I Quit My Traveling Lifestyle
· 2024.07.17
In just two months, March and April 2024, I cycled through four drastically different lifestyles. First, I spent two weeks traveling with my family to the UAE, Egypt, and Greece. Then, I returned to my hometown for a week before spontaneously flying to Bali, which, to be very honest, was just a coping mechanism for my deeper issue. After three weeks in Bali, I embarked on a pre-planned 28-day road trip in New Zealand.
This relentless shifting — from the fast-paced life of a tourist to the comfort of home, from an introspective retreat to a wonderful road trip — left me physically and mentally drained. I mean, just the 6 hours back-and-forth ride from the airport to my house itself is exhausting enough. More importantly, this whirlwind left little room for work, reflection, and creativity. Long-term projects fell by the wayside, my travel photos and videos remained unedited, and a whole new album idea that I couldn’t start bringing to life stayed in my head for months. I couldn’t even commit to any 3-month online language or coding course which I always aspire to.
What if I told you I’ve been living this lifestyle for the past two years? Ironically, it was once my dream.
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So here’s what my past two years basically look like.
Traveling has been exciting but demanding, requiring careful planning and constant multitasking. To make the most of my time, each trip involves meticulously creating itineraries, booking accommodations and transportation, and making sure all travel documents are ready.
On the road, I relentlessly felt the need to capture every moment. This often meant waking up early to catch the sunrise, and staying up late to back up files. Managing and charging equipment like computer, cameras, drones, and gimbals was a constant task, and my backpack was always heavy. Planning and scouting locations for the next day’s shots was a nonstop task. Carrying so much gear also forbade me from staying in hostels, which was one of the parts I most looked forward to while traveling, as it allowed me to meet like-minded travelers.
Even worse, I often intertwined my work with my travels, just so that I could ‘maximize my investments and opportunities efficiently’. I would recording music and shoot music videos on the go, and they both required extensive preparation, ongoing communication with collaborators, and constant hope for favorable weather and good vocal conditions. Maintaining a presence on social media, ironically essential for my job, added to the pressure. This constant balancing act increased my stress and left little time to truly enjoy the travel experience. I missed out on simple pleasures like meeting like-minded travelers in hostels, having spontaneous conversations with locals, or just enjoying the surroundings without an agenda.
When I finally returned home, I needed time to readjust to my routine. After that, I enjoyed my healthier habits and structured schedule. Working from home also provided easy access to all my tools and equipment, but I often found myself rushing through work before my next flight, as some of the tasks were part of my preparation to work on the road. This frequently led to anxiety, especially when I had collaborative projects with tight deadlines.
Easy put, I was pushing myself too hard to do more things at the same time.
Balance is key. I once envisioned a life where I could pull it off and flawlessly merge constant travel with personal fulfillment. However, I’ve learned my lesson — no, true living can’t happen when you’re always in transit; you can’t have it both ways.
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I’m grateful to have had the privilege of traveling the world extensively over the past two years, filled with unforgettable experiences and cherished memories. However, this constant movement has led me to reconsider my lifestyle.
After much contemplation, I’ve come to realize the three things that truly bring me happiness. These are quite different from what I imagined two years ago and are difficult to achieve if I continue my current lifestyle.
— Maintaining a routine to enhance my flow state
I’ve been loving life these past few weeks since establishing a routine that’s incredibly fulfilling. Waking up at 6 AM daily, engaging in rejuvenating workouts, and dedicating time to learning Spanish and coding have greatly enhanced my productivity and overall well-being. Having more time to let my emotions sink in also inspires creative ideas for my albums, websites, and essays.
— Relationships with my close friends and family
I’ve found myself feeling melancholic while spending time with my family and friends in Malaysia recently, realizing how swiftly time passes. I wish I could spend more time with them, catching up more often and having more frequent and meaningful in-person activities.
— Meeting interesting people
My intense travel and work schedule has made my world feel smaller. While browsing the internet and engaging with content has always been one of my hobbies, I never made a conscious effort to connect with people whose content inspires me until recent, and I look forward to meeting new people in the future.
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As I write this, I’m preparing for a two-month trip to Europe in two weeks. I’m hopping on a cruise to Norway, attending Adele’s concerts in Germany, and spending a couple weeks in Spain. Entire summer in Europe? This would have sounded like a dream to my 19-year-old self, but upon returning, I decided to step away from this lifestyle.
Instead of taking long trips to maximize my cost on intercontinental flights (I know, I was soooo calculating), I’ll be smart with my frequent flyer miles to afford spontaneous short trips or vacations in the future. This way, I can travel without the pressure of extended absences from home.
Traveling with loved ones to create memories together is more valuable to me than just “seeing the world.”
Rather than relying on chance meets with like-minded people on the road, I’ll actively reach out to interesting people online and arrange meet-ups. In fact, I plan to visit the USA in mid-2025 with this purpose in mind.
Travel will still be a part of my life, but it will align more with my current values and preferences. I want my journeys to enrich my life without compromising my stability and fulfillment.
Because at the end of the day, travel or not, my lifestyle and creative output are only ways for me to find contentment in life.
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