Stop the 9-5 working week

I’m currently sitting on my friends sofa, listening to the washing machine and a neighbour with his hedge clipper, with a 9-5 job to go to on Monday. Not what I was planning 2 months ago. I’m freelancing now, but it’s still 9-5, 5 days a week. I’ve left my flat, but renting a friends spare room.

I’m tired of being tired. Of working 5 days a week, stuck in traffic to and from work, of being so tired by the weekend that all I want is sofa time to recharge before starting the week again. I’ll get ideas during the work day and can’t wait to get home to try them, but by the time I’m home, all energy is gone.

I have struggled with the time/money balance. I used to work for a long block of time then travel until broke. My dream has changed to flexible work with the ability to work while travelling. The idea of working hard from anywhere for 2 months then disappearing off to Africa for a month. Why not? I want to try.

So what are my steps?

I’m currently reading ‘The 4-hour Work Week’ and the first 60 pages have already fired me up. He talks about peoples fears and excuses for avoiding doing what they want. He’s very much into writing down your dreams and breaking down the steps to achieving them.

So what are my dreams and how am I going to achieve them?

What I dream of:

• live in a caravan
• get out of Auckland
• work remotely
• travel overseas in winter

What I’ve already done:

• saved enough to afford a caravan in 5 weeks – yippee!
• set up a couple of websites – this one included!

What I’ll do next:

• search for the perfect caravan
• stop 9-5 work in 5 weeks
• progress on my remote work ideas
• leave Auckland

What are your dreams?

Solo traveling has meant taking risks and relying completely on myself. The idea of travelling in a caravan and working remotely doesn’t scare me as much as it would have in the past. Reading about people taking similar steps, the recurring fear is where to park the caravan. Take a leap. Travel has taught me that things usually work out. I might not get the spot with the picture perfect views all the time, but I’ll be able to sleep somewhere.

I’ll learn how to reverse with a caravan. I’ll learn where to find the best wifi. And if I realise this isn’t my dream after-all, then I can tweak the dream. Maybe I’ll end up renting some land somewhere? Maybe I’ll rent a tiny room to use their bathroom and laundry but still live in the caravan. Nothing is set in stone.

5 weeks.

5 weeks until I really take the step into the unknown.