8 Things I Stop Giving a Sh*t About When I Travel Solo

2. Irrational fear

It’s scary to go somewhere completely foreign to me. And it’s scarier for me to do it alone. But I get off that plane and realize I’m still on planet Earth, surrounded by humans just going about their day as they would back home. I do my research, respect differences in culture, learn a few words in a different language and embrace a little change. Crime happens everywhere, and the media knows that focusing on the “scary” sells, but I won’t be so easily sold on the notion that that’s all there is. The regret of not going is much scarier. In the words of Malcolm Gladwell, “Just leave. Go away. You can’t stay in a cocoon your whole life. It will limit you in ways you can’t even begin to understand.”

3. Whether or not my boyfriend will wait for me

This is, for me, the worst excuse to forego travel. Although I admit to feeling worried that prolonged time away would kill a relationship, it’s never stopped me. I say that having lost relationships over it. But if someone is so insecure that they feel a need to limit me in my own life, I know I’m better off without them. I just go and my future self will someday thank me.

4. Vanity

When my itinerary includes a trek across desolate landscapes of Iceland or a day navigating through Bangkok’s busy outdoor markets in 95+ degree weather, doing my hair and makeup just doesn’t make practical sense. Besides, who do I have to impress? I’ve found that presenting a more raw version of myself to strangers works synonymously with the rawness of the experience itself. This goes for clothing, too. With just a carry-on, I pack a few inexpensive basics and the choice between flip flops or hiking boots — nothing too important to lose, but still prepared for anything. Not only do I feel like I blend in more this way, at least as a traveler than as a tourist, but I enjoy the break from the shallowness of daily life back home. I’m busy with more important things like negotiating fares with tuk tuk drivers, and making sure I have enough water and general sense of where I’m going.

5. Thinking about my caloric intake

It wasn’t until I spent a week experiencing Cambodia for the first time that I realized my body doesn’t actually need as much food as I’d been conditioned to believe. I wasn’t purposely skipping meals — hot days came and went so quickly, it didn’t occur to me to sit down three times a day to eat. For the most part, once was enough. Food became a necessity rather than a distraction as I began “feeding” myself more with the excitement of experiencing new things. And because the predictability and reliability of food was low from day to day, I had no guilt in indulging when opportunities presented themselves.

6. Living by the clock

Call me a control freak, but usually I live by lists, plotting out how the next year will play out, month to month, day to day, and, sometimes, hour to hour. On the road, I work in the opposite direction, reflecting on my day after it’s already passed. There’s no disappointment if I don’t get something crossed off of my ‘to-do’ list, because I don’t have one. There’s more room for spontaneity.

7. Pleasing other people

Traveling solo means creating my own itinerary and changing it whenever I please. In a group, it’s much harder to appease each person’s needs. Heading out by myself means I’m free of the judgement of someone else, free from acting in the way people are used to seeing me, and free to be selfish and make my own decisions/mistakes, which ultimately makes me feel more confident in the long run. It also tends to make me more approachable and open to meeting others.

8. Little conveniences

In routine life, it’s easy for me to grow dependent on little things like my morning cup of coffee, air conditioning, and reliable internet. But being uncomfortable and away from everything I’m used to having all the time makes me appreciate the fact that I’ve had it so well all along. I gain a better understanding of necessity vs. excess.