The first reason I wanted to start this blog was to discuss the topic of female solo travel and get those on the fence to try it to succumb to the opportunity. In the first few weeks I posted on the blog, though, I noticed a trend on people's replies to my postings on social media: “I admire you”, “I wish I could do that”, and “this is so great, but I don’t have time”.

I understand. Most of us (including myself) have limited vacation time, add to that family obligations, children, additional jobs, school, career advancement opportunities, financial difficulties… in essence, time is compromised and taking some off for oneself (a solo vacation, really?!) can seem outright impossible. Good news is – solo travel is a possibility for anyone and everyone, and your solo trip doesn't have to involve huge sacrifices of time and money if that's not where you're at in life at the moment. The following are a few tips to commit to a solo trip this year without breaking the bank and leaving everything behind.

Start small – or short

I don’t like the image of women solo travelers we’ve been conditioned to accept as standard, the ladies that ditch their corporate jobs, sell all their belongings, and travel the world, taking pictures and creating content along the way, for years. Don’t get me wrong, this is an admirable and extremely courageous feat, I love all their own blog and Instagram posts, and look up to them and their businesses as I work on my own, but for some of us, that is just not an option. It’d be OK if we left it at that, but in our human nature we tend to unjustly compare ourselves to them, making us feel inferior and uncomfortable in our own quests for adventure.

If you’re really craving a completely unique experience by yourself but don’t know where to start, there’s no better way to than by starting small. Taking a long weekend or even just an overnight trip somewhere else, complete with activities to do during your time away, is the perfect introduction to solo traveling. It bypasses the overwhelming details you need to prepare for when you plan an extended, international solo trip, yet it still provides unique challenges and opportunities just like any other trip. You DON'T have to leave your family or quit your job to have some fun and experience the freedom that comes with traveling solo (note: if that's your goal, that's cool! I'd love to hear more about your plans to make it happen).

Find a place nearby that you’d like to explore

If staying close to home for a solo travel experience sounds like a turn-off, think again. There is so much we take for granted when we get used to certain spaces, even an in-state solo trip can be a revelation for many. Being on your own requires you to have an increased awareness of your surroundings, which can make a novelty out of a local out-of-town trip. Staying close to home is also a great way to test the waters if you're unsure about this whole solo travel idea.

Living in central Virginia, for me these types of trips look like a weekend in Washington, DC, good ol' Shenandoah National Park, and if I’m feeling more adventurous, driving down to southwest Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee for some of the nation’s best hiking. The longest "local" trip drive can be about 6 hours one way, yet, when I arrive, I'm in a completely different place and the story is always my own to write. This year, I'm hoping to take the country roads back to West Virginia, spend a weekend in Asheville, hang out in Charleston, and reach Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky as part of my local travel plans.  

Find an “accountability buddy”

This stems from the fact that many ideas die as words due to inaction. Having a confidant that keeps you honest and grounded in making those ideas happen is a worthy asset, though not strictly necessary. Find a friend that supports your decision and helps you along your journey. If you're slacking on your planning or are becoming too absorbed in your other life obligations, this person will be the one to give you that friendly push to get back on track with your more personal goals. Accountability buddies are great people to have by your side no matter the project you're currently undertaking.

Make time for the trip

I’m here to help you with any questions you may have on solo traveling, how to plan a trip, what to bring, how to pack, safety points (and all these posts are in the works, I promise), but if you’re not all in this idea, it’s never going to happen. Solo traveling, especially that first time, takes hours of research, planning, and preparation, and can be grueling the more complicated the trip or destination happens to be. You don't have time for it, you carve it out of nowhere; we're all busy. If you’re grounded on your “why”, you’ll push through the doubts and do it, and it will be completely worth it in the end. After multiple successful trips by myself, close and far away from home, I think I'm comfortable with promising an adventure of a lifetime and a new obsession to foster for years to come.