I've been traveling for four years and even sometimes I get the travel blues. Sometimes I need to keep myself excited about traveling even when I'm in one place for awhile. Sometimes I need to remember exactly why I love what I love. Here are some tips and tricks that I use to keep myself excited about travel when I'm taking a break from my travels.
Plan your Next Trip If the thought of staying home is killing you, start planning your next trip, even if you think it's too early to think about. Even planning a dream trip is sure to keep you in the mood for traveling. Start looking up destinations. Buy a guidebook. Plan some routes. Look at flights. Even if it never happens, at least you will be working towards something and taking your mind off being settled in one place for too long.
Get a Job The economy may not be doing great but getting a job ties into staying busy. By getting a job, you can take your mind off things and begin to put all your energy and new found sense of adventure to good use.
Take a Weekend Away Going away for the weekend can keep your travel energy up and make you feel like you are just shifting gears in life instead of slamming on the brakes. Not all trips and vacations have to be to Paris or some far off tropical place. Often, a short trip to a local attraction or nearby town can be just as exciting.
Watch the Travel Channel There's always something related to travel on television. Travel programs are full of great tips, advice, and they will give you ideas for future trips. Seeing other people there will make you want to be there too. The Travel Channel is a great place to get inspiration and keep your motivation up when you're not traveling.
Read Travel Blogs There are lots of travel blogs out there. Read sites like mine to stay motivated. I read a ton of blogs and they all keep me interested in traveling. Reading travel adventures from other travelers can you show that it is easier than you thought. They can also give you advice and tips on the art of travel, and teach about places you've never heard of. One day you'll get sick of living their life and you'll go out and create your own travel stories.
Buy a Guidebook Planning your next trip and looking through these books will keep you wishing, dreaming, and making your trip closer to reality.
Learn a Language Join a language class and pick up a language you might use on the road. Once you've learned the language, you'll hate to waste your new skill, and the only way not do that is to travel to where you can use it!
Watch Travel Movies Movies are a great source of inspiration and can get you excited about traveling. I often watch travel movies to help me remember why I love to travel so much. They remind me that it's a big world to explore. Some of my favorites are Up in the Air, The Beach, Indiana Jones, Into the Wild, and Eurotrip.
Listen to Travel Songs Just like movies, music an be a great source of inspiration. Music can be a very influential factor in our lives. Travel related songs that take me to locations far away or just remind me that life is about living and experiencing new things always help me to remember why I love traveling so much.
After spending hours of doing work in front of my computer for days on end, sometimes I could use a pick me up. After months without going anywhere, I really need a pick me up. These different methods keep me excited about travel and can keep you excited too.