When I was 27, I had a huge awakening.
I was in Dubai when it hit me...
The thought of working in an office job for the next forty or so years scared me. I began to question whether that was really the life I wanted for myself. (It’s not a coincidence that this was around the same time as my Saturn Return.)
Up until that point, I had never really thought about my future. I just assumed I’d do what everyone else around me was doing. Stay in my job for another 10+ years, get married, buy a house and have children.
But it was during that trip that I realised I didn’t actually care about achieving those things. That they wouldn’t make me happy. But creating my own path and travelling the world would.
In short, my dream life didn’t align with the 9 to 5. I wanted more — joy, adventure and freedom.
So the obvious (not to mention most sensible) next step for me was to hand in my notice and buy a one-way ticket to the life of my dreams.
- Was I capable of doing this? 100% yes
- Was I 100% ready? No, not really
- Was it easy? Heck, no
Here’s the truth on what it’s really like quitting your job to travel the world — the 9 things they* don’t tell you.
*”They” being all those travel influencers and manifestation coaches.
9 things they don’t tell you about quitting your job
Everyone’s experience with quitting a job will be different. Below you’ll find my experience!
So, if you’re currently set on quitting your job and stumble on this blog post for motivation and guidance, just know that your journey will be unique.
I share my story in the hope that it will help you in some way. Whether that is to give you support, inspire you to make a change or make you feel less alone.
Feel free to bookmark this page so you can come back to it whenever you need to.
1 | It’s not as easy as it looks
Quitting your job to travel the world isn’t all sunshine and coconuts.
Sure, travel influencers and digital nomads make it look easy, but there’s a lot more to it than just booking a one-way flight faster than you can say, “I hate my job.”
Quitting your stable job means stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown, which can be absolutely terrifying.
There’s no routine to follow, no one to check in with you and no paycheck at the end of the month. You’re entirely on your own.
You’ll also have a bunch of mindset blocks. There will be days when you feel confident and clear about your future, but then there will be days when you might question your decision-making and wonder if you’ve made a huge mistake. But that’s all part of the process.
The key is to embrace the uncertainty and trust yourself.
It’s natural to have moments of doubt, but they don’t define your journey. Stay focused and remember why you’re doing this in the first place.
Quitting your job is harder than you think, but it’s also the first step toward creating a life you love.
You’ve got this, I promise
2 | It takes longer than you think
You might think that quitting your job is as simple as handing in your notice and booking that flight, but the truth is, it takes a lot longer than you might imagine.
Whether you’re wrapping up work projects or handing off clients, saving up enough money to support your travels, or just mentally preparing yourself for the leap, everything takes time.
So, lean into it.
My truth is that it took me a good 2 years to finally quit my job.
I always had this gut feeling that the 9-to-5 wasn’t right for me, but I buried the thought as selfish and impractical. Instead, I’d imagine myself in a different career that allowed me more flexibility and travel, aka being an air hostess, but I never took the leap out of fear.
It wasn’t until I went to Dubai that I finally saw how deeply unhappy I actually was and that I was serious about making a change.
So, even though you might be financially and physically prepared to quit your job, you need to make sure you’re mentally and emotionally ready too.
Which brings me to my next point…
3 | It requires a lot of deep inner work
No matter how tempting it is to suddenly quit your 9 to 5 and travel the world, you need to do the inner mindset work first.
Because let me tell you — going against the norm is not as easy as it looks.
You need to have the clarity and confidence it takes to stop questioning whether you’re on the right path or not.
You need to have the courage and resilience it takes to tackle any obstacles or setbacks that come your way.
You need to have belief in yourself to make it happen.
So do not skip this step!
Mindset is the foundation for optimising your entire life.
Without the support of a resilient and positive mental space, you will simply crumble under the pressure of quitting your job and the comments made by those around you.
Journal, repeat affirmations, work with a coach to build confidence, lean into your strengths or practice gratitude. Do what you need to do to mentally prepare for this epic, life-changing moment.
4 | People won’t understand
“Stop complaining, no one likes their job.”
“You’re too old to be doing something like that, you need to think about settling down.”
“Your job won’t be here when you get back, you know.”
“You’ll regret it.”
*Cue the eye roll. I’ve heard this all before.
To say that quitting my job was a tough and lonely time in my life would be an understatement. I had no one to talk to.
My friends and family couldn’t understand why I needed to make a change. Sure, to an outsider, my life was glamorous, my job was well-paid, and my social life was booming.
But my reality was burnout and unhappiness. Deep down inside, I knew that I needed to make a change. Not just because I wanted to but because my well-being depended on it.
To make matters worse, when I finally picked up enough courage to tell my closest colleague that I was leaving to travel solo across Southeast Asia, the response I got was, “You’ll be back in 2 weeks.”
I’m not going to lie, the comment disheartened me.
It was frustrating that this was what she believed. And it was annoying that a part of me agreed with her. But there was no way I was going to let someone else’s belief hold me back from my dreams.
Those estimated 2 weeks turned into 5 months in SEA and another 12 months in South America. I’ve since built myself a digital nomad lifestyle and have been travelling full-time since October 2021
So, if there was ever a sign for you to let go of the fear and judgment and book that trip, this is it.
5 | You’ll have guilt for not being productive
I’m not going to lie. The first few weeks after quitting your job will feel like a dream.
You finally get to wake up without an alarm clock and enjoy a slow morning like all your favourite wellness influencers. You have zero plans — maybe you’ll wander around a museum or head down to the beach for a swim.
You’re finally not restricted by a schedule someone else has created for you.
But once the novelty of your new freedom wears off, the guilt for not being productive will kick in.
After years of structured workdays and deadlines, not having a rigid schedule might make you feel as though you’re slacking off.
Especially if your friends are still living the 9-to-5 life and can’t meet you for brunch in the middle of the day.
My advice — embrace it.
The key to ditching the guilt is to redefine what productivity means to you. Because truth bomb — it’s not about having a jam-packed day full of meetings and emails.
Productivity is working intentionally towards your goals, whether that is exploring new places, learning new skills or giving yourself permission to slow down and live life on your terms.
Sure, the majority of people might not get it and will think you’re lazy, but you didn’t quit your job to meet their expectations, right?
You did it for you.
6 | Your career path will probably change
Since I quit my job as a model agent in November 2017, my career path has taken a very eclectic turn.
The first job I got after being “intentionally unemployed” was teaching English as a second language, as it allowed me to travel while earning an income. (Yup, savings only last for so long, so at some point, you will need to think about funding.)
Teaching English took me all over South America. I got to live in Peru for 6 months and do in-person classes before transitioning into online teaching and doing classes via Skype in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia.
At the beginning of 2020, I even received my dream opportunity of working in a school and living in Tokyo for 1 year. But for reasons out of my control, I never made it to Japan. I’m still a little devastated that I never got to fulfil that role, but what I did manage to accomplish during a worldwide pandemic was the start of my blogging business.
Ironically, I didn’t want it to be travel-based. This blog was created to help you navigate working from home and mindfully balance your day through self-care practices and slow productivity.
I continued to teach English online during lockdown, but when this blog began to take off, I chose to pursue it full-time and monetise it solely through affiliate marketing. (3.5 years in, and I still don’t run any Ads on my blog.)
But it wasn’t meaningful enough.
Although I love writing, earning money through brands wasn’t fulfilling for me. I wanted to be able to personally support you in reaching your life goals.
I wanted to witness your excitement in building a life you love.
So, in 2022, I went back to “school” and enrolled in a coaching course. I’m now a Certified Health Coach helping women like you recover from burnout and transform their draining AF job into a magnetic career they love.
Very different from my days in the Fashion industry. But I believe that everything I’ve done in the past has led me to this moment.
Besides, it’s so accessible to learn new skills nowadays that making a career change is 100% possible no matter what stage you’re at in life.
So don’t be surprised if you feel curious to change your career once you quit your current job.
To find the right path, I turn to Ikigai a lot.
This is a super cool exercise where you can brainstorm what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at (aka your skills), what you can be paid for and what the world needs, giving you more clarity on what to do next.
7 | Your values will definitely change
From the moment we’re born, we’re funnelled down the same path.
Go to school. Go to uni. Find a job and keep it for 40 years. Buy a house. Get married. Have children. Retire. And die.
You live life on autopilot because of these expectations placed on you and never question whether it’s something you truly want.
But you should. Because the truth is — life isn’t about living “the same year 75 times.” It’s about self-discovery and prioritising your needs and happiness over what is expected of you.
And that’s what quitting my job and travelling the world did for me. It showed me that I didn’t value climbing the corporate ladder, becoming an expert in my industry or one day having a family.
I learnt that I wanted to create a life that supported my need for freedom, adventure and creativity. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.
So lean into this in-between stage and embrace it.
Again, the people around you won’t understand when your values suddenly change. Because you might want to say no to a bottomless boozy brunch and save money for a new Osprey backpack instead.
Stay true to your authentic self. When you know what’s important to you, you can carve out a path that aligns with who you really are.
8 | You will go through an identity shift
Quitting your job and stepping into a new era is going to trigger a deep identity shift.
Suddenly, you’re not defined by your job title, company or daily routine anymore. You’re just… you.
It can feel disorienting and uncomfortable at first as you will start to question who you really are. But then the magic happens.
Travelling the world (especially if you go solo) teaches you to understand yourself better.
Instead of being put into a box by a school teacher, employer or personality test (my pet peeve), you’re discovering new aspects of yourself and gaining a better sense of who you are as a person.
Maybe you’ll realise you’re more adventurous than you thought or can actually eat a meal by yourself without getting embarrassed.
Moving out of London and flying into nature taught me that I was actually an outdoorsy person and that hiking up mountains was 100% more fulfilling than partying at weekends.
Quit the 9-to-5, shed old labels and rebuild yourself into the person you want to be.
9 | It’s SO worth it
Despite all the challenges, setbacks and judgemental comments from others, breaking free from the 9-to-5 is SO worth it.
In fact, it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made and the one I doubted the least. The freedom to live life on my own terms and getting to wake up to my dream life every single day is truly priceless.
Imagine future you rocking up to the airport, ready to get on the flight to the life of your dreams.
The beaming smile on your face. The excitement in your belly. Your name is on the ticket. Your bucket list destination on the board. And life-changing experiences waiting on the other side.
Knowing that for the next however-long months, you get to choose your own adventure, whether that means exploring a new place, learning a new language, going surfing or working in your local co-working space for a few hours.
The magic happens when you realise that happiness is the path you want to take, not the one others carve out for you.
Yes, quitting your job might be one of the scariest things you’ll ever do. But it’ll also be one of the most rewarding and satisfying moments.
So, take the leap. Trust yourself and get prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.
9 signs it’s time to quit your job
Choosing to quit your job, whether that’s to take a break, change careers or travel the world, is a BIG decision. It shouldn’t be taken lightly as there are so many factors to consider, from financial stability to emotional readiness.
It’s not just about the paycheck. It’s about whether your job aligns with your values or your authentic self and whether you feel a sense of fulfilment in what you do.
Like I said earlier, it can be very tempting to romanticise the idea of quitting your job and pressing pause on life.
But you need to make sure you’re making the right choice for you. No one else can make that choice for you or influence your decision.
Here’s what I was dealing with when I knew it was time to break free from the 9 to 5:
- Burnout
- Low moods and always waking up in a funk
- Overwhelm and anxious thoughts
- Clock-watching
- Lack of energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead
- Excessive drinking to escape my current reality
- Having zero purpose or direction
- Low confidence
- No passion or excitement for life
If you’re experiencing one or more of the above issues, just know that you are not alone.
There are a lot of other women out there going through the motions, too. I was one of those women. But I managed to overcome the obstacles that I was facing by removing myself from a toxic situation and quitting my job.
Final thoughts
I’m going to be frank with you right now.
No matter what anyone else says, it is not normal to hate work so much that it negatively impacts your mood and mental health.
Take it from someone who stayed in a toxic job for 6 years and put up with it out of fear of what others would think… it is not worth it. You only live once, so why would you want to spend 40 or so of those years feeling stressed out and overwhelmed?
Remember, you always have the power to pivot.
Pivot your career
Pivot your skills
Pivot your mindset
Pivot your thoughts and beliefs
Pivot your environment
Pivot your goals
Pivot your life.
You’ve got this.
Thalia xx
