Welcome Rebels, Travelers, Nomads, Gypsies, Free Spirits, Wanderers, Explorers and Adventures

Most of us live in a closed mind society, bound by fear, to lead a life confined to a very depressing routine.

Think about it: from the day we’re born we’re governed by routine. Start with potty training, then sent to school for an education that normally spans more than 14 years, forced into adulthood full of bills and nauseating decisions that keep up us late at night. We’re expected to pick and stick to a job/trade/career (who’s set hours of 9 am – 5 pm) leaves you very little room to actually live. Or so that’s what society would want to believe. But we, the wanderlusters, know better. We know it possible to have careers, families and the have time to roam the world.

"...from the day we’re born we’re governed by routine."

However, with technology literally at our fingertips, it’s astounding to discover the number of people who have yet to learn how to –have it all. If you think you don’t have time for travel and leisure because you’re always stuck at the office, it’s time to think outside the cubicle.

Consider these tips to indulge your inner rebel and pull off a disappearing act any time of the year:

Add vacation travel to work trips

“If I was already going somewhere for work for the week, I would extend my trip through the weekend so I could enjoy the city. I would also take advantage of every non-work hour: exploring at night after my meetings, sometimes getting up early to go see the sunrise, or exploring a city before breakfast if I was only there for a day.”

Add work to vacation travel

“If I knew I was traveling for fun already and there was a chance to add a work trip to it, like attending a conference, I would try to do that so work would pay for my travel. And work was fine with that since it saved them on housing and other costs. Sometimes it pays to look for work opportunities near where you’re already planning to go.”

Consider nearby destinations

“I guess in a big city like NYC it makes sense to consider your mode of travel because if you were going somewhere that could be reached by train, you wouldn’t have to leave work as early to go catch the train since it’s right in the city. Or if you get out early on Fridays or another day of the week, it’s great to just hop on a train instead of taking an hour to get to the airport.”

Work extra hours

“What I do is work extra hours Monday through Thursday and only work a half day Friday.” You can leave as early on Friday as possible, even directly from work, and return late Sunday night, or even return directly on Monday morning and go straight to work instead of stopping off at home. Just have your bags packed by Thursday night so you can escape as quickly as possible.

Seat Yourself Apart“I strategically don’t sit with my team so they don’t know when I come and go. And often, if I don’t have a meeting, I’ll leave at 3:30 p.m. and log into the company’s internal messenger system so they think I’m working and have no idea I’m not in the office.” If you are allowed to work remotely, your boss will never know if you’re at home or a flight away, as long as you’re accessible by phone/email/chat.

REMEMBER: Your getaway strategy will depend on the nature of your work and, of course, the nature of your boss. But where there’s a will, there’s always a way to escape.

There’s no reason to fit in, silly. You were born to stand out. Now be brave and discover the world! 💂 👯