Is traveling a hobby? Or is it a reward? A lifestyle?
Many travel lovers pick traveling as a hobby – and while this sounds great, we can all ask ourselves – is traveling really a hobby?
I’d say that it depends. For some people, traveling can be a hobby. Personally, I see it more as a lifestyle. That said, there are multiple reasons why one travels and those can influence the way we see traveling.
In this post, we’ll discuss what a hobby is, what traveling is, and then we’ll discover whether traveling is a hobby or not.
What’s A Hobby?
According to Wikipedia, a hobby is considered to be a “regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one’s leisure time.”
Playing sports, painting, gaming or reading are great examples of what a hobby is.
If we take a minute here to analyze whether traveling fits this definition, we can quickly realize that while traveling can be done for enjoyment, it isn’t a regular activity for most people.
What Is Traveling?
Traveling means going from one place to another – by car, train, plane, or ship. Usually, we travel for pleasure.
Here are some of the main reasons why one decides to travel.
Traveling With A Purpose
Many travelers are traveling to find themselves, build relationships with people around the world, and push the limits of their comfort zones.
This is often why many people take a sabbatical trip or go on a backpacking adventure across the world. They are looking for a challenge, something new.
This is exactly why I started traveling in the first place – I wanted to learn about other cultures, I wanted to connect with people from different countries and I wanted to challenge myself.
Traveling To Relax
Some people travel to relax and escape their routines. This is often the case for travelers who have a couple of holiday weeks every year.
Usually, holidays are a reward or something to look forward to.
Traveling For A Hobby
Some people travel so that they can practice a hobby in a different destination. This can be the case for people traveling to attend sports events, music festivals, or simply admire paintings in an art museum.
So, as a result, traveling isn’t the main hobby here – the hobby becomes the reason why one travels.
Traveling For Work
Some people travel for work – whether they go on a business trip, for a speaking engagement or to create content as a travel creator.
When someone travels for work, they are busy working. That said, they aren’t traveling for leisure purposes.
Traveling As A Lifestyle
Finally, many digital nomads, remote workers, and expats decide to live and travel abroad for long periods.
When I first started traveling, I had no idea I’d end up living abroad for so many years – but it just happened.
Traveling is now part of my lifestyle – and I really can’t imagine my life in any other way.
People travel for different reasons – whether it’s for a permanent lifestyle, a sabbatical year, or as a reward for their hard work. There’s no right or wrong way to travel.
You can learn more about the digital nomad lifestyle on our blog Nomad Life 101.
Is Traveling Really A Hobby?
I don’t think traveling counts as a hobby. In my case, it’s part of my lifestyle. I’ve been living abroad and traveling abroad for several years now – and that’s just the way I love living my life. I’d say traveling is a passion.
If you’re reading this post thinking “but my hobby is traveling” – well – there’s no right or wrong here.
If you’re spending most of your free time looking for flights and researching destinations – yeah, you probably have a passion for traveling too and yes – this may be your hobby.
That said, traveling is more than just a quick leisure activity – it usually goes for several days and it’s not always just fun and pleasure, ha! (Thinking of you 24-hour bus ride!)
Final Thoughts On Traveling
Finally, it doesn’t really matter whether you think traveling is a hobby or not. I’d say that traveling is a beautiful thing – and I’m just happy we share this common interest.
At the end of the day, it’s a personal thing – you can decide for yourself.
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