I am so excited to introduce you all to one of my dearest friends, Lauren Gabel of The Out of Office Gal! If you love travel, you have to follow her. She is the real-deal digital nomad working remotely while traveling across the globe.
Lauren is super inspiring with her positivity, fearlessness, creativity, and hustle. For my *very first* guest blog post, I asked her to share how she was able to get in the mindset to start traveling alone. Lauren has been embarking on solo travel for years now, and I love how she explains how to release fear and embrace the adventure.
So, without further ado, here’s Lauren:
10 Rules to Get in the Solo Travel Mindset
I fell into solo traveling accidentally. It wasn’t something I dreamed of at the time or even something I thought I would like. It was a backup plan, a last resort. But a last resort that turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.
For those who haven’t done it before, I know the notion of traveling solo can be daunting.
What if I get lost in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language?
What if I spend the entire vacation totally alone?
What if my phone gets stolen and I’m stranded?
The list of possible things that can go wrong is endless.
But then you have to remind yourself…what about the possible things that can go right?
When you travel solo, you don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself. You can choose which activities interest you the most and do just those. You can choose to take a 6am flight because you’re an early riser. Your eyes are a little sharper and in tune with your surroundings when you don’t have a travel companion to talk to on the bus….you notice things that you might not otherwise. You’re able to soak up and devour new cultures and experiences in a way that is unique and sometimes life-changing.
All sounds pretty great right? Well it is. But if you need a little extra push. Here are some of my top tips for how to get into the right mindset about traveling solo.
Rule #1 – Commit to traveling solo by saying it out loud
One of the best ways to commit to traveling solo when you’re on the precipice of doing it but afraid to take the leap, is simply to say it out loud. Ever heard of the rule of commitment? Well the idea behind it is that we typically feel obligated to follow through with something after we have made a public commitment. So tell your mom, post it on your Facebook page or shout it from the rooftop….however you see fit, get your decision out into the universe so you won’t be tempted to retreat later.
You’ll find that just the simple act of committing automatically makes you more confident in your decision.
Rule #2 – Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage
I love this theme from the film, We Bought a Zoo. And I swear it’s a great piece of advice to apply to solo travel as well! When you find yourself staring at the computer screen unsure whether you should click “PURCHASE” and lock in a solo trip. Just tell yourself to practice 20 seconds of bravery and lock it in.
There’s always the opportunity to cancel within 24 hours risk free. But I think that once you lock it in, you’re going to feel that commitment principle start to activate and you’ll feel nothing but excitement for your upcoming adventure.
You’ll end up activating 20 seconds of insane courage throughout your travels—when you strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, when you decide to try skydiving, or anytime you’re on the cusp of turning back. Tell yourself you’re enacting the 20 seconds of courage and push forth.
Rule #3 – Believe your trip will be amazing, no matter what happens
The power of belief is an incredible thing. It allows you to visualize the road ahead and gives you the courage to go out and actualize with confidence. Every day may not be perfect, but if you believe your trip will be great overall – your subconscious feelings will show up in your outer world experience.
So I encourage you to set out with a positive outlet and the belief that you are going to have an amazing trip…no matter if it rains, the airline loses your luggage, or you pee on yourself trying to use a squat toilet. Remember, setbacks often become the best stories from our adventures and it’s how we learn and grow.
Rule #4 – Be willing to go outside your comfort zone
When you travel, you get to experience a different side of yourself. A side of yourself that is free from the judgement of those at home and running on the adrenaline of being in a new exciting place. As a result, you’ll often find yourself partaking in things you would never do at home. You may not be brave enough to bungee jump at home in LA, but all of a sudden you’re the first one lined up in New Zealand.
Understanding this early on and accepting it and embracing it, will go a long way in helping you get the most out of your travels and adventures. Most of the best things in life are discovered when you venture outside of your comfort zones.
Rule #5 – Practice the art of saying yes
When you travel solo, you always want to open yourself up to possibility & adventure. And that starts with a simple three letter word – YES.
Do you want to join us for the pub crawl? Yes.
Do you want to skydive? Yes.
Do you want to abandon your flight and go to Myanmar with your new friends instead? Yes.
Now obviously this is all within reason. Don’t do anything unsafe or stupid. But saying yes opens a lot of doors and is how us solo travelers make the most of our travels. You never know what’s going to happen or who you’re going to meet. But that’s part of the fun.
Rule #6 – Don’t go in with pre-conceived notions
It’s easy to get preconceived notions about a trip – especially when it’s something you’ve been anticipating. But I urge you to go in with a completely open mind. You might think you can’t be friends with someone without speaking the same language and then you go dancing and realize it doesn’t really matter. Or you might think it’s weird that there’s a 55 year old staying at the hostel and she ends up being your best friend of the trip.
Approach your travels without prejudice and you’ll open yourself up to even more beautiful opportunities, experiences, and friendships.
Rule #7 – Accept that you can’t control everything and go with the flow
Shit happens when you travel. That’s a simple fact. You can whine and yell about it. Or you can accept it and figure out how to pivot. I can’t tell you how many shuttles I’ve been on in Southeast Asia that say they are leaving at 8AM and don’t end up leaving until 10AM. Other parts of the world don’t always run on the same clock and may have different standards, but it all works out in the end.
If you learn early on that you can’t control everything and opt to go with the flow, you’ll end up saving yourself a lot of anxiety and frustration.
Rule #8 – Don’t play the what if game, but do get travel insurance
While I never encourage irrational fears or playing the ‘what if’ game, I do believe everyone should be safe & smart and always get travel insurance! Just knowing you have coverage in case of an emergency allows you to sleep a little sounder at night.
The last thing you want is to rack up a huge medical bill if you get stuck sick overseas. A good policy will also cover your electronics, so you also don’t have to worry if you drop a camera lens in the ocean too!
Rule #9 – You’re more capable than you think
One of the biggest things you’ll learn from travel is just how capable you really are. There will be situations you find yourself in that will stress you out. But after trying and failing, and more trying and failing….you’ll start to course correct faster and one day you’ll wake up and be a pro.
Learning to travel alone in a foreign country (especially when you don’t speak the language) is a very empowering thing. And that feeling of confidence is something you bring home with you…something that seeps into every aspect of your life and being.
Rule #10 – Be prepared to fall in love
I saved the best for last.
You better be prepared to fall in love….because when you travel you meet people from all over the world and you build fast, deep friendships that can last a lifetime…or perhaps you’ll even find romantic love if you’re open to it. There’s something about having a shared personal experience, somewhere new, that bonds you to a person. Even if you only spend a short time together.
And you are going to be consumed with love for the places you go. Without the distractions of an entourage, you’ll get to know a place on a deeper level—what it smells like, what it sounds like, the things that make it pulse and shine. And even when you leave that appreciation will carry with you in your suitcase.
But most of all, be ready to fall completely head over heels in love with travel. Because when you travel solo, you experience the world—and yourself—differently. And there’s no going back after that. You’re a convert for life.
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Have you tried solo travel? Share with us in the Comments below!
xo,
Amy + Lauren
Photos belong to Lauren Gabel