Why Not Traveling Now Could be the Biggest Regret of Your Life

“Every man dies, not every man really lives,” said William Wallace in the famous movie Braveheart. And we agree with this sentiment.

Are you living your life to the fullest or do you feel something may be missing? Are you seizing every single travel opportunity and making the most of it? Or are you just waiting for exciting things to fall into your lap, assuming that “someday” will actually someday arrive?

Traveling can give your life purpose and fulfillment. Yet so many people look back on their life wishing they had seen or done more while they still could.

You’re not one of those people, are you?

Come on... You can be honest.

Don’t worry, the nice thing is that it’s never really too late.

But that said… don’t wait!

Traveling changes you as a person in a very positive way.

It broadens your horizons, opens your mind, and gives you perspective. It teaches you in ways that you probably never would have expected, such as developing your communication skills, improving your patience, and helping you to develop your problem solving skills.

To continue learning and growing over the course of our lives is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling pursuits available to us. 

Plus, simply satisfying our curiosity is a part of the human experience. Seeing what’s on the other side of that hill is just what we are wired to do! So embrace it, and take advantage of the time you have.

Here are some ways that you can get started on right now:

1. Clarify your travel goals

First thing’s first, you need a plan!

“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” -Lewis Carroll

It’s important to define specific travel goals. Write them down, and tell everyone if you want to achieve them!

Check out our list of 10 solid tips to set and crush your travel goals.

2. Take lots of risks

We’re not saying put all your money into lottery tickets! Just make a habit out of frequently doing things that make you a little uncomfortable. This could be as simple as taking a different route home, or as major as booking a one-way ticket to Australia. Just something new and out of your ordinary.

Taking these small “risks” is how we avoid remaining stagnant and bored with life. Feeling a little uncomfortable is the only way towards growth. The more you develop this trait within yourself, the more you’ll find that your threshold for discomfort grows, allowing you to take on much greater, and possibly more rewarding experiences.

When we look back at the end of our life, we usually regret the chances (and the trips) we didn’t take far more than the risks we did (even if we fell flat on our face).

3. Create your bucket list

A whopping 91% of people have a bucket list...are you one of them? If you are, is it actually something you look at and are working towards accomplishing?

The best way to hold yourself accountable to pursuing your travel dreams is by creating a bucket list. You can solidify all of your life goals and stay focused on making them a reality. You are guaranteed to have more incredible experiences over the course of your life!

Check out inspiration and tips for creating your bucket list.

4. Live in the present

Your past is important to learn from, but not so important to dwell on. In fact, dwelling on the past is one of the main causes of depression and anxiety. On the other side of the same coin, your future can provide you with motivation to keep going, but worrying about the future can be a serious stressor that can also lead to depression and anxiety. Living in the present as often as possible is key to living a balanced and happy life. And travel helps you to do just that!

5. Define your travel intentions and write them down

A traveler’s manifesto is important to give your travels meaning and direction. Simply put, deciding and writing down what role travel plays in your life will help prioritize what’s important to you, provide inspiration, and create personal accountability.

Learn more about how to create your own traveler’s manifesto and start leveraging its power today.

6. Travel as far and wide as possible

We wholeheartedly believe that traveling changes our lives for the better. The further you travel, the more experiences you accumulate, and the more you are able to learn about yourself and the world around you. There’s really nothing better in life!

You don’t want to look back on your life with regrets or put your dreams on hold until a future point in life when you expect to be less busy, have tons of money, or are more prepared . The “right time” may never come.

“Every[one] dies, not every[one] really lives,” is such a great motto to experience our lives to the fullest.

There’s a whole wide world out there just waiting to be explored! And now you are equipped with everything you need to experience it to the fullest. The sky is now the limit to achieving your travel dreams!

So what is the simplest and best first step to ensure that you accomplish all of your travel goals in this lifetime? Hanging a personalized push pin map on your wall is the perfect way to keep track of all of your travel experiences and get excited for adventures on the horizon. It is guaranteed to keep you inspired and motivated to take on the world - one new pin at a time.

So don’t delay! The precious moments of our lives are slipping through our fingers and we all need to act as if today may be our last. Take that first step and start creating your unique, personalized map to showcase and document your travel journey!