Five Ways to Cure Wanderlust

You’re sitting in your room on the weekend, scrolling through Instagram photos to see the most beautiful places. Your feed is full of walks through Central Park, croissants in European coffee shops, and bright days on the beach. It seems like everyone is out exploring the world…except you. Maybe you don’t have the time or the money to travel, or maybe something else is getting in your way. Regardless, here are five ways to cure your wanderlust!

1. Appreciate where you are: First and foremost, though other places may seem more adventurous than where you are, truly adventurous people can seek and find adventure anywhere. We often get so set in our routines that we forget we’re not seeing everything around us. Try getting your morning coffee at a different place or a different time. Walk a different way to class or work. A simple change in scenery can make a surprisingly huge difference! Explore your town and appreciate it because there’s no way you’ve seen absolutely everything.

2. Step away from social media: Though it’s enjoyable to keep up with what’s going on in the world and with your friends, take a break from checking your phone. Seeing what everyone else is doing on social media often makes you think about what you’re not doing and makes you compare your lives to others’. This only weighs you down! Based on a photo, you don’t even know that the person is having fun. And by dwelling on what others are doing, you’re missing out on what you could be doing. No, it may not be walking around Paris, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. You can’t always predict the moments that will change and impact you.

3. Attend cultural events in your area: Sure, listening to someone talk about another culture or country is not the same as actually going somewhere, but it’s still a learning experience that shifts your perspective. Just because you’re not leaving your area doesn’t mean you can’t leave your comfort zone! Go to events, engage in conversations and activities, and take everything in.

4. Make actual plans: Wanderlust often comes from a faraway fantasy. Traveling doesn’t seem like a reality, so you end up simply imagining it. Though you may not have the money or time right now, start working for it. Ideas and fantasies are great, but they’re so much better when you put in the work to make them reality. Start planning an actual trip, figuring out a time you can travel, and saving the money. When you have an actual plan you’re committed to, traveling becomes a possibility and not simply something to daydream about.

5. Consider what’s stopping you: So you want to travel. But what’s stopping you from actually packing your bags and going? Once you identify the source, you can start to think about what you can do about it. Maybe you’re in school and can’t travel; well, are there any school trips coming up that you could start saving for? Maybe you don’t have the money; have you tried searching for work abroad or in another state that provides housing and financial assistance? Consider all of your options, and consider why you want to travel. Once you have a goal and an action plan, you can make it happen.

It may not be until years from now that you can pack up your bags and explore, but in the meantime, embrace the adventure around you. Seek new stories, new faces, and new places. Every moment is part of your journey; don’t let other people’s adventures stop you from living your own.