The summer of 2024 came at me all at once: a demanding consulting job in Chicago, a scary health diagnosis, a long-term relationship ending, and friendships shifting.
This non-stop stress wasn’t working for my body or my mind. Instead, it felt like it was breaking me.
So, when the lease on my Chicago apartment ended that September, something in me told me not to sign a new one.
On top of feeling completely burned out at work, I suddenly had an unexplainable itch to leave the country, and realized it was the perfect time for an escape.
So, I took a three-month sabbatical from work and booked a one-way ticket to a wellness retreat in a remote town in India. It seemed like the perfect solution after a particularly hectic couple of months, and also gave me the chance to see family who lived in India.
After this trip, I decided to continue to follow this wanderlust. Thus, I eventually handed in my resignation and began a 22-month-long adventure of traveling the world on my own.
I love traveling, but it’s hard to always be on the move
Anuja Bagri
Over the past two years, I’ve lived in seven different time zones and nine countries. I’ve stayed at my parents’ home in Texas, learned to surf at a camp in Sri Lanka, slept in a villa in Bali, watched the sunrise on Bondi Beach, and visited countless other hostels around the world.
Throughout my travels, I started sharing my journey and life online, turning it into a part-time career.
Posting my trips on social media might sound like a dream, and in many ways, it is. I’ve built a life in my 20s that most save for retirement, and I’ve gotten to see incredible places around the world. I love it, and am grateful for the opportunity.
But there’s something I struggle with that’s not visible on my Instagram feed: how hard it is to always be in transit.
My body craves a routine, but that’s not possible when my environment resets so frequently.
Even though I can adjust to a new place pretty quickly, I think there’s still a real cost to never settling into one rhythm long enough for my body to recognize it.
Not having a stable routine always leaves me feeling some form of low-grade exhaustion or jet lag, making it challenging to maintain a stable energy level.
Living out of a suitcase is freeing, but it’s also exhausting
Anuja Bagri
I like to believe I’ve mastered the art of being a guest. I always bring flowers when I arrive, join my hosts for dinner, clean the dishes before bed, and strip the sheets before checking out.
It’s a rather useful skill. However, it’s also relentless.
Every time I start to feel settled in a place, it’s time to zip everything back up again.
Plus, I miss my family and close friends constantly. Throughout my travels, I’ve seen so many stunning views, but each one feels a little hollow when I can’t share them with people who really know me.
I’ve watched the sun set in Sri Lanka and instinctively wondered what my mom was doing. I’ve eaten the best meal of my life and reached for my phone, forgetting my best friends were 14 hours behind.
Sure, I’ve made amazing connections with people in almost every place I’ve landed, but it’s difficult knowing I’ll only spend a few weeks with them before heading to the next destination.
Despite these challenges, I’ve loved traveling the world on my own
Anuja Bagri
Even though there are difficulties that come with this lifestyle, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
Each place I visit brings new experiences and a chance to learn about unique cultures. The joy I feel when I enter a new city or country makes all the challenges worth it.
I truly believe the past 22 months have given me more clarity than a decade of staying put would have.
Not only have I learned to trust myself in navigating new places on my own, but I’ve also gained a better understanding of who I am and what I want to accomplish.
These adventures got me out of a routine that was breaking me and launched me into a life I actually enjoy.
For the time being, I’ve settled at my parents’ house in Houston to catch my breath, have a proper reset, and work on launching my own business. However, I know that I’ll get the itch to fly off somewhere else soon.
Eventually, I’d love to plant roots in a place like New York City, but for now, I’m happy with staying free.
