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Travel Tales from India and Abroad
Everest Base Camp, Nepal

5 Reasons I Did Not Quit my Job to Travel

Posted on September 11, 2014April 18, 2021

It seems to be the flavor of the decade to quit the job to travel! It may work for some and it may not work for some. I belong to the second category. I do think of quitting but it is not to follow my passion. I am able to travel right now. So why quit my job? I work as a Professor at a private college in Gurgaon. And here are 5 reasons why I did not quit my job to travel.

5. That Damn Ph.D: I did my Ph.D. a long time back. I did it from IIT Kanpur. I worked a lot for it. I published, went to conferences and generally enjoyed slogging for it. I know there is something wrong with my head! Now whenever I get the bug to quit, and I will freely admit that I do get it, a bulb goes off in my head which says, “What and leave all that hard work behind?” I have not been able to quell that nagging voice in my head that tells me to hang on, though it is getting weaker with every passing year.

4. My Kid is Small: I have a daughter who studies in primary school. I already travel a lot. But there are times when I have to say no to some sponsors as I can not suit the dates. So far the numbers, thankfully have been small. If I quit, I suspect, I will travel even more, which would mean that my daughter and I will see even less of each-other. I am not willing for this trade off. Or let me say I do not wish to add to it, as I anyway travel a lot. Which takes me exactly to the next point.

I travel a lot
Thailand Happiness Street Festival, Bangkok

3. I Anyway Travel a Lot: I have already done 17 trips this year. I was lucky that two major trips came when it was easier for me to take leaves. I was invited to Finland when it was the Holi break and to Jordan when the exams had started so there were no classes to take. It is easier for me to travel on long trips when there is a summer vacation in the college. But the vacations are over now, I have to be content with extended weekend trips, till it is time for winter break!

2. My Risk Appetite: Everyone has a certain type of risk appetite. I am quite risk averse. I do not see what I gain by chucking my perfectly reasonable job! That is how my head is wired. And it is no good arguing with it.

1. Money: There is not a pressure on me to work as we are a double income family, but an extra income never hurts. Also, my husband threatens more than me, to quit his job! So in the end both of us decided to hang on till the kid goes to college. I know, such excuses we give!

In fact, my salary funds the  family trips to Hong Kong and Maldives. It lets me go trekking in Nepal, which I love to do. I would love to make more money from blogging/travel writing. But as of now I do not see a good revenue model for me. Coupled with 4 and 5 I am in no hurry to quit my job. I want to quit my job eventually because I get extremely tried of commuting, I wish to quit so that I could watch more sunsets.  But I do not really need to quit to travel more, I already travel a lot!

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42 thoughts on “5 Reasons I Did Not Quit my Job to Travel”

  1. Preethi Venugopal says:
    September 11, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    That was such a heart warming post … I was smiling all through.
    Of course..you are an able multi-task master/woman. Closer to super woman already!!!
    🙂 Keep going Mridula… (I laughed aloud reading that your husband threatens to quit his job!!..Hope that was when he was in-charge of chavi for long and got addicted to the fun)

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      No Preethi he always threatened so, even before Chhavi. 😀

      Reply
  2. Avinash Gupta says:
    September 11, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    17 trips in a year? Just wondering how many would you do when you had quit your job 😛

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:54 pm

      Avinash 😀 a few more I guess 😀

      Reply
  3. Vishal Rathod says:
    September 11, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    I can just say Hats off Mridula.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you so much Vishal.

      Reply
  4. Tushar says:
    September 11, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    No excuses/reasons. I wish you quit your job and do travel full-time.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:53 pm

      Tushar, no for the simple reason that Chhavi is too small.

      Reply
  5. Anuradha Shankar says:
    September 11, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Interesting reasons, Mridula. And let me say, I always admire how you manage your time and trips. And more then anything I believe that you don’t need to quit to travel. I don’t travel as much as you, but with all my responsibilities, we always manage to make time for travel when we want to. It’s what makes the travel experience all the more special!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:53 pm

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts Anu. I agree travel is special when you get to do it!

      Reply
  6. dNambiar says:
    September 11, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Makes total sense to me. 🙂
    Thumbs up to you.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:52 pm

      Thank you so much Divya.

      Reply
  7. vinay nagaraju says:
    September 11, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    Sounds very fair indeed, a well sounded reasoning to stay with the job. And 17 trips a year? I wouldnt think of quitting 😉 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:51 pm

      Vinay it would have been 18 already but for my classes. 😀

      Reply
  8. Sindhoooo says:
    September 11, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Congratulations for your 17 trips so far for this year 🙂 I second what Preethi told… Job, household work, spending that ‘quality time with the family’, your passion for traveling, blogging… Wondering how would you be managing all these! You are a wonderful lady, who inspires me always! TC! keep smiling 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:51 pm

      Thank you so much Sindhu 😀 but I can’t sew, even to save my life, which you do with so much aplomb.

      Reply
  9. roohi bhatnagar says:
    September 11, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    An honest posts.. I confess even I don’t quit my job for my passions due to most of the reasons you have mentioned 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:50 pm

      Thank you Roohi 😀

      Reply
  10. Indrani says:
    September 11, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    That is so good for you that your situation suits for all your interests.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      Thank you so much Indrani.

      Reply
  11. Chaitali Patel says:
    September 11, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Such an honest, straight from the heart post Mridula! I don’t work but I still can’t travel all the time because my daughter is small. I often wonder if travel blogging is only for people who can travel all the time! Then there are people like you who I manage work, marriage, travel and being a mother. Truly inspirational, I have a lot to learn from you!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      Chaitali, is just happens 😀 But small kids are so much fun!

      Reply
  12. NOZZER says:
    September 11, 2014 at 10:19 pm

    I so much agree since i too love travelling … haven’t as much yet … but wish to. I threaten to quit my job as well … all the time.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:47 pm

      Nozzer more power to you, in whatever you wish to do!

      Reply
  13. Prasad Np says:
    September 11, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    different strokes for different folks…. travel is fun, and if work is also fun then you have got best of both worlds….. and also think about your slim trim twitter tagline, it will become half if you quit job !

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 10:47 pm

      Thank you for reminding me about my Twitter tagline Prasad. 😀

      Reply
  14. Priyanka Sharma says:
    September 11, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    I agree with you. You do not need to quit your job to travel. You just need to find work that allows you to travel. Its also unfair on family members who need you and cannot travel with you.also for me personally travelling continuously becomes monotonous just like everything else. For me keeping a balance is important. Many people feel that those who travel a lot are on a permanent vacation. I think it doesn’t feel like a vacation all the time. Travel has its problems too!! In the world of “how u shld quit ur job to travel” I love your honesty in this post! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 7:05 pm

      Priyanka in the phase when I was traveling like crazy it did feel a bit, well not exactly monotonous but something like that 😀 But as soon as I slack off, I miss travel again 😀

      Reply
  15. Ananya Tales says:
    September 12, 2014 at 2:44 am

    A practical post..i appreciate ur views totally 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Thank you so much Ananya.

      Reply
  16. Ragini Puri says:
    September 12, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Pretty practical pointers! In fact I think, juggling the two is very, very difficult. It’s easier to chuck it all (the responsibilities) and follow the life of a nomad. So really hats off to you to managing your profession and passion so well. 🙂

    If you refuse any trip, send them my way please. 😛 😀

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 7:00 pm

      Ragini 😀 My daughter is just so small not even in two digits 😀

      Reply
  17. Niranjan says:
    September 12, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    As much as quitting your job to travel is tough, not quitting and travelling as much as you like is equally tough. Way to go, Mridula!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 6:59 pm

      Thank you so much Niranjan 😀

      Reply
  18. Naval says:
    September 12, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    That’s make me so jealous of you, you have made 17 trips already and with four months left and ongoing average, it seems to have 8 or 9 trips more this year. All I can do, Wish you Happy Journey for your upcoming journeys 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      Thank you so much Naval, I don’t think I will do so many trips but even 17 is a lot 😀

      Reply
  19. Rachel of Hippie in Heels says:
    September 12, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    I feel ya, I was forced to quit to move to India in the first place, but not having the additional income and piece of mind isn’t the best feeling! I’ve started a new business in India (since my blog doesn’t exactly bring in the big bucks) and I make delicious smelling candles now sold in high end boutiques in Goa! New life, new career I guess is how it goes.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Rachel more power to you!

      Reply
  20. Rajlakshmi says:
    September 12, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    I totally agree with you, I love travelling and love to explore places without ever having to worry about expenses. Luckily I love my job 🙂 so it’s a win win situation for me 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Rajlakshmi 😀 good for you.

      Reply
  21. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder says:
    September 12, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    You know Mridula..why I like you so much..you always ( well, make it most of the times 😛 ) speak/write straight from the heart…the reasons you’ve said are so real that everyone could relate to it in some way or other…. Thanks for sharing your views and wish you some more visits this year… 😀

    N.B “I have to say no to some sponsors”…please please refer my name to them…. 😛 😀

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      September 20, 2014 at 6:56 pm

      Maniparna the list of saying no is growing and I hate it 🙁 And thank you so much for your kind comment.

      Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 33 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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