Why You Should Travel When You’re Young

You’re stuck in class or at work for another hour. You’ve been staring at your textbook or computer screen for so long that you can’t remember the last sentence you just read or the last time you blinked. Maybe your mind starts to drift back towards trading it all in for a life of travel. You start questioning whether or not you’re ready for a change, ready for something new, ready to leave your old life behind. Well let me be the voice inside your head screaming “DO IT! Get out there and see the world.”

Most travel dreams don’t make it out alive from the “I wish…” stage. You’ve talked the talk for years, and now it’s time to walk the walk. It’s likely that you’re under the impression that traveling is for the retired and wealthy. WRONG! Maybe luxury vacations where you’re sitting on a beach for two weeks straight, staying at a 5-star hotel, and eating only the finest cuisine is for the rich and wealthy, but we’re looking for more adventure than that.

So how do I figure that it’s better to travel when you’re young and healthy? Well,

1. After traveling for a few years, should you choose to return to your homeland to find a job, you’ll actually become more employable because the things you learn on the road and the confidence you build provides real value in the work place. It shows potential employers that you’ve got the guts to take risks, and as it turns out, younger folks tend to be more trainable with less work experience under their belt.
2. Traveling gives you some great stories to share around the dinner table with family, friends, and your future children. Having traveled to different countries where English is barely spoken, you’ll find you can articulate your thoughts in a more concise manner and have more to add to the conversation.
3. The independence and the real life, hands on, DIY experiences teaches you to practice self-sufficiency.
4. When you travel in your twenties and thirties, there is still PLENTY of time to start a new career. If you wait until you’re older to travel, it can be harder to make your dollars last while on the road, and finding work after coming off of a long trip around the world can be difficult. Not impossible but a hefty challenge.
5. Plus, let’s be frank, when you get older, you get tired faster, and you’re not as physically fit or flexible to take on the more demanding aspects of travel like hiking, long walking tours, or even waiting out a delayed flight at the airport. The stress of travel can take a serious toll on your body. It’s not to say the same isn’t true of younger travelers, but we bounce back quicker.
6. As a twenty-something, people can be more impressionable and open-minded about learning what different cultures have to offer so instead of just being a citizen of your home city, state, or country, you become a citizen of the world. Everything and everyone you encounter really leaves a lasting impression and can help you conjure up more well-informed opinions and ideas.
7. It’s easier to make friends when you’re younger and inspire others to follow in the footsteps of their dreams. When people of similar age and background see someone going after what they love, it’s reassuring that they can do the same.

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