There’s a dilemma that many people face. On the one hand, they say that they want to travel. On the other hand, they’re either too scared to face discomfort, or they think that they’re ‘too busy’ to go on trips. Bored Panda asked O’Hara, the founder of The Irish Road Trip project, for his take on solving the issue.

“Being ‘too busy’ is never an excuse to put off enjoying life, yet it’s a trap many of us plummet head-first into, whether it be due to financial or work commitments. Often, you just need to start small,” O’Hara told us via email that an incremental approach can help here.

“For example, let’s say your main travel goal is to get to Ireland’s Ring of Kerry at some point. Set that as your ‘North Star’—the main travel ‘goal’ you work towards. A future ’travel-to-do.’”

O’Hara elaborated further: “In the meantime, make a plan for more realistic travel destinations that you can get to in the short term, within your time/financial constraints. You’ll (hopefully) start to see the benefits of these ‘baby-step’ trips. Then, when the time is right, make that ‘main’ trip.”

The travel writer shared a few thoughts on leaving the comfort zone, too. “When I was in my mid-20s, many of my friends were in long-term relationships. I went from having a group that I could travel with often to a group of friends who holidayed with their partners. I found the concept of traveling on my own daunting,” the founder of The Irish Road Trip opened up to Bored Panda.

“It wasn’t until I decided to take a winter trip one weekend to the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry that I realized traveling solo was actually OK. Yes, it meant overcoming the awkwardness of sitting in a restaurant solo but being able to see/do what I wanted when I wanted was a weird yet enjoyable novelty. Solo travel can be intimidating, but ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Worst case scenario—you lose money.”

Bored Panda was also curious about the type of attitude that it’s best to adopt when traveling abroad. “Be enthusiastic, but be educated about your destination,” O’Hara suggested.

“Understand, at least at a very high level, the ins and outs of where you’re traveling to and take time to understand any dos and don’ts,” he said that many people visiting Ireland may not understand the nuances between the country and Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, talking politics in a bar in Ireland can also be risky if you’re not familiar with things.

“For the most part, just embrace it all—one of the joys of travel is experiencing people, places, food, language, and culture. Soak it all up.”

We firmly believe that everyone can—and should—embrace travel as a way of life. No matter your circumstances, you should strive to step outside your comfort zone. Even if just a little bit.

Though routines are useful to have, eventually, they can lead to a very monotonous existence. It’s hard to find much joy in life if all you ever do is work, eat, sleep, and do chores. All the while dealing with burnout, exhaustion, or anxiety. Every day feels more or less the same. However, when we kindle the spark of curiosity inside of us, we see what else life has to offer. We’re suddenly reenergized.

The importance of cultivating curiosity applies to every area of your life. It adds a dash of energy to your relationships, your jobs, and yes—how you perceive the world. If all you ever do is what you’ve always done, then barring some major external events, you’ll see life the same as you always have. When we introduce something new into our lives, everything starts to shift and change.

Reading a new book from a genre you’d never touch. Going back home by a different route. Meeting new people. Taking your partner on a date after a long while. Saying ‘yes’ to that impulsive desire to ‘go somewhere’ this weekend instead of being a Netflix couch potato again.

It’s these things that add spice to our lives. Routine, stability, and predictability are fine. But that’s just one side of the coin that is life. The other side is all about embracing the surprises and opportunities that come our way.

What matters far more than where you travel and what hotel you stay in is that you’re open to welcoming the idea of adventure. You’re willingly adding some discomfort and unpredictability into your life because you’re yearning for something new.

Travel is a great way to get to see your life, values, and problems from a different perspective.

Your trips do not have to have to cost you an arm and a leg. Travel is perfectly possible on any budget. However, you do have to be realistic about your current limits, as well as those of your wallet. You shouldn’t be forcing yourself to travel first class and stay at five-star luxury hotels if all of your friends do that. Think about what you want, what you’re comfortable with, what you can afford. You shouldn’t travel to impress others (even if sharing a few photos is always fun!).

If money’s particularly tight, you should strive to be as flexible as you can. For instance, you might want to consider traveling when it’s not peak tourist season and when the flights are cheaper. Then, you might be able to save some additional money if the flight isn’t a direct one.

On top of that, you can opt for couchsurfing or Airbnb-like services instead of fancy hotels. Take the time to do some research beforehand. You’d be surprised how much cash that can save you.

Now, look, the reality is that some people are scared or anxious about traveling or being uncomfortable. They don’t like the uncertainty. They might think they’re too busy with work and everything else. They imagine a dozen scenarios of everything that can go wrong. Or they’ve had very bad experiences in the past that they’d rather forget. In these cases, some long-term exposure therapy can help alleviate at least some of those fears.

For example, if you’re scared of traveling, for your first trip, you might want to start small. Like, really small. Like, going to a nearby part of town you hardly ever visit. Or even a street near your home you’ve never been to before. You can then expand your travels step by step. Visit the other side of the city. Go to a nearby town that’s just a couple of train stops away.

Then, try going a little further—maybe visit a location that’s an hour away. Visit the seaside. Go to a popular local tourist spot you’ve never been to. Go and experience some nature trails firsthand.

After you become used to the thrill and surprises that these miniature adventures have to offer, continue broadening your scope. Get on a plane for a weekend trip somewhere. Plan for a week-long adventure abroad. Start planning for that month-long trek across your dream destinations. All you really need is some curiosity, a bit of experience, some confidence, and the willingness to do some planning. 

However, if you think that you might suffer from an actual fear of travel, known as hodophobia, you might want to seek the help of a therapist or counselor for some guidance.

So, dear Pandas, which of the photos in this list did you enjoy the most? What’s the most interesting or bizarre thing that you’ve spotted on a recent trip? What do you enjoy the most about travel, and how often do you do it? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this. If you have a moment, drop by the comment section.

Meanwhile, for some more surprising things that tourists discovered on their adventures, take a peek at Bored Panda’s earlier feature right here.