How to Make Time to Travel and Feed Your Wanderlust

Making time to travel is a significant challenge for many readers. It's a common frustration. But there are options.

There are things that one can do with little time to get that holiday freedom feeling in short order. There are fewer, but still some, options for getting that introduction to a new culture that travel offers.

To a large degree, the time we have available for travel is affected by our priorities and the time demanded of us to act on them. Whether and how we respond to these demands on our time reveals what we hold important in our lives. Making travel a priority makes finding the opportunities easier. It's all about the type of life we want to live.

The memories of your travels are timeless. But then, so are the joys of relationships and the meaning and satisfaction of work or volunteering. The question is: what kind of art do you want to make of your life? Assuming that your work of art will have competing priorities, only one of which is travel, below are some tips to help you capture as much of it as possible.

Note: If finances are another challenge you face, please see our Travel Money Guide.

Redefining Travel for Time-strapped Travelers

We often have a very specific idea of what travel is. It might be going to Europe or taking a road trip, or it might require visiting another country or frolicking on a beach.

If we broaden the definition of each of those trips based on their meaning, the value they offer, each can be possible even with limited travel time.

For an American or a Canadian:

• A trip to Europe could instead be a trip to Quebec. In addition to the language, the culture, food, and architecture are all very different from the rest of North America. Cobblestone streets and a walled city away.
• A road trip doesn't have to take you across the country. I once circumnavigated Lake Ontario in seven days covering two countries, two very different wine regions, a theater center where I took in a play, a cooking school where I took a half day lesson, a day of cycling, and more.
• For you, does travel have to be to a different country? This one is obvious. Canadians can go to the United States and Americans can go to Canada. It's a long border between the two countries and there are a lot of options. Most travelers from each country are surprised by how different they are from the other.
• Beaches are everywhere in North America. Our rivers and lakes have natural beaches. Take a picnic for an afternoon, rent a cottage for a long weekend, or go to a resort. The Great Lakes go on as far as the eye can see, just like the ocean.

Making Time for Travel in 3 Steps

We budget money for travel. You can also budget time for travel.

First, give yourself permission to take the time. Yes, you have responsibilities, but that does not mean that you can't give yourself permission to take some time for yourself.

A research survey done at the University of California called The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success? suggests that happy people are more successful in life. They are more successful in marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health. In other words, you'll do a better job at work, as a caregiver, or as a student if you're happy.

Once you've given yourself permission, you need to find the time on a practical level.

1. Analyze and manage the demands on your time.

Is it work that's getting in the way? “Only 48% of US workers say they use all their vacation days, according to a new survey from Pew Research Center.” This research suggests that 52% of American workers have a time constraint that is of their own making. Buck the trend and take those holidays.

Are the demands on your time coming from other sources? Identify them and manage them. If you're booked every Saturday for something, perhaps someone else can take one Saturday a month so you'll have a full weekend free. Try to consolidate a time commitment that is usually spread over a long period so that you have more days in a row that are your own.

Once you've analyzed and managed your commitments you should have a better handle on exactly what time is available for travel.

2. Visualize your time options on a calendar.

Ideally, you look at the time that is available for travel over a 12-month period. This gives you more flexibility as to when you will do which trips.

Put all the time available to you on the calendar. Half days, weekends, and weeks. Whatever is available, highlight the days in a bright colour so that you have a visual picture of your travel possibilities.

3. Schedule your travel time.

Now look at your calendar of options and consider your life. If you are building a career, know the cycles of your workplace and choose your vacation during quieter times. If you're a family caregiver, speak to those who will relieve you and coordinate your time off with them.

Now commit to your travel schedule. On your calendar, make your committed travel time a different color. You now have a plan.

Inform all those around you when you will be taking time to travel so that they can plan around you as well.

Up next, a few ways to effectively spend the time you've found.

Four Vacation Ideas When Time is Tight

Micro-vacations

Micro-vacations are great for people who are seriously time challenged and have no way around it. Micro-vacations are four to twenty-four hour breaks designed to refresh and recharge you. Elizabeth Verwey of Office Mentors introduced me to the concept a few years ago. She suggests that her entrepreneur clients take a micro-vacation completely solo to gain the optimal rejuvenating effect.

Think of a micro-vacation as a staycation. The short time frame typically requires staying in your own town. Changing how you experience your hometown is the key to its success.

1. Change your focus. Eliminate television, computer activities, and cell phones. Go to the theater, read, or try a new restaurant by yourself. Choose something that you really enjoy.
2. Change your environment. Trade homes with a friend, stay at a B&B, seek out natural settings such as a park or garden, or discover a part of your city you've never explored before.
3. Change your pace. Walk or take public transit to slow things down.

Short Getaways

Getaways are usually two or three days long.

1. Don't go far. If you have to fly, try to stay within or near your time zone. Don't lose energy by trying to adapt to time zones for a weekend away. Consider the train. It's a leisurely form of travel and usually takes you to the city center, saving you transit time to and from airports. Try to make your transportation an enjoyable part of your travels.
2. Research before you go. Know in advance what you want to do. Is there a play you want to see, a museum to visit, or a restaurant to experience? If you know what you want to do, you'll spend less time wandering aimlessly – though don't deny the value of the latter. Hanging out in a park or market people-watching can be an activity unto itself.
3. Relax. Don't over-schedule yourself. If you only have time for a getaway you are likely relaxation-time-challenged as well. Make sure you allow time to relax. You might also enjoy this post: A Weekend Getaway Solo: How to Make it Fun and Meaningful.

A Week or Two to Yourself

A week or two is the typical travel timeframe for most people, so there's not much to add here other than to go. Go across time zones if you want and enjoy exploring the places of your dreams. Here are three tips to help.

1. Pack light. This way you won't struggle with moving from place to place or be out of pocket getting assistance from others. Read: Carry On Packing List That Makes Sense: The Travel Essentials.
2. Have fun. You may want to read: How to Travel Alone Without Being Lonely, How to Find Classes when Traveling Solo, and Dance Like Nobody’s Watching: How to Enjoy a Music Festival Solo.
3. Choose the destination that fits your travel experience. Read: Best Destinations for Solo Travelers.