Planning is a crucial stage that gives you time to focus on the more significant aspects of your life and look at them from every possible angle. In this stage, you’re focusing on the big picture questions and topics. We highly encourage you to start with the Dreaming Stage and then move onto the Planning Stage.
First, a quick reminder of the four stages:
Full-time Travel Lifestyle!
What’s the difference between the Planning and Preparation Stages?
The Planning Stage focuses on the big picture research, questions and decisions.
“Our full-time travel dream was for a one year sabbatical. During our Planning Stage, we focused on research and compiling questions. First we talked with a realtor to find out which options were viable for our house. Second, we rented an RV to see if it was a good fit for us (it wasn’t). We pivoted and took some short trips by plane and stayed in short-term rentals and that was the right fit for us! Finally, we researched which countries we wanted to visit and identified visa requirements and length of stay restrictions.”
The Preparation Stage focuses on individual decisions and preparing your Action Steps. When it’s time for the Action Steps Stage you’ll want to run so the more planned out they are, the faster you can move!
“In our Preparation Stage we researched and made decisions about our mail service, what to do with our cats for the year we’d be gone, and who to hire to manage our house as a long-term rental. In addition, once we had our launch date, we began the visa process and other Action Steps that would take months.”
The Planning Stage provides active movement in the form of asking and answering questions. We know it’s tempting to pass through it quickly and move on to the Preparation Stage when you focus on decisions like which RV to buy or where do we want to travel first.
“We were so excited to buy our new RV and hit the road!
We’d raced through the Prep Stage right into the Action Steps!
Four months into going full-time reality hit us in the face.
Instead of enjoying our life on the road and making decisions about where to head next, we had to deal with problem-solving huge issues like our house renters deciding not to continue their lease, scrambling to set up a mail box when my sister said she couldn’t handle our mail, banking issues and a very ill family member who needed to be hospitalized.
It was stressful. We had no Plan A or B or C. Nothing. After learning about the Planning Stage, we realized we’d completely skipped it by convincing ourselves “it’ll all work out…don’t worry” and dismissing our family’s concerns as objections. Unfortunately, it turns out they were right.
If we’d taken the time to do the Planning Stage, we’d have put off starting for another year.
Now we’re looking at selling our RV and giving up entirely.”A.D.
Skip the Planning Stage only if you like being overloaded and overwhelmed. Otherwise, stay the course!
The more time and intentional focus you give to this stage and answering its questions, the more accurate you’ll be in your decision-making now and in the future.
You’re actively creating YOUR map and the Planning Stage is an integral part of that process.
Clear Decisions Now = Faster Movement in the Preparation & Action Steps Stages
The Planning Stage is very mobile. You can think while waiting in line at the coffee shop or the pick up line at your kids’ school. Move through your daily life and note which activities will be impacted by moving into the full-time travel lifestyle. Turn your awareness into questions. (e.g., “I love walking to my local ___ for ___. How important is it to me? Is it their _____I’ll miss or is it seeing the same welcoming people every day that makes me feel connected to my community? Would my answers impact how fast or slow we travel?”)
The Planning Stage is when you gather questions from your extended family and friends. You understand your perspective, but are you clear on theirs? If they’re valued advisors, step into their shoes and look at your potential lifestyle change through their eyes.
Are you open to hearing responses you may not like such as “we’ll miss you and don’t want you to go.”?
Are you willing to help them come to terms with your potential new lifestyle? It’s normal to take months to work through the process and they might need the same amount of time!
If their questions are legitimate concerns (e.g., “Will you have insurance for your boat/RV? How will you stay in touch? Won’t you miss holiday and birthday gatherings?”), make a note and address them during your Preparations Stage. Assure them you will answer their questions in the future, but for now, you need to remain focused on gathering their input and focusing discussions on the big picture.
The Planning Stage is when the number of questions often grows faster than their answers. Tips & Assists include:
- Stay organized. Keep a record of questions and their answers. Use an organization system that’s flexible and will work throughout the four stages.
- Keep adding questions as long as their legitimate (e.g., your fear of giant squid isn’t legitimate for this lifestyle)
- Move questions to your “Preparation Stage” records when you’re certain of the answer
- Include trusted friends and family members to compile questions and their answers. Their perspective and life experience is valuable!
- If you’re struggling to answer a question, seek out an advisor to assist you (e.g., a realtor or lawyer or business consultant).
The Planning Stage is when you decide to:
- Keep moving forward
- Put your dream on hold until _____ happens or changes
- Stop as it’s not the lifestyle for you… We hope you’ve found your dream lifestyle!
Put in the focused work now, when you have ample time to think clearly, pivot as needed, and implement long-term solutions, so you’re set up for success in the Preparation Stage and can sprint through the Action Steps that occur in the months before you launch!
