Being a full-time student again has been an exciting, challenging and enriching experience. I love being back in school, studying what I love and meeting like-minded people. It’s been a wonderful experience, but with studying full-time and renting an apartment in another city, I’ve had to sacrifice the money and time to travel (temporarily).
For me, travel has always been a way for me to explore new places, experience exciting adventures, and to learn new, life altering lessons. Traveling has been a way for me to push through my anxiety and find inspiration again. Since I haven’t been able to travel abroad in the last year, I’ve found ways to get my travel fix right here at home. Here’s a list of some of the best ways you can get your travel fix without traveling:
EXPLORE YOUR HOME
This is an obvious one but at the time, I was so discouraged by not being able to travel that I never considered my home town to be a place that I could explore. Luckily, I live near Toronto which offers an immense variety of diverse things to do and exciting places to discover. From secret bars to gardens, to baseball games- there’s an endless opportunity for adventure. If you live in or near a more rural area (which I also do), look for conservation areas or parks to explore, small independently owned shops, and nearby towns to visit.
TAKE SMALL TRIPS
Since big trips abroad are not an option at the moment, I’ve planned a few trips to cities that are 1-3 hours away to keep the traveling alive. It may be on a smaller scale, but it’s still exciting to explore a new area that’s unique from where your hometown. Research cities or areas that you’ve never considered before- you’d be surprised by how much there is to do just by changing your environment for a few days! If you’re in Ontario, consider visiting cities like Quebec, Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston; or head up North to explore the great outdoors.
PLAN AND SAVE FOR YOUR FUTURE TRAVELS
One of the most exciting aspects of traveling for me is researching things to do, places to see, and spots to stay before the trip itself. This gives you that bit of inspiration and motivation you need to push through this travel lull and have a trip to look forward to. If you’re a student in debt like me, most of your money is going to go towards paying off your tuition and expenses. I still make sure to have a little savings bank where I put in gift money and a few dollars each week.
ORGANIZE A GIRLS NIGHT
Plan a girl’s trip, or even a girl’s night with your besties. Head out to a new spot for cocktails, dinner, or have a spa day to relax with your girlfriends. Girl’s nights are a great way to de-stress, chat about life while changing your environment and experiencing something fun and new.
TRY OUT NEW HOBBIES
If you’re an adventurous traveler who likes a rush of adrenaline every now and then like myself, try out a new hobby to keep that rush alive. Rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, canoeing, archery, escape rooms- the list is endless. Anything that gets you outside of your regular routine is sure to inspire you and motivate you for the endless adventures you’ll have once you can travel again.
