Reflecting on a life of travel – An interview with Nomadic Matt

What are your signs for long-term travel fatigue, and how do you avoid it?

Travel burnout is real and, I think, unavoidable. Everyone gets it when they travel. Some people get it after a few weeks, some after a few months. But everyone gets tired of long-term travel at some point. You can only see so many temples, eat so many curries or elbow your way through so many crowds before you need to take some time away to recharge. And that’s perfectly okay.

Whenever I find myself feeling burnt out I just take a few days to myself. I’ll curl up with some books or Netflix, eat some of my favourite foods and just relax. No exploring. No trip planning. Just time by myself. As an introvert, I need it.

Most travellers are aware that bad things can happen and spend time researching the best travel insurance for their trip. But much more common than getting hurt or sick while travelling is burning out. It’s not something we really think about until we get out on the road.

For that reason, one thing I always tell novice travellers is to slow down. Backpackers have a tendency to rush around from one city to the next, which is the perfect recipe for travel burnout. As I’ve learned from experience, slow travel is the best way to see the world. Quality over quantity.