Most people have an innate desire to see the world. Traveling is something that excites, motivates, and invigorates. Yet, we don’t travel nearly as often as we’d like.

Why is this? And how can you flip the script so that you’re able to travel more freely and with greater frequency?

5 Tips to Help You Make Time for Travel

Most people think that money is the primary inhibiting factor in their lack of traveling. However, this is usually just an excuse. A lack of time is almost always a more relevant factor. (If you don’t have time, no amount of money will give you the freedom to see the world.)

Here are some specific ways you can make more time for travel:

Use Long Weekends to Your Advantage

Who says you have to take an entire week off to take a trip? Use weekends – particularly long weekends – to your advantage.

Let’s say, for example, that there’s a holiday on Monday. You can go on a five-day trip by only taking off two days from work! That’s how you maximize time.

Tack On to Work Trips

Do you travel for work? This is a huge opportunity that could empower you to spend more time traveling.

Most employers don’t have a problem if you tack on a few extra days at the end of your trip for personal sightseeing and exploration. (You’ll obviously have to pay out of pocket and use some vacation time.) The key is to ask ahead so that you can get all of the logistical details in place.

Find a Career That Allows You to Travel

If you’re working a standard office job where you’re expected to work 40-50 hours per week with two weeks of vacation per year, it’s challenging to do any meaningful or extended travel. And though there’s always a way to work with your current situation, you could gain more freedom by switching careers and pursuing something that’s more flexible.

Real estate is a very flexible option – particularly investment real estate. You aren’t tied to an office, nor do you have to report at a specific time each day. And if you hire a property management service, you can streamline the mundane tasks and run your business almost 100 percent remotely. 

Other jobs and careers that allow you to travel include flight attendant, cruise ship worker, English teacher, telemedicine provider, writer, business consultant etc. The trick is to choose something that’s both flexible and enjoyable.

Buy an Extra Week of Vacation

Let’s say you’re still working in a job where you only get two weeks off per year. In the meantime, you might be able to talk your boss into letting you “buy” an extra week of vacation each year. This means you’d simply take an unpaid week. 

Believe it or not, a lot of business owners are fine with this arrangement – particularly if you let them choose the month. They know when they’re slow and would gladly save a week’s worth of salary. (This strategy is usually most effective in small businesses where you have a good relationship with company brass.)

Obviously not everyone can afford to take a week of unpaid time off, so you’ll have to do the math and budget for this. 

Plan Ahead

Traveling doesn’t just happen by accident. Most people can’t decide they want to visit Europe in the morning and hop on a flight by the afternoon. It takes careful planning and strategic decision making.

There’s nothing wrong with a little spontaneity, but take some time at the beginning of the year to plan out a few trips. By planning far in advance, you’re able to prioritize these trips and make smart decisions that clear up your schedule and make extended travel more practical

Make Travel a Bigger Priority in Your Life

At the end of the day, it all comes down to how willing you are to make travel a priority. We live in a free world where we have a great deal of influence over how we spend our time. If traveling is truly something you want to do, you’ll find a way to prioritize it.