How I keep myself motivated.... - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**patchouli Lover** · 03-03-2007, 05:14 AM

So I really really really hate one of my jobs.

It's a hole in the wall diner. The tips are great but after awhile the night shift combined with bad managment and drunken asses really start to wear on a girl.

So to remind myself that I really NEED this job or I'm not going to make it to Europe, occasionally I write on my arms in permanent marker "Europe" and "Car" (I have to pay the stupid thing off before I can leave... two more payments left!!!!) So not only does this remind me everytime I look down but it also makes people ask me what I have written on my arms. When I relate to them about my future travel plans it gets me excited all over again. Not to mention occasionally people donate to the "send Sarah to Europe fund." Which means they tip better :D

Anyone else have any other interesting ways they keep themselves going when the going gets tough?

**BigE** · 03-03-2007, 05:48 AM

Believe it or not, I come to Travalpunk when the going gets tough. I find that the guys and gals here keep me going and focused on my trip. They are my cheerleaders.

I also hang out with grandma. She has been everywhere and she has great stories to tell. She thinks it is great that I want to go places. I also call my dad. He loves to travel. We were talking yesterday and he was telling me I should go to Prague and Eastern Europe on a future trip. I told him I am working on a trip to South America and he though it was a great idea. I also talk to my friend Erika who also loves to travel. Just surround yourself with people who want you to do what you want to do and you will do it. Of course, buying a plane ticket always helps.

**DC_Jessica** · 03-03-2007, 06:09 AM

What gets me through when the going gets rough is TRAVEL! I just finished my MA and have applied to dozens and dozens and dozens of positions, nothing way over my capabilities, and I have had approximately ZERO interviews. I work as a secretary, basically, and have been at the same place for 2 years, and I get treated like a janitor a lot of the time...

I damn near bottomed out last week (there's more and it's all trivial, but I get dramatic sometimes...) and had a nervous breakdown. The result is I'm going to Malaysia. I had to look up Kuala Lumpur on a map before I clicked on "submit payment" but I feel it's all in good fun. Adventure, ho!

So now, whenever I get depressed about the job search, I start googling Malaysia. I found a website to learn Malay!!

But when I don't have the funds I daydream...so basically my solution is: find something amazing and obsess about it, real or imaginary!

**TheJake** · 03-03-2007, 12:27 PM

day trips and overnights.

That's what I do when I get frusterated. I bust outta town for a day or two and come back renewed and refocused.

**travelpunk** · 03-03-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patchouli Lover

So I really really really hate one of my jobs.

It's a hole in the wall diner. The tips are great but after awhile the night shift combined with bad managment and drunken asses really start to wear on a girl.

So to remind myself that I really NEED this job or I'm not going to make it to Europe, occasionally I write on my arms in permanent marker "Europe" and "Car" (I have to pay the stupid thing off before I can leave... two more payments left!!!!) So not only does this remind me everytime I look down but it also makes people ask me what I have written on my arms. When I relate to them about my future travel plans it gets me excited all over again. Not to mention occasionally people donate to the "send Sarah to Europe fund." Which means they tip better :D

Anyone else have any other interesting ways they keep themselves going when the going gets tough?

That is excellent! I am a firm believer on "What you focus on, expands." Whatever you have to do to keep your attention on your intention, then so be it.
And for you, writing your goals and intentions on your arms are working, then keep doing it!
Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real or fake. It you keep telling it that you are in Europe, it will believe that it is there. If you keep telling yourself that you are going there, it will also believe it and the universe will expand to make sure your trip will happen. This is not a "new age" thing, it's all about energy.

Likewise, if you have a shadow of a doubt that you are NOT going, it will expand and will make sure that you won't be going.

Keep it up!

lemlern · 03-03-2007, 01:51 PM

What keeps me going is constantly looking at flights... I compare prices constantly! And then I go on Ryanair.com and look at all the different routes they offer and imagine which destination I want to go to next. I also buy tons of travel guides, videos, and anything else that I can drool over. And I constantly annoy my entire family and friends by mentioning my upcoming trip! Just tough it out a little more; a little sweat on the brow makes the rewards so much sweeter

**Diorama** · 03-03-2007, 02:25 PM

I feel ya.. Sometimes I hate my job soooooo much...But I do what Jake does. I go away quite a bit. A weekend trip makes me feel so much better . And it reinforces how much I love to travel. Also all day long at work I read peoples travelblogs...

**MissChick** · 03-03-2007, 02:32 PM

Slackers mom says we compare everything to traveling....someone will mention something about spending so much money on one thing and we'll be like you know how long we coluld go on a backpacking trip fro with that money or that was a flight to london lol

**simply_angelic** · 03-03-2007, 08:59 PM

^^ why are you kids so gosh darn crazy cute?!