Getting out of the comfort zone when traveling - How can you experience an adventure?

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There are many reasons stopping you from booking your next trip and experiencing the next big adventure. All too often it seems that the infamous external circumstances prevent you from booking your next dream trip or perhaps even going on a trip around the world or a longer tour. Traveling is actually a great thing. But all too often our inner weaker self comes out and prevents us from leaving our comfort zone on a trip or having a really great experience. How do you get out of your comfort zone when traveling? And how can you have an adventure? The good news is: you can practice this.

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Adventure awaits us out in the world. Life is short and we all know that we should try to live a full and varied life that suits us and our preferences. The motto is to get out of your comfort zone. In simple words. But this also creates a lot of pressure. Both the internal and external pressure to experience something or perhaps even have to experience something is high.

Remove the must from your vocabulary

We have to experience an adventure, we have to enjoy life and we have to go on the next big journey as quickly as possible in order to live up to our own expectations and also those of others. Do you notice how that sounds? Not exactly after the greatest pleasure and the most beautiful hobby in the world, traveling.

Because many of us cultivate the image of adventurers and explorers and of course want to be sure that it stays that way. If you really want that, get out of your comfort zone. And here we go!

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You cycled from Berlin to Beijing – How do you manage to leave your comfort zone?

Reality sometimes looks different

Let's be honest: reality sometimes looks a little different. Inertia tugs at us and we hardly want to leave our comfort zone to travel. We tell ourselves that we don't have time or money for the next big trip or a wonderful vacation. This or that still needs to be taken care of before we can book. We believe that we have to do one thing before we are free to do the other.

Nothing should stop you from leaving your comfort zone, going your own way and having an adventure. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Nothing should stop you from leaving your comfort zone, going your own way and having an adventure. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

The pressure is great, after all we have to perform in front of friends, family and fellow travelers. And at the same time, you don't want to leave your comfort zone to travel. This is certainly not a good basis for extraordinary experiences and trips that we will tell our grandchildren about. So: How can you experience an adventure and what exactly is standing in our way?

What's holding us back?

Sure, you have a damn good reason not to book a vacation. No money, no time, a bad cold coming on. But if you listen very carefully to yourself – is that true? Don't a few other factors play a role if you decide once again not to book the next unforgettable trip and don't get out of your comfort zone.

Wreck of the Salem Express – I had to be really brave to leave my comfort zone and dive on this infamous ship. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Wreck of the Salem Express – I had to be really brave to leave my comfort zone and dive on this infamous ship.

Some people are afraid to book a trip for a variety of reasons. Because they could then lose control of their work and private lives at home. Others imagine what could happen to them at their vacation destination. Terror, robbery and theft or rip-offs threaten if you fantasize enough (although in some travel destinations you don't fantasize).

Let's be brave

I would like to address the topic in principle. What stops us from booking the next dream trip and experiencing an unforgettable adventure? Leaving your comfort zone when traveling and experiencing an adventure – that would actually be it, right? We all want that. We who brag about being adventurers and explorers and not letting anything limit or intimidate us. But maybe that's not true at all. Obviously, for many people there is a natural barrier that stops them from traveling. We tell ourselves it's the money, the job, the family or a million other reasons.

Get out there and explore the world - there's simply no way around it if you want to live a fulfilling life. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Get out there and explore the world - there's simply no way around it if you want to live a fulfilling life.

I claim: In reality, it is fear in the form of more or less justified fears, inertia, laziness and the power of habit that keeps us in the status quo and prevents us from getting out of our comfort zone when traveling. For some people it may really be financial constraints that are holding them back from traveling. For most people, however, these are pretextual reasons. The true motivation for not leaving your comfort zone is usually hidden underneath.

What keeps us from having adventures and breaking out of our comfort zone?

  • Fears and anxieties: “I’m afraid of flying” or “What if I get robbed at my vacation destination?”
  • false beliefs: “I can’t afford the vacation anyway” or “I’ll risk my job if I go on vacation”
  • Practiced behavior from childhood: “Vacation means flying to Mallorca once a year”
  • Laziness when booking: “I’ll book tomorrow, I don’t have time today”

Book your well-deserved vacation now!

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Leave your comfort zone when traveling

Overcome obstacles and experience adventures

The desire to explore new horizons is deeply rooted in us. However, there are numerous hurdles that often prevent us from realizing our dream of the ultimate adventure and leaving our comfort zone when traveling. Let's take a closer look at what factors are really holding us back and how we can overcome them.

Where is it possible to go next? Who starts on a trip around the world, should have saved (depending on personal needs) to the 7.000 Euro. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Where can you go next? If you start on a trip around the world, you should have saved around 7.000 euros (depending on your personal needs). Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

It's easy to blame superficial reasons like lack of money, time, or health issues for our hesitation. But if we are honest with ourselves, we realize that other, deeper fears and insecurities are often the real obstacles.

1. Overcoming the fear of traveling - Steps to freedom beyond the comfort zone

The fear of traveling is clearly a taboo topic, especially among frequent flyers, frequent travelers and especially among business travelers. This issue is so complex that it is worth an entire article in itself and can only be briefly outlined here. The fear of traveling can take many forms and, under certain circumstances, develop really unpleasant characteristics.

Diving trip in Mauritius: the dive sites around the island are among the best spots in the Indian Ocean. © Sascha Tegtmeyer
Diving trip in Mauritius: the dive sites around the island are among the best spots in the Indian Ocean. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Millions of Germans are affected by anxiety disorders and panic attacks, which of course also influence their relationship to traveling and vacation and prevent them from getting out of their comfort zone when traveling. Just the anticipation of the trip or fears related to the trip, such as terrorist attacks, robberies or similar incidents, can prevent people from booking their next vacation. Those who have fears and concerns about their next trip are particularly reluctant to leave their comfort zone when traveling.

In the worst case, fear of traveling can have a lifelong negative impact on travel behavior and prevent people from leaving their comfort zone when traveling and experiencing real, unforgettable adventures. Some people actually plan their fears when traveling instead of getting out of their comfort zone and planning a wonderful vacation.

2. Overcoming Sluggishness in Travel Planning – Don't let procrastination win.

And all working people and people who have a lot on their plate are particularly affected by the sluggishness when booking (we are too, by the way, sluggishness when booking is often my weak point). You don't feel like it and you simply don't take the time to spend a lot of time looking for a flight, hotels or the next package holiday.

So you put it off. Just procrastination. Again and again the 1000 reasons come up not to start planning the trip and finally tackle the next trip. I know that. I want to book a trip for us and suddenly two weeks have passed without anything being booked. It's all too easy to lose sight of the fact that your next vacation is something nice and that planning your vacation can be a lot of fun.

The pull of the comfort zone is particularly strong and the idea of ​​simply staying at home and watching Netflix instead of going on the next adventure causes many to waste precious time and postpone the next trip.

3. Childhood Habits – How they influence our desire to travel and be adventurous

In some cases, quite unpleasant habits can shape our desire to travel since childhood and determine how capable we are of leaving our comfort zone when traveling and experiencing an adventure. Whether and to what extent the family's travel behavior during childhood has a negative impact on leaving the comfort zone is something everyone should consider for themselves on a case-by-case basis.

If your only vacation consists of going to the same vacation spot every year or you somehow don't feel like it, this could be an indication of a lack of desire to travel. Not everyone wants to leave their comfort zone, discover something new and go in search of adventure. Maybe it's because of my parents' travel habits when I was a child? This significantly influences your chance of getting out of your comfort zone when traveling.

Two possibilities

And then there are two options: Either you enjoy traveling the way your parents did in the 70s and you enjoy experiencing the comfort and safety of traveling that has been tried and tested for years. Or you want to leave your comfort zone when traveling and experience an adventure. Then it's important to overcome existing habits when traveling and vacationing. You have already taken the first step by becoming aware of the entrenched patterns and looking for exercises that will help you leave your comfort zone when traveling.

After you have at least partially recognized the previous patterns, you can consciously change them. We'll get to the exercises later. At this point, just close your eyes and imagine where you could travel and how much fun you could have in this big, beautiful world if you started making a change now. Just imagine Mauritius, the island is truly the epitome of paradise. I guarantee you that you will quickly get out of your comfort zone when traveling.

4. Travel finances – set priorities and make dreams come true

Travel finances are a very sensitive topic and people have very different priorities. Many people have been taught in their families and childhood that there has to be money for everything before there is any left for traveling. This is of course complete nonsense and completely outdated today. Nevertheless, the way of thinking is in the bones of many people.

The travel finances of many vacationers are a science in themselves. There is money for everything, you immediately pull out your credit card for a smartphone that costs 1500 euros and you choose a brand new car as a means of transport, which you pay off in installments. But if you have to spend 850 euros for your next dream trip, such as a flight to Mauritius, you suddenly have no money.

There’s money for everything else, right?

I say: If you want to leave your comfort zone and experience real adventures, you will be able to scrape together money for it. There is also always the option of saving well in advance for your next trip or, in some exceptional cases, such as for an extended trip around the world, even taking out a travel loan. In another article, we have put together valuable tips for you on how you can invest money for the trip and thus plan for future trips.

So if you find yourself in the future not having any money for your next trip, ask yourself: Is it really because I don't have any money? Or do I have so many fears and anxieties that I don't want to leave my comfort zone when traveling or that perhaps it's not that important to me to experience an exciting adventure.

Hello, I'm Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg - and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.
About the author

I'm just a curious beach kid in the world

Hello, I am Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg – and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.

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Fear of traveling – a taboo subject that deserves more attention

Let’s go back to the fear of traveling. Because while all other points are somehow symptoms of a rejection of traveling and vacationing, fear of traveling is probably the (unconscious) cause of all kinds of excuses in many cases. For example, we could assume the following: I don't leave my comfort zone and go on an adventure because I have fears and anxieties about traveling. This could include fear of flying.

How can you have an adventure? There is hardly anyone who doesn't dream of breaking out of their everyday routine and experiencing an adventure every now and then. But the idea of ​​leaving your own comfort zone and going out into the unknown world can often trigger fears and insecurities. But don't worry, because this is completely normal and understandable! After all, who wants to leave the familiar and familiar behind and head into the unknown? But that's exactly what an adventure is: the opportunity to gain new experiences, challenge yourself and live life to the fullest. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
How can you have an adventure? I have put together some useful tips for you.

Some people just can't get anywhere because they're afraid of flying. I experience this in my environment. Some people aren't willing to hop on a plane for two hours to experience a Mediterranean vacation. Some of it is really absurd and completely irrational. Some travelers only go on vacation within a few kilometers of their hometown because they don't dare get on a plane. Other people actually suffer from more severe disorders such as anxiety or even panic attacks triggered by agoraphobia or similar aversions.

The topic of travel fear is much bigger than this article suggests and than you might think at first glance. What is the most wonderful time of the year for some can turn into a real horror trip for others. Nowadays you can rely on a variety of therapy options and your fear of traveling can usually be treated and in most cases even cured.

Change your habits and get out of your comfort zone

Now things are getting really exciting. So you're sluggish, don't want to travel and don't really know whether you should go on your next vacation or whether you should save your money and watch Netflix at home. Well, the video streaming programs have a lot to offer. You can do that. And better than that, you'll be safe and comfortable.

Biggest danger on your Thailand vacation: the traffic! Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
How can you go on an adventure? This question is highly individual and can only be answered subjectively.

But don't forget. Life is short and the days go by in a flash. So if you want to experience something, you have to leave your comfort zone and go out into the world. There are exciting adventures out there that will send adrenaline rushing through your body and endorphins into your brain.

Very drastically worded

Very drastically worded. If you want to change your existing habits, leave your comfort zone when traveling and experience adventure, you have to take action. Act. Let it melt in your mouth. Only by acting will you get the ball rolling and you will only act if you imagine what great things await you.

The adventure of your life awaits you. Places in the world that are so beautiful that it almost hurts to look at them. Encounters with people who are so precious and give you new impulses that you can't even imagine how much these new contacts will change your life. Imagine it and imagine how wonderful it can be to travel or go on vacation.

Visualize it

Imagine it in the most vivid colors, sounds and noises, smells and feel the sand between your fingers. Sunshine and warmth on your skin, turquoise and crystal clear water, dream beaches and palm trees await you. You go hiking and exploring, take a deep breath, go diving and snorkeling and discover fascinating sea creatures. Let your imagination run wild. Think about it carefully before I continue reading.

Imagine it intensively. And now? You have already taken the first step towards leaving your comfort zone when traveling and have given yourself an initial answer to the question: How can you then experience an adventure? Are you still finding it so difficult to plan your next vacation? You have just taken at least the first step towards the adventure of your life.

Get out of the comfort zone when traveling - exercises that will help you

If you want to get out of your comfort zone and finally take the trip of your life or just want to book a dream vacation, there are a whole bunch of exercises that can help you. What they all have in common is that people break and change their habits of thinking.

And now out into the world - adventures await you at every corner. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
And now out into the world - adventures await you at every corner. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

So ultimately establish new habits. And as we all know, it takes about 30 days to fully form a new habit. Of all the exercises that exist, we can recommend the following.

  1. Write down what you would like to do – “book a wonderful trip to Mauritius”
  2. Now list at least ten advantages that such a wonderful vacation would have for you - "I want to lie on the beach and finally be deeply relaxed again"
  3. When you write the list, phrase the sentences in the present and always positively - “I would like to try the culinary delicacies of the regional cuisine in Mauritius”
  4. Now you have to work with the list and think about the individual points
  5. Take one of these points every day and think about it for up to ten minutes - how delicious the food in Mauritius tastes, how it smells, how it feels when you eat, etc.
  6. Repeat this exercise for at least 30 days - I bet it won't take 30 days before you're deep into travel planning
I'm comfortable when I'm uncomfortable - learn to be comfortable in a state of uncertainty and you'll be ready to adventure and step out of your comfort zone. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
I'm comfortable when I'm uncomfortable - learn to be comfortable in a state of uncertainty and you'll be ready to adventure and step out of your comfort zone.

Nobody has to leave their comfort zone when traveling - but then how can you experience an adventure?

My conclusion

We have now discussed at length how we can get you out of the daily grind and get you to leave your comfort zone when traveling. Because how can you have an adventure if you don't leave the house? Of course, there are so many influencing factors. The travel finances, mental and physical health, family, friends and the work situation of course. Everything influences your personal travel options. And there are really good reasons not to travel. But ask yourself openly and honestly: Are my reasons real or just excuses based on other, unconscious aversions to traveling.

Don't depend on the judgment of others

Many people base their own travel wishes on the judgment of others. Think of the voices of parents and friends who, at least in their own minds, shake their heads and say: Are you flying away again? How can you afford that? Or the friends who turn away because they are jealous that you are always on the go. Fear of losing the job you depend on can also deter you from taking vacations and traveling. I've actually heard it before: "If you start the trip, we can't guarantee that you'll still have the job afterwards!" I still flew back then - and still had the job afterwards. I resigned myself some time later.

Nobody forces you

The truth is: Nobody is forcing you to leave your comfort zone and go on an adventure. Nobody forces you to enjoy your life. Nobody forces you to be happy. You alone are the master of your actions and decide which path you take every day and which course you set. It's up to you whether you spend your life streaming video on the sofa or go out there and book the adventure of your life.

And now the punch line at the end: After writing this post, I finally booked the flight to Los Angeles, which seemed too expensive for so long. Yes, we too are not immune to procrastination and regularly deal with the topic of leaving our comfort zone when traveling and ask ourselves: How can you experience an adventure?

Do you regularly leave your comfort zone and experience adventures? What was your most exciting experience? Share your experiences in the comments.

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