Notes From the Home Front: I Need A Kick in the Pants

Posted on 09. May, 2010 by in Advice, Trip Planning

I have a confession.

I’ve been procrastinating.

Just a few months ago I was so excited about planning this trip! I had spreadsheets, word documents and a pile of highlighted guidebooks. I had information compiled, opinions stockpiled and a calendar with a big red X on it. I was gung ho and ready to go!

work-todo-list-july-6

Creative Commons License photo credit: purpleslog

Lately though, it has been much harder to get motivated. I’ve been busy with other things; stressed about work and the blog. Trip
planning has fallen low on my list of priorities. I haven’t cracked a guidebook in weeks. Or done any of the things on my growing monster to do list (I’m actually afraid to look at it). I haven’t sold a single thing like I promised to two months ago. I haven’t talked to my doctor about shots.

This is not a good thing, especially now that I’m finally within spitting range of this trip. With just a little over four months to go I’m finally at the point where concrete plans need to be made, tickets need to be bough and equipment picked out. But for some reason I’m just… not.

I’ve always been better at planning things in the abstract than at actually getting them done. It’s a lot easier to make lists and plans than to make actual decisions. I wrote my pre-departure to-do list months ago. I’ve been planning this trip in one way or another for almost two years now. I think part of me got so used to the habit of telling myself to wait until later, that now that later is here I’m not sure how to get myself moving.

So maybe I’m not so much unmotivated as overwhelmed. I’m so excited about actually TRAVELING, but there’s still a lot that needs to be done to put a trip this large into motion It’s hard to even know where to start. My countdown clock-which has pulled me through some rough times in the past few months, now fills me with anxiety.

What are some things you do to keep motivated?

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37 Responses to “Notes From the Home Front: I Need A Kick in the Pants”

  1. Kirsty - No Place To Be

    09. May, 2010

    I can completely identify with this. For so so long I have been planning our trip and had to do lists and some loose plans…. but since Feb/March there has been no planning, and other things have taken over!
    .-= Kirsty – No Place To Be´s last blog ..Random Traveller #5 =-.

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    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      That’s kind of a releif to know it’s not just me with this problem! I’m hoping people will leave some helpful advice.

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      • Kirsty - No Place To Be

        10. May, 2010

        I think for us, we’re in that limbo time, there’s still four months to go, so can’t do any real plans, but it’s too close to postulate what countries to go to etc.

        I think once my exams are over, I hope I will be more motivated to do travel things :)

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      • Josh | The Wander Project

        01. Jun, 2010

        Definitely not just you, Steph! I’m a month out and I’ve still got a ton to do. If the past is any indicator, I can’t get anything done until the last minute. My strategy is just to get the genuinely important things done (vaccinations, insurance, 1st ticket etc)- everything else has a way of working itself out. I’ve always worked better under pressure- I think I just need that late-in-the-game adrenaline surge as motivation. Good luck!
        .-= Josh | The Wander Project´s last blog ..Travel Delays are Unavoidable, Annoying and Perhaps for the Best =-.

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        • Steph

          02. Jun, 2010

          Yeah me too, I need to have the end in my sights to truly get me motivated.

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  2. Kelsey

    09. May, 2010

    Sounds to me like you have classic fear of success. Contrary to what may seem logical, people are often driven to procrastination by the fear that they will succeed at what they’re doing and that it will change the status quo, rather than that they will fail and things will continue as normal. Which is more frightening?
    .-= Kelsey´s last blog ..Jamestown Colors =-.

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    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      I dunno, fear of success is not one of my usual issues. Lazyness and being overwhelmed are more likely culprits this time around.

      Reply to this comment

    • Ian [EagerExistence]

      04. Aug, 2010

      Wow… that must be what I’ve got.
      But, I can only procrastinate so far! Ive already quit my job, rented out my house… so if the big date comes & I still haven’t got moving… :-o

      Reply to this comment

  3. Dave

    09. May, 2010

    Start setting yourself some interim deadlines before the big departure date. That way you can break down The Terrifying List into manageable chunks and it won’t seem half as daunting.

    Eg. By the end of next week I will have made an appointment for getting my travel jabs and bought a backpack. By the end of the week after that, I’ll have my camera and accessories sorted out, and have booked at least my initial flights and a couple of nights accommodation. And so on, and so on.

    With four months still to go, you’ve got plenty of time to just be able to tick off two or three things a week and still have plenty of days left at the end for the last minute stuff that you invariably forget.

    Don’t panic, it’s all good. :)
    .-= Dave´s last blog ..The Friday Photo #7 – Hoi An, Vietnam =-.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      Thanks, that’s a good idea, definitely need to break things down.

      Reply to this comment

  4. AdventureRob

    09. May, 2010

    Don’t worry, chances are you’ll blitz it all in the last 2 weeks, I went through similar when I was planning too.

    Only thing I suggest you get started now is doctors shots, as they are done over a long period (like 1-3 months), it’s not a one off, so get that done now!

    Breaking it down into pieces is good too.
    .-= AdventureRob´s last blog ..Australia Day 2010 =-.

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    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      That’s very good advice, I will get on the shot thing right away.

      Reply to this comment

  5. Kate

    09. May, 2010

    Oh my god, I’m so like this. I plan everything with spreadsheets and list upon list. I’ve been planning this for a year and now, with just over 2 weeks to go, I find it hard to even pick up a guidebook or complete my to do list.

    I think it’s a case of too many things going on in my head at once. I’m thinking about places to go and things to see in 10 different countries, what to pack, work, my blog, leaving parties, visas… I’m excited but as you put it, very ‘overwhelmed!’

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    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      I’m glad it’s not just me although it doesn’t look like things get easier the sooner to D-day huh?

      Reply to this comment

  6. Adam

    09. May, 2010

    Yeah…just get your shots now. All those other things will fall into place as you get closer. I didn’t even know where I was going to be staying on my first day until I walked into the hostel’s door.
    .-= Adam´s last blog ..A Travel Blogger’s Guide to Basic WordPress Security =-.

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  7. Nate

    09. May, 2010

    Just plan to do 1 thing each day. It takes a lot of the pressure off by putting your focus on that single task. Seems stupidly simple, I know, but it works for me all the time!
    .-= Nate´s last blog ..get a burst of energy =-.

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  8. ayngelina

    09. May, 2010

    I went through the same thing. I wrote down everything I needed to do and broke it down into weeks so it felt less daunting.

    Have you bought your ticket yet?

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      I haven’t bought tickets yet and that may be part of the problem. Just doesn’t seem “real”yet. Once I buy a plane ticket I will HAVE to get a move on!

      Reply to this comment

  9. Eli

    09. May, 2010

    I agree with Nate. I try to do one thing each day that takes me a little closer to my goal, even if it’s something small. I have a similar time frame as you (I’m leaving October 1st) and it definitely seems like there is an overwhelming amount of things to do to prepare.

    “One day at a time” has been my mantra and I’ve picked up some extra work to save more money, which has the double benefit of giving me less time to actually spend my money. I’ve also been reading lots of other travel blogs to boost my motivation.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      One day at a time is always good advice when feeling overwhelmed. Thanks!

      Reply to this comment

  10. Kathy aka mytimetotravel

    09. May, 2010

    Besides breaking the lists down and starting with the most important things (shots, visas, tickets) you might also take another look at your itinerary. I was really procrastinating about my next trip earlier this year, and when I took Central Asia out everything fell into place and I really got moving.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      That’s a good point as well, probably not a bad idea to give it all the once over.

      Reply to this comment

  11. Joel

    09. May, 2010

    I have a different theory.

    If you’re like me (and you appear to be in a number of ways in this respect), then you’re an adrenaline junkie. Not saying you need to jump off bridges, but you plan & plan & plan, but there’s no excitement in actually executing the plan.

    So, you wait until the last minute when it’s virtually impossible to get everything done. And then you kick into overdrive to do it all.

    My advice? Take care of the things you have to and then roll with the energy wave when it comes. :)

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      You’re right, planning can be much more interesting than doing all the chores that need to get done. I need to focus on the big things and let the rest get sorted later.

      Reply to this comment

  12. Dave

    09. May, 2010

    mmm…cookies.

    But seriously, you can do everything you need to do in 30-45 days. It’d be a bit rushed, but I use to tell myself all I need is money in the bank, a debit card, and my passport. Of course I took more stuff, but it usually helped to calm me down.

    Enjoy the anxiety – I think in some ways the pre-trip anticipation is more exciting then the actual travel. So many possibilities lie ahead, yet you’re not having to deal with squat toilets and mosquitoes yet.
    .-= Dave´s last blog ..Video – Surviving Bolivia’s Death Road =-.

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    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      I agree the anticipation is a large part of the fun! I will do my best to enjoy these days and not stress too much.

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  13. ehalvey

    09. May, 2010

    That’s how I was with our Rome honeymoon. We marked all the places we wanted to see and do, but I was writing out an itinerary on the plane to our layover. That last minute “oh crap” is really the only thing that truly gets me going whether it’s paper writing, art making, trip planning, etc. I had that bug wedding planning, too. Lifelong member of the procrastination club right here.

    Try setting Google calendar reminders to get certain things done. When you have the big window saying shots 8 weeks out, it’s easier to tackle.

    Take me with you :)
    .-= ehalvey´s last blog ..We Are Nashville =-.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      09. May, 2010

      Yeah I work best under pressure as well- just trying to save myself some aggravation!

      Reply to this comment

  14. Matt

    11. May, 2010

    I know you’re setting off on a different trip than I’m currently on, but I often find that the less plans I have, the better. Sure you need an approximate idea for where you’ll go and what you’ll see – but my favorite part of traveling is experiencing the unexpected: that museum you didn’t know existed, the cafe on the corner, or the hostel you found only because there were no more beds in town.

    My advice: focus on the big transportation specifics, and let the rest just fall into place.

    Oh, and for gear, I’d go for the Gregory Baltoro. Excellent pack – I snagged mine out on Wisconsin Ave at Hudson Trail. I’ve found it out now especially since my campervan blew up!

    Good luck! Cheers!
    .-= Matt´s last blog ..A Day Trip on New Zealand’s West Coast (Photo Essay) =-.

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      11. May, 2010

      Yeah I definitely tend to over think these things. Thanks for the tip on the pack- I will have to go check out Hudson Trail!

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  15. Melanie

    18. May, 2010

    Ah, I was definitely like this for our 5-week trip to Australia/New Zealand. I was excited, but the planning seemed overwhelming. The biggest help was the fact that my husband and I shared the work, but aside from that, I found that telling myself I “only have to work on it for 10 minutes” was a good motivator. Of course, some days I only got 10 minutes worth of work done, but other days were much better. Once I actually opened the guidebook / spreadsheet / whatever, some enthusiasm came back and it was easier to tackle the stuff on my to-do list.

    Good luck! Sounds like an awesome trip!
    .-= Melanie´s last blog .. =-.

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  16. Laura

    22. May, 2010

    It’s good to take a break sometimes from planning. I found myself getting a bit burnt out with the whole planning process, but after a bit of a break I was ready to dive back in!

    Reply to this comment

    • Steph

      23. May, 2010

      Yup, learning to take down time is a continuing lesson for me this year and I suspect next year as well!

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