How to Make Travel a Priority (Even With a Busy Schedule)
How to Make Travel a Priority (Even With a Busy Schedule)
In today’s fast-paced world, making time for travel can feel like an impossible task. Between work, family responsibilities, and the general chaos of everyday life, planning a trip often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list. But the truth is, travel doesn’t have to be a time-consuming event — and you don’t need to overhaul your life to make it happen. With a little planning and intentionality, you can prioritize travel even with a packed schedule. Here’s how:
1. Shift Your Mindset: Treat Travel as a Non-Negotiable
The first step to making travel a priority is treating it as a necessity, not a luxury. Just like you wouldn’t skip a doctor’s appointment or a work deadline, make travel something you commit to regularly. Think of it as an essential part of your self-care and personal growth.
• Set a goal — whether it’s one big trip a year or a weekend getaway every quarter.
• Block off time in your calendar as soon as you decide on it — and treat it as untouchable as a work commitment.
2. Make it Easy: Book a Package Trip
If planning the details of a trip feels overwhelming, let someone else handle the logistics. Booking a package trip can take the stress out of travel and make it easier to fit into your busy life.
• Look for packages that include accommodation, meals, and activities so you don’t have to worry about planning when you arrive.
• Opt for trips that include airport transfers - landing in a new place is much easier when transportation is already arranged.
• Packaged trips are generally more economically priced than trying to book everything separately yourself, saving you both time and money.
3. Make It Part of Your Budget
Just like you set aside money for groceries, bills, and savings, carve out a dedicated travel fund.
• Automate a small monthly transfer to a travel savings account.
• Cut back on small expenses — skipping that $5 daily coffee could add up to a weekend getaway fund in no time.
• Use travel rewards and points — credit cards and airline programs can help you save on flights, hotels, and more.
4. Plan Ahead (but Be Flexible)
Spontaneous trips are exciting, but a little planning can make travel easier to fit into a busy life.
• Start researching flights and accommodations early to snag the best deals.
• Keep a list of “bucket list” destinations so you can quickly book when a good deal comes up.
• Be flexible with dates and destinations — sometimes the best trips come from taking advantage of last-minute opportunities.
5. Plan Your Time Off Early
One of the best ways to ensure you can take time off for travel is to plan ahead. At the beginning of the year, look at your work calendar and make your time-off requests early.
• Submit your vacation requests as soon as possible - this increases the likelihood of getting the dates you want.
• Let your employer know your plans as early as possible so they can prepare for your absence and adjust work coverage if needed.
• Having confirmed time off on the books will motivate you to follow through with your travel plans instead of putting them off.
6. Don’t Overthink It — Just Go
One of the biggest barriers to travel is overthinking it. If you wait until the “perfect time,” it may never come.
• Don’t let the length of the flight or complexity of the trip stop you — the experiences on the other side will always be worth it.
• Embrace the imperfect — flights can get delayed and the weather doesn’t always cooperate, but in the end, the only adventure you regret is the one you didn’t take.
Final Thoughts
Travel doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. By treating travel as a priority, planning early, and making the process as simple as possible - like booking package deals and getting your vacation requests in ahead of time - you can make travel a regular and meaningful part of your life. With a little foresight and creativity, you can make room for exploration and adventure even with the busiest of schedules.
So, where to next?…
