Alexa is an entrepreneur, online journalist, podcaster and brand ambassador. She is founder of 52 Perfect Days, a site sharing how to spend a perfect day in cities around the world. She is also the founder of the Break Into Travel Writing Podcast, a website and podcast helping new travel bloggers navigate the world of travel blogging.
She shares with us how she quit her job and became her own boss, so she can travel the world and do what she loves.
What is the name of your blog? 52 Perfect Days & Break Into Travel Writing
Why did you name your blog 52 Perfect Days? I named my blog 52 Perfect Days, because when I started the site my goal was to add one new story each week, which would share 52 articles a year (52 Perfect Days of Travel)
What job did you quit to travel? Social Media Manager
How did you end up where you are now? (Why did you choose the destination you are in now) I’m currently in San Diego, CA. After traveling around the U.S. and then living in Portland, OR for about 5 years, we made our way back to San Diego. We chose it because it’s close to Mexico and much more laid back than Orange County and Los Angeles.
What do you currently do for income? I am a blogger and podcaster and also have a travel writers academy where I share how to break into travel writing (https://breakintotravelwriting.com/travel-writers-academy/)
What did you do to get the income/work you have now? I make all my income through my two websites and my travel academy. I’ve worked on building an audience and community on both.
Why did you quit your job? I couldn’t effectively work on building my blog into a business while working a full time job.
How long did it take you to leave your job to travel? About a year.
What advice do you have for others who want to quit their jobs to travel? Know the goal. Is this a long-term trip (a year or more)? Do you want to be a nomadic traveler for an extended period or forever? Do you want to move overseas and travel from a new home base?
Create a budget. Know what it will cost (airfare, accommodations, food, etc).
Talk to people who have made this shift in their life. Here is tons of great advice for an RTW trip – https://52perfectdays.com/articles/how-to-travel-around-the-world/.
Will you work from the road or save enough to bank roll your travel?
Have enough money saved or multiple streams of income. While I make all of my income from my websites, it comes from different places (affiliates, ad network, sponsored posts, paid travel, travel academy memberships, freelance writing). Set this up in advance!
Save money! Before you take off to travel long term, have more money than you think you need in the bank for emergencies and just in case!
Learn to live out of one suitcase and be happy about it. Lugging around luggage gets old fast and it’s a fun way to travel.
Take a test trip (if possible). Travel for 3-4 weeks out of one suitcase with the person or people you plan to travel with long term. Test the waters. Make sure this is the lifestyle you enjoy.
Make a tentative plan of where you want to go and how long you want to travel. Determine if you want to travel fast (a few days in a location) or slow (a few weeks or months in a location).
Create a routine for working. It’s hard to work on the road, and you must have work hours you adhere to or you will fall behind fast!
How has this experience (leaving your job to travel) changed you? In truth, I left my job to work on my travel blog full-time, which in turn allowed me to travel. Leaving my job has given me freedom to travel and enjoy life on my terms. I don’t travel full-time, but I take at least one trip per month. These trips can be anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. I’ve been able to travel with my son and husband and on occasion bring my sister or mother with me on trips. I feel like I am living my dream and passion.
If a person wanted to do what you do now for income, what would they have to do? Well, they can join my academy and take the short route to becoming a travel writer/blogger while having me mentor them.
What destinations have you been to since quitting your job? Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, Ireland, Iceland, England, Philippines, India (Delhi, Madhya Pradesh — Bhopal, Orchha, Khajuraho ) Aruba, Dominican Republic, Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mazatlan, Acapulco, Huatulco, La Paz, Rosarito, Ensenada, Tecate), many trips and road trips throughout the U.S. including New York, North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, California, and so much more!
Alexa is a member of NATJA, co-leader of the San Diego chapter of Travel Massive, and founder of the Aspiring Travel Writer, a networking group with 7,000+ travel writers and bloggers. Find her @52perfectdays on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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