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Apr 12, 2018 • 6 min read
Loneliness… is a temporary state
Face the reality: you will get homesick. You will miss your friends and your family (well, some of them), even your cat and your local coffee. However, according to existentialists such as Jean-Paul Sartre, loneliness is part of being human, so you aren’t really that alone after all. Yet loneliness is different from active solitude, which can refresh, rejuvenate, and reinspire creativity. Therefore, why not get off the grid to somewhere like Bhutan or the Kimberley?
Excessive use of social media can exacerbate loneliness on the road, as you’re never here or there; instead, make fixed times to talk with those back home and make those interactions count. Consider staying in a hostel with an active social scene. Moreover, keeping a daily schedule can provide a sense of achievement and order at the end of each day. You could also base yourself in one place for a few weeks to engage in volunteer work or join a sporting club—anything to help you feel part of a purposeful community.
Sickness… can happen anywhere
The naturalist position on biology holds that sickness is a kind of mechanical deficiency. Maurice Merleau-Ponty argues that forced convalescence ‘reduces your phenomenal field’, meaning that when bedridden, you only experience what you can see and hear (and smell) around you. Consequently, rather than thinking of this as inhibiting your adventures, consider that a bout of tummy trouble in Bali or Delhi could serve as time to reflect on all the amazing experiences you’ve been through—along with the not-so-amazing ones that have challenged you.
However, getting sick is never the preferred path. Obvious precautions include investing in decent travel insurance, filtering your water, avoiding questionable food and aggressive animals, wearing insect repellent, and heeding local advice. In the end, your body will let you know it’s travelling, so listen to it. Be mindful not to succumb to too much negative hysteria about foreign medical services. World-class doctors can often be found in surprising corners of the globe, frequently at a fraction of the cost compared to home. When you arrive in a new location, it’s beneficial to identify how to access medical services, as most developed cities will have many English-speaking doctors available to assist you.
Safety… is a risk assessment
The Bayesian ideal of rationality states that all statements about the world should have a definite probability attached. For example: ‘air travel is x times safer than car travel’ and ‘Switzerland is y times safer for travellers than South Africa’ (unless you ski). Extend this logic to help you make safety-first decisions. Sleeper trains in less-developed regions can be notorious for theft; therefore, take precautions with your belongings. Avoiding dark alleys in favor of well-lit routes back to your accommodation is advisable. Moreover, be aware of geopolitical ‘hotspots’ and know your seasons, especially in the tropics where the wet season can wreak havoc on travel itineraries.
Much of risk assessment comes during the planning stages. Consult your government’s own travel advice and consider starting your journey in relatively safe destinations to get your bearings. As your appetite for risk increases, correspondingly enhance your due diligence. Having ‘done’ Singapore doesn’t mean you’re necessarily ready to hike an active volcano.
Financial security… is a prison
Henry Thoreau was one of many who praised the virtues of thriftiness and frugality. The mantra of the contemporary anti-consumerist movement can be summarized as ‘don’t buy, do’. You’ve likely saved for this trip by committing to experiences rather than possessions. Therefore, apply similar logic when on the road. Establish a weekly budget to avoid excessive spending but remain realistic about your expenses. Don’t travel the Trans-Siberian Railway on $5 a day just because your uncle did; that was back in 1985, a different era entirely!
Practice maintaining a budget for a month before your departure to better understand your spending habits—itemizing your expenses at the end of each day can help you prepare for unexpected costs. Additionally, it might be wise to keep some funds available for your return home, as arriving back with poor financial health may overshadow the joy of your adventures. Another option to mitigate financial concerns is to secure a working-holiday visa or engage in legitimate cash-in-hand work, depending on the labor laws in each country.
FOMO… is all in your head
A product of the digital age, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is essentially an anxiety regarding how we spend our time compared to others. Socrates’ famous maxim ‘know thyself’ serves as a useful guideline in managing FOMO. Perhaps a more practical strategy involves detoxing from social media, although this can be incredibly challenging, especially as travelling often provides ample downtime best suited for mindless scrolling.
However, you can at least reduce your usage, particularly during the weeks surrounding your significant departure. Don’t worry—you won’t lack for social events once you fully embrace the Great Big World Out There, especially if it leads you to the vibrant nightlife of Ibiza or Miami. Consider the perspectives of those who stay behind; FOMO often hits them harder.
Life plan? Let go!
Our Zen friends emphasize the dangers of ‘future tripping’, where one prematurely anticipates and overthinks the future. Your tendency to meticulously plan your life might mean you are, by default, avoiding the present, where the truth lies. If you are anxious that that coveted internship, apprenticeship, or romantic interest may pass you by while you explore the globe, consider embracing a more relaxed pace. Much like Thich Nhat Hahn advises from his meditation retreat in southwestern France: ‘walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet’. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself back on familiar soil!
