– Original date: 2020-02-07
– Labels: Camper
### Content (HTML)
“`html
Greetings and Woofs,
Over the years I’ve had a lot of anxiety about how I would get things done. Breaking it down into small bits definitely helps. Now that I’ve gone full time I feel like I am in a position to help other people. So here are a few small tips from me to you on how to make your travel dreams come true.
I’ve been focusing heavily on social media lately, and that can be kind of scary. It means spending more time on the internet, and in places where there are many pitfalls and potholes to navigate around. However, it can also be empowering. There are lots of positive people on social media, and I decided to post a quote each day that will be encouraging to people who want to travel. One way I have found to be more inspirational is to give a few tips on how to manage such lofty dreams like traveling (or whatever your heart may desire).
Tip 1: Develop a Plan.
All or nothing will not help here. First of all, it’s not smart. Second, it is going to cause more problems. Finally, all of those problems will discourage you from going for it, and you’re going to end up exactly where you are now. Is that working for you? I want to think you’re here to fulfill a purpose.
I’m going to use travel as my example because this is a travel blog, and it’s what I know. My biggest hurdle was money. I needed it, I had none, and even worse, the deck was stacked against me because I am/was on short-term-disability. I couldn’t get a leg up! As a result, I came up with a strategy to deal with that aspect:
- Find odd jobs that required no commitment beyond one or two days. That way, if my depression or anxiety flared up, no harm is done. Some examples include rideshares, delivery driver, pet sitting, or going on craigslist and doing something as random as going around and posting signs in an area.
- Sell belongings on eBay.
- Use my art therapy to my advantage and sell my art on Etsy to make up for the money to buy supplies.
- Budget – for this, I am using the envelope system and restricting my spending to 4 days of the week only.
These are all things you can do as well. Minus the art therapy thing – unless you’re doing that as well. The idea was that I would turn an expense into income.
Tip 2: Believe Cliches!
Take it one day at a time. Seeing is believing. Do I have to go on? My point is that certain sayings become cliches for a reason, so don’t shrug them off. Honestly, do take one day at a time.
I had a ton of stuff to post on eBay. I made a deal to publish at least five listings per day, Monday through Friday. I made it into a job. It takes maybe a half-hour unless you count in the social media promotion aspect of it, but I am leaving that up to a scheduling program.
A penny saved is a penny earned. I have an addiction to spending money and overeating – very unhealthy combinations. So by restricting my spending to only specific days and just having X amount of money each week to pay towards each category, I am effectively penny-pinching my way into my Shasta.
Tip 3: Have SMART Goals
If you haven’t heard of these, a SMART goal is a short statement that a person makes to lead them in the direction of what they want to accomplish. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Print out this free S.M.A.R.T Goals tracking worksheet (PDF)
Specific: State what you’ll do (inaction words).
Ex: I am going to get a job at an office.
Measurable: Provide a way to evaluate (or something to hold you accountable).
Ex: My dwindling bank account and a steady influx of bills will make sure that I get a job.
Achievable: Within your capability to accomplish (something attainable, something you’re qualified to do).
Ex: I have 10+ years of administrative, reception, and clerical work.
Relevant: Something that makes sense (improves your life or moves you toward your goal).
Ex: I will be homeless if I cannot pay my rent.
Time-bound: State when you’ll get it done (such as specific day of the week or a date).
Ex: I must have a job by Friday at 4:00 pm.
Tip 4: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
The worst thing for me was feeling like I am burdening my friends. Or I am asking for a handout because it felt like a weakness. My mental illness has handicapped me. I am no longer ashamed to admit it. I may look perfectly fine, I do have my good days, but multiple years of abuse, addiction, and no healthcare have me beaten into submission. I have no choice. My life, like most people, is one mistake away from being destroyed. But not if I ask for help. Not if I genuinely try to make a connection between understanding and ignorance with my friends. Then maybe they can do the same with their friends and from there it should just spiral.
It costs your friend, 4 seconds of their time to share or tag a friend in a post. That’s all you need. So ask them for it.
Send your friends a message and let them know you’re starting a blog, and you need some help getting it off the ground. If they could share a post or like your page, whatever you need.
Be genuine. Don’t start with “hey, how are you?” and when whoever replies segway right into your “pitch.” Have an hour-long conversation with them. Catch up, ask them about their job, their kids, or another family. Ask if they still talk to someone from where you know them from (like a former job or school). If the conversation feels forced, abandon it and pick it back up on another day. If your dialogue has a nice flow to it, wait until your topic comes up. If they say, “well I have to go make dinner now.” and you’re a food blogger, THAT’S YOUR OPENING.
For me, it is super easy because I am a travel blogger, so whenever my friends post anything related to weather, pictures of their area, etc. I use that as my opening. But I also make an effort to actively interact with everyone on my friend’s list through messages or comments. So that way, when I do need to ask them a favor like sharing a post or spreading my “gospel,” they are more likely to do it.
Tip 4: Have a Realistic Dream.
I’ll never be a principal ballerina. I’m too old and by their standards out of shape and have no real training. The last dance class I took was hip hop in 6th grade. Learning ballet, however, is not far fetched.
If you want to be living full time in your RV in a year that would be realistic. That would give you time to decide what kind of RV you want to live in, it would give you plenty of time to budget and save for that RV and still have enough time to trim down on your belongings all before you take the final jump and just do it. However, if you have zero savings, no idea what you want to do to make money on the road, don’t have a camper but plan to go full time next week; that’s not realistic. Sorry, you’ll have to regroup and figure out a different dream. It can be done, just don’t set yourself up for failure.
I hope these tips helped and if you have any questions please let me know. I’d be happy to help now that I’ve been full time for almost a year. Wow, time flies when you’re on the move.
With love and paw prints,
Essie and Willow
“`
—