5 Ways to Balance your Work and Travel Life

With the rise of travel documentation on blogs and social media, it is quite common to hear about people giving up working at their day jobs to pursue a life on the road fully. Many travellers would love to have long and continuous periods of travel but this is often not affordable or readily attainable.

For some, a conflict arises when deciding whether or not to pursue a fulfilling career at the expense of an adventurous life or vice versa. Sometimes, it feels like to be truly happy and content, one has to choose one life over the other.

Follow That Dream Sign

But as someone who enjoys both parts almost equally, I can tell you that they do not have to be mutually exclusive. You can maintain a healthy travel life without forfeiting a career you love and here are a few ways to do so…

#1: Begin at Home

One of the best ways to enjoy a balanced work and travel life is to explore the sights and sounds of the city you currently live in. I find that the closer someone lives to a place or specific (tourist) attraction, the less likely they will visit it.

Lekki Conservation Centre
Lekki conservation Centre, Lagos

This might be due to a lack of interest in what is perceived as ordinary or the thought that there’s always going to be time to visit later. However, if you’re someone who loves to travel while you still work, you can feed this passion by exploring places close to you.

Another way to live a balanced life of work and travel is to make the most out of work travel opportunities.

Holm Cafe Zamalek

Trip Planning Resources

Book your accommodation: Find accommodation options for any budget on Booking.com

Purchase Travel Insurance: I use SafetyWing for both my travel and visa application needs

Activities: Find fun activities and tours in your destination via Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook Travel

eSIM: Get your travel eSIM here

#2: Make the most of work trips

Some jobs offer the opportunity to travel locally or internationally. If you are lucky to find such an offer, then you should consider taking some time out to explore each city that your job takes you to.

This could mean flying out a few days earlier before you have to start a job or including a few extra days after the job at your own expense. Weekends are also a good avenue to explore your new location and could be a better option than simply confining yourself to your hotel room.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
Exploring Old Cairo on a weekend during a work trip to Egypt

Alternatively, you may consider remote jobs that give you the opportunity to be location-independent. This is probably the best-case scenario to both have a fulfilling career and travel life.

#3: Plan your Vacations Better

If you work a full-time job, then you probably have an allocated number of vacation days per year. Be deliberate about planning your vacations by scheduling them around public holidays and long weekends, if possible.

Beau Vallon Beach Seychelles
Visiting Seychelles on a 5-day weekend, thanks to public holidays!

That way, you get a longer vacation period by taking only a few days off work.

#4: Take Day & Weekend Trips

Make the most out of your weekends by taking trips to states and cities within close proximity to where you live. From Lagos and Nairobi alone, for example, you can visit over 20 destinations by road and even more if you fly within a 1-3-day timeframe.

How to get to Crescent Island Naivasha
Naivaha, on a weekend trip from Nairobi

Finally, this last tip is for people who already work from home, but are not necessarily independent remote workers or freelancers.

#5: Consider a working “vacation”

When C-19 hit the world in 2020, several employees began working from home. While some people have been asked to return to the office, some businesses have maintained either a hybrid structure or still allow employees to work from home.

What to wear for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
An excursion to see Mountain Gorillas during a work trip to Rwanda

If you fall under the second category and have a reasonable agreement with your office, you can technically work from anywhere! And as long as you do not abuse the opportunity and are available during your official hours, you can get to explore different destinations while still keeping your full-time job!

Do you have any other tips you use to attain a balanced work and travel life? Please share them with me in the comment section below!

6 comments

  1. As usual, a quality blog post with useful tips and tricks to balance work and travel. Personally I hate the narrative that is being pushed on social media- that travel is only meaningful if you quit your full time job, work remotely and dedicate your life to travelling. I don’t believe that this is sustainable for everyone and it can have a negative impact on countries as well. Look at Bali, Indonesia for example. Wit the influx of privileged passport holders making Bali their base as they work remotely, it has driven the prices of things up for locals making it nearly impossible for locals to survive. This is why I think your post is important, ensuring that all kinds of work and travel are significant; and both can be managed without losing the essence of each one. Work trips are the best (I travelled to the Netherlands last year as a result of one) and proper planning does make a world of difference to balancing holidays and work.

    1. Thanks, Aneesa and I couldn’t agree more! The Bali reference is quite sad, I think the same is happening in parts of Mexico as well. I too get tired of seeing the “quit your job to have a fulfilling life” narrative and I hope that more people who enjoy both parts can explore them sustainably and happily.

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

Close
Help! Why are we losing home and away! 😭🤣 God abeg!

I will resume my complaining once we fix our visa process/make it more accessible for other African travellers!

Side bar: if you have connections in Vietnam, please DM me! 😭😂 I still want to go!
Help! Why are we losing home and away! 😭🤣 God abeg! I will resume my complaining once we fix our visa process/make it more accessible for other African travellers! Side bar: if you have connections in Vietnam, please DM me! 😭😂 I still want to go!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Mount Kilimanjaro and giraffes - I could cry! 🥹

If you're looking for a great weekend trip from Nairobi to change the pace, Amboseli National Park is truly one of the best places to visit!

For a road trip that's only about 4-5 hours from Nairobi, you get epic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds and if you pick the right lodge, you can watch incredible wildlife come and go, right from the comfort of your dining table or even your room!
Mount Kilimanjaro and giraffes - I could cry! 🥹 If you're looking for a great weekend trip from Nairobi to change the pace, Amboseli National Park is truly one of the best places to visit! For a road trip that's only about 4-5 hours from Nairobi, you get epic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds and if you pick the right lodge, you can watch incredible wildlife come and go, right from the comfort of your dining table or even your room!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
💙
💙
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
It was a rainy morning in Nairobi and we went on a walk with the pup 🐶
It was a rainy morning in Nairobi and we went on a walk with the pup 🐶
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
A not-so-hidden gem in South Korea 🇰🇷 

Suncheon Bay National Garden is absolutely worth visiting.😍
A not-so-hidden gem in South Korea 🇰🇷 Suncheon Bay National Garden is absolutely worth visiting.😍
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Everyday is a pleasant surprise! 🌻🥹
Everyday is a pleasant surprise! 🌻🥹
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Oh please, add Gyeongju to your South Korean itinerary! 🇰🇷

It's a charming, beautiful and walkable city that I think is worth visiting. 

When I visited the country for the first time, I picked Jeonju over Gyeongju. Not much thought went into that decision. I just did it - no regrets.

Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
Oh please, add Gyeongju to your South Korean itinerary! 🇰🇷 It's a charming, beautiful and walkable city that I think is worth visiting. When I visited the country for the first time, I picked Jeonju over Gyeongju. Not much thought went into that decision. I just did it - no regrets. Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Natural, Unfiltered Beauty! 🌸💙

The cherry blossoms were late but that itself was a blessing. I was happy to get clear, gorgeous views of Mount Fuji!

Oh, this trip - this country! Some places leave a permanent mark. This was one of them!
Natural, Unfiltered Beauty! 🌸💙 The cherry blossoms were late but that itself was a blessing. I was happy to get clear, gorgeous views of Mount Fuji! Oh, this trip - this country! Some places leave a permanent mark. This was one of them!
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Oh, this charming town! 💙

Beautiful cobbled-stone streets, a gorgeous trail that leads to yet another beautiful well-preserved Edo-period post town, temples and shrines... this is Magome-Juku 

If you plan to visit, I recommend staying a night or two. Accommodation is quite limited and everything shuts down by 5pm.

We stayed at Magomechaya for 2 nights. This place has both hostels and private rooms and our stay was absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely revisit!
Oh, this charming town! 💙 Beautiful cobbled-stone streets, a gorgeous trail that leads to yet another beautiful well-preserved Edo-period post town, temples and shrines... this is Magome-Juku If you plan to visit, I recommend staying a night or two. Accommodation is quite limited and everything shuts down by 5pm. We stayed at Magomechaya for 2 nights. This place has both hostels and private rooms and our stay was absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely revisit!
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
Latest Posts
  • 2 Weeks South Korea Travel Itinerary for First Time Visitors

  • Slow Days in Fast-Paced Tokyo

  • A Serene Weekend at Tawi Lodge, Amboseli

  • Top 10 Easiest Countries for Nigerians to Visit (Visa-Free or Easy Visa)

  • 1000 Days of Learning Swahili – I Quit!

Translate
Become an Insider!
Archives
Close

Travel with a Pen

Seek out New Adventures, Travel Differently

Travel with a Pen © Copyright 2025
Close