10 Ways to Stay Inspired by Travel from Home

As adventurers ourselves, we recognize that with everything happening in the world right now, it can be tough to stay inspired by travel. There are so many changes still happening, with real concerns that often eclipse future travel plans. We get it, and we’re right there alongside you. We recognize that now is not yet the time to go again, but when it is, we’ll be there as well.

With that in mind, we want to provide a few tips to keep you dreaming, even from home.  Some of these might already sound familiar, but there’s nothing like a reminder to keep you looking forward to the day when we can connect in person again. There is still so much to appreciate and experience around the world, so we hope this list offers you a bit of inspiration when you need it most.

1. Be kind to yourself – mentally and physically

This might be the most important tip of all. In the past two months our lives have been uprooted and completely turned up-side-down. It’s been a major task trying to shift into our work-from-home lifestyle, but now is the most essential time to be more understanding and patient with yourself. You aren’t alone in your feelings, so take the time to be more kind to yourself. Meditate. Go for a run. Read that book. Take a nap. Do what you can to relax during this time, and most importantly: do what makes you happy.

2. Take time to put together your travel mementos​

Our love of travel is something that we all have in common, and looking back at mementos brings back some of our fondest travel memories with each other! There’s not a more perfect time to spread out and craft the scrapbook that you’ve always wanted to make.

3. Hang up art, or trade out current pieces to refresh your WFH space​

Living and working from home can start to make the days blend together, so make sure to keep your space updated! Are you a crafty person? Paint your favorite destination and hang it by your work area. Or, even better, put your travel souvenirs where you can see them throughout the day and look forward to the trips to come!

4. Host a virtual hangout with your friends around the world​

We’re all in need of more socialization, and the best way to get that fix is to reach out to friends from past travels! Technology has enabled us to have Zoom parties and Skype groups with friends from all over the world in real time, so why not reach out? Find out what they’re doing to keep busy, and maybe they could even give you a virtual local cooking class!

5. Listen to music that is inspired by your travels

They always say, ‘Music soothes the soul’, so why wouldn’t music get us all through this time? We all have those certain songs we associate with a trip, but now, we at Club Adventures have come up with a whole playlist called “Dusty Trails” collated by our team, and featuring tunes that keep us inspired by all the things that make the world an incredible place. Check it out, give it a listen, and let us know what you think!

6. Start journaling about your past travels​

A perfect way to keep the travel memories fresh in your mind is to write them all down! Fill that old journal you bought years ago, review where you went online, or even start a blog that you could point your clients toward in the future.

7. Learn (or improve upon) a new language​

Learning a local language is one of the best ways to fully experience a culture and can often save you from missing a train or ordering an overly spicy meal. Luckily, there are tons of different ways to brush up your language skills whether it’s through watching a movie with English subtitles, getting a subscription to a language learning company like Rosetta Stone, or playing around on the Duolingo or Babbel apps, you’ll be parleying like a pro by your next trip!

8. Read about travel – books, blogs, etc. ​

Reading forces the mind into a level of imagination that is not possible for most other activities, so by reading about travel it almost tricks you into feeling like you’re on the adventure too! There are plenty of great travel books like On the Road by Jack Kerouac and Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson, but if you aren’t much of a reader there are many other options like travel podcasts or news websites! Some of our team’s favorite ways to stay entertained and informed are listed for you below:

NOVELS:

  • Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts
  • The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
  • While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal – Elizabeth Enslin
  • Blue Highways – William Least Heat-Moon

PODCASTS:

  • Jump with Traveling Jackie
  • Adventure Travel Show
  • Zero to Travel, especially episode Finding Meaning Through Travel
  • Amateur Traveler by Chris Christensen
  • Coffee Break Languages or Duolingo

INDUSTRY NEWS:

  • TravelAge West
  • Travel Weekly
  • BBC Travel
  • TravelPulse
  • Skift.com
  • Lonely Planet
  • Travel + Leisure
  • AFAR

9. Research for future plans​

We may not be able to travel right now, but we can certainly plan! Take this time to inspire yourself through research- where have you always wanted to go that you never got the chance to look into? Plan out your dream trip while allowing yourself the chance to have those unscripted moments that we love. Or, make a bucket list of all the sites you plan to hit when we travel again!

10. Watch movies about adventures​

Need a change of scenery? Pick a movie! There are a plethora of movies and TV shows that thrive on adventure that are sure to soothe that travel bug. BBC has some fantastic documentaries that will show you and teach you about some of the most beautiful places on Earth (some facts may be useful for sales!). Another great travel show that may spark the inner chef in you is Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown where you’ll dive into the most authentic foods in destinations you may have never imagined.