Excuse Buster Series Part 1: Why People Make Excuses Not To Travel Independently.

Travelling the world is one of the biggest bucket list items out there. Almost everyone has dreams of travel in some form or another, and many have specific dreams to take a gap year or go backpacking around the world, yet despite this so many people make excuse after excuse not to follow their travel dreams. This excuse buster series will blow every single one of those excuses out of the water and show you that there is literally no reason why you can’t follow your travel dreams.

I love backpacking, I really do. I have been travelling around the world on my own terms for over twenty years now and it has become my life. It is part of who I am and it defines part of my innate character. I can’t imagine life without being able to hop on a plane and explore a new place on a whim, it is almost like I have a little voice in my head constantly singing the words to the Littlest Hobo theme song (and yes that is showing my age, don’t remind me!)

Backpacking is so much a part of who I am I can’t really remember what I was like before I went on my first big trip and fell in love with the wonders of travelling the world.

Actually, I can. Sort of.

I’m reminded all of the time of that person who was first inspired to see the world in college by people who say to me they wish they could travel, they wish they could see and do some of the things I have done, but they can’t. They remind me of that person because I made those same excuses. Before I actually went out and did it!

These excuse makers all sing off the exact same hymn sheet, it’s almost as if there is a tick list of why you can’t follow your dreams that everyone gets handed after leaving school and they just repeat it like a mantra. You can’t follow your dreams, you have to enter the rat race, comply! They tell me they wish they could, they wish they could travel, they wish they could see the pyramids, they wish they could go island hopping in south east Asia, they wish they could see Machu Picchu or the Taj Mahal. They they list off a whole smorgasbord of pre prepared reasons why they can’t do what they have just told me they wish they could.

Excuse After Excuse.

The thing is, there is absolutely no reason why they can’t do exactly what I have done, there is no reason why they can’t fulfill their wishes too!

Look at me as an example. I go backpacking all the time – sometimes for an extended period of time, sometimes only for a month or two – but still backpacking! I have taken numerous gap years in my twenty years of travel. I have taken snap years, long term trips with no end in sight, short trips, weekend breaks and everything in between. I have even found the time to gain numerous separate degrees, numerous post grad qualifications and excel in two careers. And yet I still travel. A lot.

I’m no one special. Plenty of people do what I do. It isn’t luck, or chance, or serendipity that allows me to do this, but my frame of mind. It is my conscious decision to make travel a part of my life, to work hard to pay for it and make a conscious decision to make it one of my priorities. I have backpacked around the world and seen and done things that most people will only ever dream of, but again, I am nothing special. I am not some super heroic renaissance man with the resources of a billionaire playboy.  I’m just a normal guy, no different from any one of you, and if I can do it there is absolutely no reason why you cannot go backpacking or travel the world too.

You Just have to really want it, and then have the guts to follow your dreams!

But people don’t do this. They throw roadblocks in their own path, they make up a whole variety of excuses why they can’t do it.

It’s too expensive!

I can’t afford it!

I don’t have the time!

I’m too important at work!

My significant other won’t let me!

It’s too dangerous!

It’s too difficult!

Why?

The most obvious answer is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change. People in general are creatures of habit, they get stuck in their little routines and anything that threatens to break them out of that terrifies them, even if it is something that they really want to do. But it really doesn’t have to. It really isn’t as terrifying as you think it is to realise your dreams. All it takes is the will to make it happen, and to stop making excuses.

Take Control Of Your Life. Stop Making Excuses!

In the following series of articles I want to explore a few of those excuses and tell you about some of the ways you can overcome them. Basically for all of you out there who still need that little push, I want to provide you with the means to throw off the chains of your own excuses, break from the conformity of your existence and get out there and realise your dreams! Backpacking can be one of the best things you will ever do in your life, but you will never get to experience any of it if you keep making excuses!

What did you think of the article? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages and please feel free to share it with any or all of the social media buttons. If you want to get more great backpacking tips, advice and inspiration, please subscribe to updates via email in the box to your right.

Related Articles.

Excuse Buster Series Part 2: It’s Too Expensive To Travel.

Excuse Buster Series Part 3: I Don’t Have Time To Travel.

Excuse Buster Series Part 4: It’s Too Dangerous To Go Backpacking.

Excuse Buster Series Part 5: I’m In A Relationship.

Excuse Buster Series Part 6: I Have No One To Go With!

Excuse Buster Series Part 7: Taking Time Out To Travel Will Ruin My Career!

No Great Story Ever Starts With I stayed At Home.

No One Wishes They Travelled Less When They Die.