How to Cure Wanderlust When You Can’t Travel: 8 Ways

Wanderlust isn’t exactly something that goes away easily, but I can tell you how to cure wanderlust at home when you can’t travel or while you are waiting for your next big adventure.

The definition of wanderlust is “a strong desire to travel,” but there are loopholes behind this if you ask me! The desire to travel is the desire for something new – a new experience, a new culture, or new people. This is generally not something you think you can find in your hometown, but I’m here to change that notion!

I think that people get bored of where they live because, after living there for a certain amount of time, they get the false idea that they know everything about that place and become closed off to new experiences. But, that is completely the wrong frame of mind!

If you remain open to new experiences there is no limit to the adventures you can have, even in the place you have lived for years. Never stop exploring and enjoying the place you live; if it may seem old or repetitive after a while, that’s when it’s time to change up your routine!

Here are five ways to cure wanderlust while at home, or ways to get more out of where you live when you can’t travel:

1. Try a New Place to Eat Once Each Week

Many people get comfortable with a few places that they already know are good to go out to, and fall into a routine of only going those places. But to feel like you’re doing something new at home, branch out a little bit more.

You can go easy on this one, or as in-depth as you want. To stay simple, find a new place to grab a bite each week. Search on Yelp or Google or blogs to find recommendations, and get out there and try them out!

To be more adventurous, you can choose a few categories and find new places in each category each week- like a new coffee shop, a new breakfast place, a new place to get smoothies, a new sushi restaurant or a new bar. Take another step by choosing different foreign cuisines. The sky’s the limit on what you can discover!

2. Take a New Way Home Once a Week

Commutes can get boring, long, and deathly. Why not take a new way home one time each week and enjoy the scenery? Getting home doesn’t have to mean wanting to ram your head into the wall or wanting to get there as fast as humanly possible.

Try a new way home, and really take in what makes this new way different. Notice the different scenery and new streets or buildings on this route. Be more active in experiencing your trip home, like you would in a new place, instead of basically zoning out the entire way as many people do!

Read More: How a Simple Mindset Shift Can Help You Achieve Your Travel Dreams  (for those who do eventually want to cure their wanderlust in a foreign country!)

3. How to Cure Wanderlust: Be a Tourist in your Own City

You probably steer as clear as possible from places in your hometown that would be popular with tourists- and every city has them. No matter where you live, I would place bets that you often don’t go anywhere near landmarks, city centers, famous hotels, or basically anywhere that someone visiting your area would go, anymore.

But I encourage you to remember why your home is great, and to do something touristy just one time. Be a tourist in your city just for one day. No matter how many times you have done it, visit that pier or that famous statue or that mall or that street where all the tourists go, and remember why people visit your city in the first place.

It’s a great way to cure wanderlust at home.

4. How to Cure Wanderlust: Notice Something You Have Never Noticed

Next time you’re walking or driving around your hometown, I challenge you to find something that you have never noticed before. Try it. I can guarantee after just a little bit of searching and looking at things through different eyes, you’ll find something that you have never even noticed was there, that has probably been there for a while.

It’s an interesting and slightly humbling feeling to experience firsthand that there is always something new to find, even somewhere you think you completely know.

Read More: 12 Ways Moving Abroad Alone is the Most Enriching Experience

5. Watch a Travel Movie to Cure Wanderlust at Home

Don’t want to (or can’t) leave the house? Cure your wanderlust with a movie! There are TONS of amazing travel movies, and even if a movie is not about travel, it can give you a travel feel if it is filmed in another country.

Movies are a great way to learn about different places and cultures, so if you are feeling that wanderlust creeping up, pop on a cool movie that was filmed in an exotic place. We actually did an article on the best travel movies on Netflix too, which should be perfect to get you started!

6. Meet Travelers in Your City – Show them Around!

One of the BEST ways to cure wanderlust is to meet people who are currently traveling. This will DEFINITELY help you see your own home with new eyes as you see how travelers see your city.

There are tons of ways to meet travelers, including Couchsurfing (you can host travelers or just meet them), GAFFL (an app for solo travelers), Airbnb Experiences (host an experience in your city), Bumble BFF (an app to meet new friends), or you can check any local hostels to see if they need guides. You could even end up making some extra cash WHILE you learn how to cure wanderlust at home.

7. Start Planning Your Next Trip

I think the number ONE way how to cure wanderlust is to be certain that there will be a time in the near future that you TRULY will cure it – with a trip!

Even if your next trip is a whole year away, what harm is there in doing a bit of research? Checking out all of the coolest things to do? Narrowing down yout accommodation options? Surveying the day trip options?

Planning or researching for a trip can be one of the BEST pastimes (I often do it while procrastinating) and perfect way to get your mind out of your house and into another country.

8. Have a New Adventure Outdoors – New Routine

Get outside and find an outdoor activity that you have never done before. Have an adventure. Find a new walking trail, a new viewpoint, a new bike ride or route, a new sport that you haven’t really taken to before. Many people end up in a routine of doing the same walk or same activity, and finding a new one can be a great change of pace.

Pick up a basketball and shoot some hoops at that court you always pass by, or find a new trail or walk in your area. This can also be extended to your whole state, county, or area. A lot of people feel that they need to go far away to travel, but how many times have you researched what cool things there are to do within a few hours of your home?

Make a day trip and go somewhere close by – maybe a national park, a new beach, mountain, or market – and travel at home. It’s easier than you may think!

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So basically the key to getting more out of where you live is seeking out new experiences in an old place. There is always new to find in the old; sometimes you just have to look a little bit harder or from a different point of view. I know you can find great things and cure your wanderlust at least a little bit, no matter what kind of place you live in!