The average person’s impression of a travel blogger is definitely reinforced by photos and videos of consistent adventures, breathtaking views, and the compelling life as a nomad on the road.

How do they do it?

People see travel bloggers’ content highlight reels and assume being a travel blogger is carefree and remarkable. At times, it is. However, sometimes, it’s just that – a highlight reel. People don’t see the other side of working to travel. 

While being a travel blogger might seem glamorous, for some, we are also balancing a job to fund our exotic explorations. 

For those lucky enough to travel without worrying about income or benefits, we envy you. For others, we find the plus side of working our day-to-day corporate jobs. Though it may be hard to believe, there actually are some overlooked advantages that come with having a career. I, personally, must remind myself of these assets to get through the workday sometimes (…okay, maybe all the time!)

Whenever I remind myself of these advantages, I am overcome with gratitude for my 9 to 5 life supporting my travel life. It’s a blessing; even though constant emails and pinging Teams messages might not seem like it.

In this blog, we’ll explore why your “regular” job can be your biggest asset when it comes to traveling. Here’s why:

 1. Financial Stability

This one might seem obvious, but one of the main advantages of a 9 to 5 job is the financial stability it provides.

Full-time travelers must rely solely on blogging revenue or freelance work, while us corporate workers can cash that corporate paycheck and lean on a reliable income. 9 to 5 jobs offer the flexibility to build a travel fund, coordinate a budget, and travel freely without thinking about where our next meal or excursion is coming from.

It’s such a wonderful thing to be able to travel and swipe my card knowing that I can afford this lifestyle. It’s comforting to work hard for my money and decide how I want to use it, without stressing about not being able to afford my bills. It makes the experience of traveling that much sweeter.

2. Paid Time Off

Paid vacation time is truly a blessing that most full-time travelers don’t get to take advantage of. Full-time travelers must carefully budget their time and expenses and sometimes are always on the go and can’t enjoy the moment, while a 9 to 5 job allows us to leverage paid leave and completely immerse ourselves in the locations we are visiting.

Paid time off is truly a time to completely shut off from work and take in your surroundings, allowing more time for relaxation and enjoyment. You’re literally getting paid to va-cay!

Even though as 9 to 5 workers, we receive limited paid time off days, we can still use them to our full advantage. Check out my other blog How to Travel with Limited Paid Time Off to learn more about how you can harness your limited vacation days while traveling. 

 3. Time Management Skills

Balancing a demanding job and a travel blog requires determination, grit, and serious time management skills. Juggling work responsibilities and planning travel can be exhausting but it equips you with the organizational skills needed to get the job done.

Effectively managing your time, sticking to timelines, and staying organized can help you to maximize your travel experience and produce high-quality content for readers.

My career industry is specifically in digital marketing, so my day-to-day work helps me to elevate my travel work. The skills are easily transferable and help me not only to manage my time with work but also manage my time writing and experiencing a new location. Plus, my work-self truly kicks in when I am in a concerning situation while traveling and need to strategize. It helps being able to flex my corporate brain in dire situations if needed.

While becoming a full-time traveler may be alluring, there are certainly many advantages to being a 9 to 5 worker who lives to travel. You can do both and be successful. Allowing your 9 to 5 job to funnel your travel work will not only help you see the places you want to see but will also help you to truly enjoy and continue your adventures while working hard in your career.

Ready to travel but don’t know how to structure your 9 to 5 job to make sense for you and your adventures? Let’s chat! I’m happy to help you devise a travel plan that works for you!