Career Break

Think swim one day, jog the next, yoga after that and then a day of "weight training." By changing up your exercises you can avoid getting burned out.

Protip:

Try online yoga videos. There are tons of free options available that cater to all skill levels. It is a full body workout that supplements other forms of fitness. Here are few choices of yoga mats for travel.

Planning a solo trip is like being a kid in a candy shop, I could go anywhere I wanted to because this was solely my trip.

When you unburden yourself of your possessions, free yourself of debt and open your eyes to a world of possibility, there is no looking back and suddenly what you want becomes quite clear.

I created a framework for where I wanted to go but also kept things loose enough to be open to any fun opportunity that might arise. Ultimately, other than a fully planned 5 weeks in large cities and my first 3 nights in Bali, I was open to where the journey would take me.

When someone asks you the general question "how was your trip?," you may be tempted to go into every detail from the tree-climbing goats you searched out in Morocco to the baby goats you fed by bottle staying in a village in Thailand. But for the most part, you will find that most people ask the same few questions.

That feeling is only enhanced when you meet up with family and friends, as it may seem as if nothing has really changed with them either. But you have changed and you are not sure what to make of the roller coaster of emotions you are feeling. You are experiencing reverse culture shock.

★ Make it a two-way conversation

★ Be careful of sharing too much information too fast

★ Try to introduce your friends to new cultures at home

★ Make new friends

You have just returned from a life-changing adventure around the world, where every day brought you something new and exciting to experience. You can not believe how much you have accomplished in such a short period of time, yet the second you walk through the door to your home, it feels like you never left, as everything looks the same.

And that feeling is only enhanced when you meet up with family and friends, as it may seem as if nothing has really changed with them either. But you have changed and you are not sure what to make of the roller coaster of emotions you are feeling. You, my friend, are experiencing reverse culture shock.

Coming home can be a selfish act. It can be easy to assume that everyone wants to hear about your trip and all the exciting things you encountered. But don't forget that they were living a life as well make it a two-way conversation. Do not make your friends or family members feel as if their lives are any less relevant because they did not travel even if they insist that their lives have been "boring" compared to yours.

One way to make this transition easier is to stay up on what they were doing while traveling. You may have started a blog to allow family and friends to follow along with your journey but make sure the communication is a two-way street.

After all that it sounds like traveling is not good. That is not true at all. The challenges are easy in comparison to what you get out of traveling. There is no greater education or experience and you might never really discover the real you until you travel.

This one is obvious but for some reason we deprive ourselves all the time. Forget what they say, listen to your body. For me, I need 8 hours of solid sleep to function optimally. Maintain a regular bedtime whenever possible our bodies like routine. I have summarized the science behind sleep great read.

Protips:

To maximize your sleep time to drink less alcohol, do not eat before bed, no tv/computer before bed, turn the brightness down on screen if you must work late, exercise daily but not before bed.

Even though you are returning to your home culture after experiencing many new different cultures, you still will be in some stage of shock. Odds are that the first time you walk back into a grocery store in the country you may be thrilled to be there but you will also be a bit dazed and confused with all of the choices.

These little general stores carry very few things of nutritional value. Avoid buying chips/crisps or little manufactured sweets. As tempting and convenient as they are, they are made by replacing nutrients with nasty little additives and unwanted processed sugar. As a bonus you will save tons of money avoiding the convenience store snacks as they often cost the same as a local meal.

Protrip:

Substitute fresh fruit and vegetables from the market. Most places around the world sell cheap local fruit. If you are looking for some good portable vegetables try cucumbers and carrots.

A few months before returning from career break:

★Take stock of what you have learned and how you have changed. What soft skills have you gained.

★Updating your resume with some of your travel experiences.

★Reach out to your networks and let them know that you'll be returning shortly and looking for employment.

★Start communicating with recruiters.

You have had an inspirational, exciting adventure, but now that you are back, what do you do next? No matter how long your break was, you still may want to utilize the briefcase to backpack community as you experience reverse culture shock, decide your next steps and reflect upon your career break.

If you do intend to come back to the same industry, plan ahead of time. Tell your hiring manager and other potential employers that you intend to come back while you are still top of mind. Your return dates may change but if you share your intentions, they will have more investment in following you while you are away and be ready for your return.

Do not unplug completely:

Use social media to stay in touch. Blogging or simply posting updates to social media can achieve that connection. Include quick updates of your trip and examples of what you are learning so your network will see the value of your travel experience. It is easy today to stay in touch with your contacts in the US. Online tools and smart phones make it simple google hangouts and Skype for video calls, social media for updates, email for Newsletter and the list goes on.

This is another way to remain visible to your network and stay current regarding trends in your field. For trade organizations, offer to write blog posts or help with activities that can be done remotely. There are also many global organizations that offer volunteering opportunities. The Gates Foundation provides a great resource for volunteering in the US and abroad. Chose one that fits with your current field and/or an area where you want to gain more experience. This is where a little bit of planning goes a long way.

The skills can certainly prove that you have been working and staying relevant. However, if you know that you want to enter into a new industry or even return to the one you were in, you can stay relevant by participating in industry webinars, reading books, earning online certifications, etc. This shows your potential employer your passion and excitement for the industry and your drive to stay current. This goes a long way in the mind of a hiring manager.

Your expectations after returning from a career break should be:

Expect culture shock.

Expect struggles.

Expect feeling a bit lost.

Expect to have people not understand.

Expect that you will be changed.

Expect to be patient with yourself.

Expect that you will be happy to see friends and family.

Expect that you will have no regrets.