RTW Trip Anxiety

So I was orginally planning to quity my job and do a RTW trip lasting for a year starting in November. I got fired from my job this week (probably for daydreaming about traveling ;-) and now I can leave as soon as i get all my stuff sold and my trip planned. I am hoping to leave in a month. Unexpectedly, i feel a little anxiety over my trip and over not having a job for so long? Did anyone else feel like this as their departure date neared?

Brett

Hell yeah, i wondered what on earth i thought i was doing, luckily i spent so much time faffing about (being in a show 5 days before i left helped too) before i left i basically gave myself no time to worry once i really got into the whole packing thing, and as soon as i arrived at my first destination i knew i'd made the right choice.

take a deep breath, close your eyes and jump - you'll land on feathers!!!

enjoy your trip :)

L

L,

Thanks for responding. That makes me feel better ;-) That is what i feel like "what the hell am I doing". I am kind of suprised I feel this way, but I have been feeling less worried the last couple of days. Thanks for the advice!

B

Brett - this may help.... My wife and I (mid 30's) are quitting combined £110k careers to see the world. We want to see all of it! We both came to the realisation job security cannot compare to the adventure of travelling. To say we are excited is an understatement (and my career will be fairly wrecked after such a long time off).

Ditch the anxiety and replace it with anticipation!

:-)

Oh, I know what you mean!
I didn't realize until I got sick 2 weeks ago and had to spend 5 working days at home on the couch. Until then, I had been so busy with work, I just didn't realize I only had a few weeks to go and still so many things to organize. Then, bored at home, I had time to think and feel anxiety: still this contract to cancel, that flight to find, that purchase to make. it was awful!
Probably, it was similar for you during the first days "off" - you weren't moving, just thinking. Very bad.

I'm back at work now, busy again. Makes me feel better, though I must admit, the little shock wasn't too bad as it made me tackle the To Do list.
Sometimes, I read job advertisements which somehow makes me feel that I won't really be unemployed. At least, it gives me a feeling of what I can expect after the trip, and that's a not too bad market situation.

But in general, both anxiety and anticipation are increasing each day.

Yeah, I'd say it's pretty natural (if not unavoidable!). But hey, life's too short not to see some of the world :)

I always feel anxious before going away and it disappears just as soon as the plane takes off.

Enjoy

i am planning a year off, i kept putting off getting a WHV for Oz as i was getting nervous, in the end i just did it and it came through the next day, dont know what i was worrying about! Now i need to sort out flights and stuff, feels like i have loads to do and the time to leave will be here before i know it. I all seems scary but i know it'll be fine by the time i go :-)

I am in the same boat. In fact, up until 2 weeks ago, I didn't even have an idea of where I was going. I was paralysed with fear and anxiety. I am slowly moving through it, as well as the mountain of work it takes to put your "at home" life on hold for a year. Take things one step at a time, and don't get bogged down in the details... hope to see you on the road!

I am a recruiter for a living- there are jobs out there, you will find one when you get back. My husband and I quit very good careers and are 4 months into travel- best thing on earth. You will read post after post how happy people are when they are in the same spot as you. When you get back you will be refreshed and maybe ready to work again.
The 2 weeks before I left on our ATW trip were the most stressful and hectic for me, but is it so worth it! The anxiety before your trip is normal. To help me, I made lists to keep my mind sane from not overloading on the details that needed to be done before we left. I kept a list and checked things off as I did them and kept reading my guidebooks to remind me of the awsome places I am going. Just keep reminding yourself that you are actually doing what many people dream about and what fun you will have!

Thank you all so much for your really good advice! My anxiety is being replaced by excitement each day that goes by!

B

Good to see what other people are thnking. My boyfriend and I have both resigned last week and we have 3 more weeks to work. I'm not scared (yet) but it might kick in at some stage. At the moment I am just relieved that I don't have to turn up in the office anymore in a while.

But I remember a few years ago, I had lost my job and I was looking for a new one and I was scared after 4 weeks with no work, what the hell I'll do if I can't find a job.

I'm waiting for the moment that I get all freaked out ;) It'll probably kick in when I'm finished work.

Anyhow, enjoy your travels and it won't be too hard to find a job afterwards. Maybe not the one you love but something that'll pay the bills for a while. Have a great time

god, yes, i had "what the hell am i doing too"! everybody does to a degree. and i'm still only half-qualified... but if you don't do it now, you never will, or you'll have to wait until you're so old that bungee jump won't seem like such a tantalising prospect. if it helps, i left my job on june first and the uk about a week later, i'm now in china and i go to pakistan in 10 days or so, and i am not regretting any of it, it's been fantastic! the minute you arrive at your first destination, have a beer and realise you have to get up the next day...for nothing, you'll feel totally happy and stress-free! happy happy travels!