skift survey, a whopping 42% of Americans didn’t use a single one of their vacation days last year.  And another 16% took fewer than 5 days.  In a culture that tells us being a workaholic is a good thing, this is a bit alarming.  So, not only do a great many people work hard and long every week, but they rarely take time off to recharge.

Not so with frequent travelers though – those of us who work to live instead of living to work take every opportunity to skip town.  We map out our vacation days with care and take those long holiday weekends to go somewhere that doesn’t require too much travel time.  We may even play hooky on occasion if that means fitting in an extra trip or extending a vacation by a day.

There will always be excuses not to travel, not to take care of yourself, not to enjoy life while you can.  But travelers understand that the weeks and months and years pass by pretty quickly and you’ve got to pack in as much of what you love as you can.  After all, when you’re old & grey you won’t treasure the memories of those late nights at work.

2. They pack light

Take this one bother literally and metaphorically.  People who travel often have probably learned the hard way that trips (and life) are a whole lot easier with less baggage… Yes, by that I mean suitcases and those heavy packages like regret, anger and guilt.

You’ll move through airports and your days a lot more easily the less you have.  The truth is that many of the things we think we need are completely unnecessary.  Your fun doesn’t depend on having your whole closet with you and your happiness doesn’t require you to carry your past mistakes into the future.

3. They talk to strangers

Though our world has become increasingly “connected” in many ways, the fact is that people talk to one another less than they used to.  In big, bustling cities, in fact, you might even get a funny look if you utter a word to someone you don’t know.  But that shouldn’t stop you.

When you’re travelling, you end up having to talk to lots of people you don’t know, which can result in interesting stories and unique experiences.  The lesson?  Toss out your mother’s warning and talk to strangers.  If you’re standing in line at the coffee shop behind someone whose shoes you like, tell them with a smile.  Worst case they smile back, say thanks and get a little boost; best case they strike up a conversation and you make a new friend.

4. They go with the flow

One of the surest ways to be miserable is to hold the belief that you can control everything.  No matter how smart, competent or psychic you may be, the world will always throw things at you that you never expected.  This phenomenon seems only to be amplified during travel, causing frequent travelers to take a Zen approach to unforeseen complications.

Life and airlines and Mother Nature and your fellow travelers can be counted on to give you obscene amounts of lemons, but travel buffs usually have a boatload of delicious lemonade recipes on hand.

5. They take the path less traveled

As they say, the good things in life most often happen outside of your comfort zone.  Modern explorers know this well and purposely choose the unusual option whenever they can.  Instead of staying at the local Holiday Inn, they opt for the small, independent place with character and history.  Instead of eating at the overpriced restaurant right next to the tourist attraction, they wander into a tiny mom & pop place bursting with locals.

And they’re usually rewarded with an unforgettable experience that they couldn’t have had anywhere else.  A great deal of life is monotonous, so why not take the opportunity for a bit of adventure when you can?

6. They know the value of stuff

People who lament the fact that they don’t travel enough are known for citing money as the main obstacle, and they jealously wonder how their colleague can possibly swing so many trips.  The secret is knowing the value of stuff.

Sure, it’s nice to get that new pair of leather boots you spot in a shop window – you deserve it – but realize that it’s the collection of stuff like those boots that prevents you from being able to afford a unique experience, which is more valuable in the long run.

As someone who adores traveling, maybe I’m biased in saying that the experience imparts wisdom, perspective, and tolerance.  But I truly believe that people who travel often have a healthier approach to life… And a whole lot more fun.

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