Last July, I made the decision to leave Denver and not find a new lease. Since that time, I’ve traveled to three continents, 12 states, and 15 countries. I’ve been as far from home as Chilean Patagonia and as close as southern New Mexico. For me, travel has been my greatest teacher, and here are 12 lessons I’ve learned while on the road.

1. You are not on vacation.

Often, you will work harder. You’ll need to trip plan, figure out work logistics, actually work, move from point A to B, all while navigating another language and different culture. This task can be exhausting, and sometimes after work, I’m too tired to do much else other than eat dinner, brush my teeth, and head to bed.

2. To deal with burnout, go slow.

When logistics become overwhelming, stop moving. Stay in one spot for longer. If you can, visit friends or family for a dose of familiarity and comfort.

3. Focus on small things in the present moment.

One of my favorite activities to do when traveling is quite ordinary: I like to wander around and look at things. I’ve heard it described this way: “Walk until the day becomes interesting.” When we travel, our brains are constantly creating neural pathways, and we get fatigued taking in the novel information. Walking, especially in nature, helps us with this process. Being present, paying attention to new feelings or basic sensations is a grounding practice you can do anywhere. Travel trains our minds to truly notice and appreciate our surroundings. 

4. Always bring a towel.

Advice from “A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” that has never steered me wrong. Mine is a smaller, quick-drying towel that’s easy to pack.

5. Travel will not make you whole.

Read that again. Travel is a formative process that can help you deal with past problems. But if you have inner struggles and work to do, they will not magically disappear when you leave the country. You will not find actualization in the next city, state, or continent. You are your home. Until you reconcile with this idea, you will never be satisfied in a new place. 

6. Wherever you go, your presence has an impact, and it’s not always a good one.

Traveling and living in different places changes those places. And that can be detrimental to local communities. It’s important to first acknowledge this and then be intentional about ways to move in a more ethical fashion. I say “more ethical” because there may be no way to be truly ethical, due to the global systems we’ve created. However, I do believe there are better ways to travel. Learning how to treat others with dignity, while questioning and dismantling the power structures that give people less, is the fundamental start. 

7. Invest in a waterproof bag or pouch.

This tip is purely practical. The main reason is to keep your passport or other travel documents dry while traveling. You want to make sure you can leave wherever you’ve traveled to, and a corrupted passport will mess with this.

8. Always ask for permission before taking photos of people in other places.

Do not post publicly online for clout. Be especially careful with photos of children.

9. But take as many photos during your travels as you want.

Don’t be ashamed to take photos of your dinner or a few selfies at sunset. These are your memories. You don’t have to share them. They are for you.

10. No one cares about your trip like you do.

Your friends and family will be interested for all of 30 minutes, and then they will move on to the next topic of conversation. Life did not stop when you were gone. And this is okay, you will find other ways to process your journey. 

11. Yes, travel changes you.

Someone once told me it “ruins” you. I prefer the term “deconstructs.” You will not be the same person you were when you left. That’s part of the fun. However, you will need to deal with this. Processing your travels and re-entering your community are things you will continuously unpack. Practices that help me are writing in my journal, blogging, hiking, being outdoors, talking with friends who I know are interested, visiting family, walking my dog, and volunteering. You will learn what works best for you.

12. Travel leads to more travel, but the key is to be content wherever you are in the world.

Some people are perfectly satisfied with one trip, and then they head back home. However, if you’re like me, the more places you visit, the more you realize how little you know about the world. I constantly crave movement, and it becomes addictive. I love the rush travel gives me, but I am steadily learning to be present and content in myself, wherever I am in the world.