American author and entrepreneur Tim Ferriss has an interesting habit: Every year, he enjoys mini-retirement several times for international travel and rejuvenation because there is more to life – and I totally agree with that.
Life is short, so be sure to travel the world when you still can.
You only have one life; therefore, you should make the most of your life. Personally, because I have four weeks of annual leave every year, I can travel overseas twice a year (two weeks each time).
I truly enjoy my mini retirement twice a year. I’ve been to a lot of countries because of this habit. So far, I’ve found most countries in Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia quite safe, according to my personal first-hand experiences.
In fact, from next year, my plan is to use four weeks of annual leave once a year instead of having 2 two-week holidays per year, because I would like to spend more time in one country and make my mini retirement slightly longer and less frequent.
It’s more about the depth and the quality rather than the quantity.
International travel has expanded my outlook tremendously, so I’m very grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had.
Travel and reading: the best ways to learn how this world works
In my opinion, there are two fantastic ways to learn more about this world: travel and reading. As a matter of fact, these are probably the best ways to learn how this world works. Personally, I read approximately 12 books each year. That means I read a book per month. I love reading books about history, literature, psychology and self-help. I like to study fascinating topics that broaden my horizons.
Whenever I’m traveling, I always take at least one book with me because I enjoy reading a book on the plane instead of watching movies on a screen.
Sometimes I travel with my Kindle or simply use the Libby app on my phone so that I can have countless eBooks with me all the time. Currently, my Kindle has more than 600 eBooks and I use the Libby app to borrow eBooks from the library as well.
Reading eBooks is amazing because whenever I need to look up a professional term or an uncommon word, I can simply utilize the relevant feature of the app on Kindle or Libby. It’s more convenient that traditional books.
Of course, traditional books are great, too – tactile and good for the coffee table at home.
Yes, I strongly believe that international travel and reading books are the most effective ways to acquire more knowledge, learn new skills and strengthen my mindset as well as my character.
“What’s your way to feel rejuvenated?”
