20 Life Lessons You Learn Traveling the World in Your 20's

What you need to know

This week I hit a life milestone. I transitioned out of my 20’s and into my 30’s. In the past, the thought of turning 30 was always followed by a flop sweat, yelling at the top of my lungs, and a mild panic attack.

However, as this new decade of my life clicks over like the hands of a clock, I find that my nervousness has been replaced by excitement.

The main reason for this is because I am totally in love with where I am in life.

I spent at least three months out of every year in my 20’s traveling with the exception of one, in which was I was busy working, tying up loose ends, and saving for long term travel.

I’m not going to lie. It hasn’t always been all fun and games. I’ve had some hard moments. Some of these have included endless debates with myself about whether I should look for a career or risk everything to see the world.

I also have suffered the discouragement of many people that have said that what I was doing was wrong. Plus, traveling and working is not always easy to balance. And some jobs to travel require a lot of time to get started..

Traveling full time is like anything else in life. It takes hard work and passion to accomplish your goals.

I’ve fought through the discouragement, doubt, and more sacrifices than I care to mention. However, every single moment of it has been worth it. I have found that the rewards I get from traveling far out way the sacrifices.

Looking back, I realize that I am obviously not the same person I was at 20. Travel has completely effected every fiber of whom I am.

So in honor of everyone out there (still in your 20’s) trying to make your travel dreams come true, I thought I would share 20 ways in which traveling will change you, and some of the benefits of traveling the world.

LIFE LESSONS YOU LEARN TRAVELING THE WORLD IN YOUR 20’S

1. TRAVEL MAKES YOU FIERCELY INDEPENDENT

Once I started traveling I quickly learned how much I can accomplish when I set my mind to it. Travel teaches you drive, planning, budgeting, and problem sloving. It keeps you young but teaches you adult skills.

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2. GIVES YOU ULTIMATE FREEDOM

The early 20’s are an important time in life for finding out who you are and gaining a lot of freedom.

Nothing makes you feel more alive and free than traveling. After spending countless hours studying the world map, you find yourself standing right in the middle of it. Suddenly the world is a tangible place, and you realize that none of it is out of your reach.

3. TRAVELING THE WORLD MAKES YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

One unknown facts about me is that I used to struggle with self belief. Travel shows you how strong of a person you really are.

Going through all the stages of planning a trip and then executing the plan, gives a deep feeling of self-fulfillment and confidence. You learn that you can do any task that you set your mind to.

4. TEACHES YOU NOT TO STRESS OVER THE SMALL STUFF

With my entire being, I hate cockroaches! Their disgusting shell of a body and the way their limbs swim in the air when they get flipped over like a turtle on its back makes my skin crawl.

However, as I am writing this, there is a cockroach looking up at me from the floor. Why am I not freaking out? Well, because travel has taught me not to sweat the small stuff.

I am in beautiful Chiang Mai taking a break from backpacking Thailand and I pay $75 a month rent for a nice apartment and a cool ride.

This one cockroach is a small price to pay to be where I am and it’s not worth the stress. (Notice, I did say one cockroach)

Travel teaches you how to handle the small things.

Getting lost, your atm card getting denied, or getting stuck in traffic when you should already be at the airport are all examples of small stresses on the road.

However, after confronting these problems a few times, I’ve learned that things seem to fix themselves.

Plus, these tiny stressful moments usually become the stories I share with others. Travel teaches you not to worry about the things that aren’t worth your time and energy.

5. IT TEACHES YOU THAT IT IS OKAY TO EMBRACE FAILURE

No one is a perfect traveler and when you throw in the added bonus of foreign countries and language barriers, a fair share of failures are likely to occur.

Travel teaches you to embrace the failures, realizing that they will actually turn into something good – if nothing else, a learning experience.

As long as you are always determine to get back up, there is nothing wrong with falling down.

6. TRAVELING THE WORLD TEACHES WISDOM

Traveling the world can make you as wise as an old hermit. You learn countless things about our world, the land, the people, and their cultures.

You observe both the ancient and the modern, yesterday’s ghosts and tomorrow’s dreams, the young and the old, and how they all exist together.

You learn firsthand about the good and bad decisions countries and governments have made. You witness their effects and you hear multiple points of view.

Basically, you gain valuable insights into various parts of the world that you would never otherwise have the opportunity to see.

7. TEACHES YOU HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITHOUT WORDS.

Do you want to really learn nonverbal communication? Then head to the middle of nowhere in a foreign country.

Truly, you will mastered it in a month! Throughout my travels, I’ve played charades, drawn in the sand, and have made ridiculous faces to get my point across.

Sometimes it is slow. Sometimes it is frustrating. But always it ends up being a good time.

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8. YOU LEARN HOW TO BE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

Traveling solo, you learn quickly to let go of your inhibitions about interacting with those you do not know. Just remember, every friend was once a stranger.

After a long stretch of being alone, you will have no problem walking up to fellow travelers, introducing yourself, and making friends.

The backpacking community is wonderful and don’t forget, all of us have a couple of things in common right off the bat. All of us are traveling, in a new country, and looking for something more out of life.

9. YOU LEARN THE LIFE LESSON NOT TO BE MATERIALISTIC AND SELFISH

When everything you have fits in a backpack, you realize just how little you really need.

Living in hostels, meeting locals less fortunate than you, and traveling with people from all over the world teaches you how to be considerate of others and share what you have.

Many people are surprised by the kindness they encounter when traveling, and it only makes them eager to pay it forward.

10. YOU LEARN IT IS OKAY TO BE ALONE

Traveling the world solo teaches you how to deal with loneliness.

Let’s be honest. You make tons of friends traveling, but there are stretches when you are on your own. Learning how to be alone is a fantastic trait to have and one thing I talked about with the monk when I was getting my Sak Yant Tattoo

This gives you ample time to learn how to entertain yourself, pick up a hobby, and delve into a fantastic travel blog ( * cough, “this one”, * cough)

11. TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF WORLDWIDE FRIENDS

Ah yes, tons of friendships are forged while traveling. Many are passing friendships based on being in the right place at the right time, but there are also lifelong friendships crafted out of traveling.

Since you are experiencing all these new things together, far from the ordinary comforts of home, these traveling friendships grow intensely fast and even a short amount of time with someone has the potential to turn into a lifelong bond.

12.TEACHES YOU THAT MONEY DOESN’T BUY HAPPINESS

People that have been to third world countries can attest to this. Some of the happiest and most generous people

I’ve ever met while traveling are also the poorest. They find joy in spending time with the people they love, the smallest comforts they actually have, and sharing what they can with strangers.

For someone from the western world, it is a humbling experience.

In the grand scheme of things, money doesn’t matter. Life experiences and relationships do!

I decided long ago that I would rather have the experience of living a fulfilled life than one of chasing green paper.

This is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from backpacking the world, and it has changed my entire outlook on how I live. Today,

I look at fancy cars, mansions, and overpriced luxuries and think about all the unforgettable life changing experiences they could have bought.

13. TRAVEL TEACHES MONEY MANAGEMENT

I never was the best at money management. Keeping track of my expenses was always overwhelming.

Well, that was before I started traveling. Long term travel or traveling on a budget teaches you to account for every little cent.

This is a great life skill to get in your early 20’s and yet, one that many high schools and colleges fail to teach. Travel teaches it “in your face” quicktime.

14. IT BREAKS DOWN YOUR WALLS

When you spend time with different cultures and see the kindness of strangers, it breaks down the stereotypes.

You learn that 99% of the people in the world, really are good people. In fact, you realize that you actually share more things in common than what you could imagine.

Most people want a better world, peace and happiness, and they are willing to reach out to help their fellow human beings.

15. TRAVEL TEACHES YOU TO DREAM BIG

Never Stop Dreaming.

Once people plan and accomplish a big travel goal, they realize how easy it is to achieve their dreams when they really put their mind to it. Some people are afraid to dream; afraid that it will only lead to failure.

Other people let their dreams stay exactly that….dreams. Travel can give you the drive to turn your dreams into your reality.

16. YOU LEARN TO BE MORE ADVENTUROUS

Travel has a way of bringing people out of their shell. My travels started this adventure travel blog.

It will bring a side out of you that you might otherwise never would have known existed. This is my favorite side, the adventure side.

As you start facing more fears, you become more fearless.

Driving a third of the planet? Running with the bulls? Skydiving in New Zealand? Hiking the Tongariro Crossing (aka Mordor)?

If someone would have asked me ten years ago if I would ever do any of these things, I would have laughed.

Not only have I conquered my fears and done them, but I am hungry to experience new adventures in the future, and us these quotes about adventure to hype me up!.

Traveling makes you open to trying new things and overcoming your fears. Soon you realize that the scariest thing about fear is not what you are afraid of, but the act of facing the fear itself.

At one time, I would go into a panic anytime I was in deep water. It’s a fear I fought all my life.

However, recently I have begun making plans to get my scuba diving masters certificate.

Travel changes your perception of fear.

17. TRAVEL TEACHES YOU TO CHERISH THE SMALL MOMENTS

A lot of the time, the small quiet, seemingly insignificant moments are the best.

Sipping a cup of tea with a local, butchering a simple “thank you” in a foreign language and then sharing a laugh, being greeted with kisses on both cheeks and a warm meal after spending 38 hours on a plane are small moments that make big memories.

A personal favorite of mine is sitting under the stars on the bank of the Nile River on the outskirts of a remote village with a Nubian tribesman.

We stared up into the heavens, talked about life, and drank coffee. He was having girl problems and asked my advice.

I never knew the man before that night and I never saw him again but his memory will be with me forever.

These moments are priceless.

18. Gives You a Better Understanding of Yourself

Travel forces you to face yourself.

An old travel saying states “Everyone who is traveling is either running from something or running towards something”. When you have long layovers, train rides, or alone time, you have a lot of time to think.

Frequently thoughts drift from one thing to another and often lead to yourself – who you are and who you want to be.

Not long after being on the road, you discover your strengths and confront your weaknesses.

By its very nature, travel calls you to stop and reflect on your past, take a hard look at your present, and focuses you on your future.

19. TRAVEL MAKES YOU SEXY

Intrepid Travel did a singles study which showed that 55% of the people surveyed said traveling makes someone sexier.

Yep, you read that right. Traveling makes you more attractive. That alone should encourage many of you to call the airlines today. After all, who doesn’t want that?

20. TRAVEL TEACHES YOU TO MAKE THE MOST OF EACH MOMENT

Life is short and the older I get the more I realize how short it really is. Like we talk about in our quotes about new beginnings. Each day is a new beginning, a fresh awakening, a beautiful opportunity for something wonderful to happen. And each day comes with a choice

How are you going to spend it? Too often, people get lost in the rut wasting away precious minutes.

Traveling makes you aware that there is so much more to see, learn, and experience.

Yes, travel does change you. It will stretch your limits, open your eyes, and blow your mind. It will cause you to deal with things that most people put off all their lives and it will allow you to explore beyond your dreams.

It has its cost but also its rewards and I firmly believe that it is truly beneficial to those who embrace it.

No matter what stage of the game you are in, consider making travel apart of it.

Like this post? Check out my personal favorite traveling the world quotes, or traveling the world jobs that you might be interested in starting.

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