Travel without taking office leaves: Influencer, who works 9-to-5, reveals how to manage frequent trips while doing full-time job

For many people, social media has created the idea that travelling frequently means leaving a stable job behind. But lifestyle and travel content creator Annie Sharma says that is not the only way. In a recent Instagram video, Sharma explained that she continues to work a full-time 9-to-5 job while travelling regularly. Instead of resigning from her role, she says careful planning, a remote work setup and disciplined budgeting have helped her balance both her career and her passion for exploring new places.

Sharma began the video by addressing one of the biggest assumptions people make about her lifestyle. Referring to claims circulating on social media, she said, "I left my 50 lakh job to travel full-time. That's what everyone is saying on social media but not me." She added that while she admires people who leave their jobs to pursue their passion, her own journey has taken a different route. "While I truly appreciate people who leave their job to take that risk and follow their passion, this is how I travel with my full-time 9 to 5 job," she said.

Planning ahead instead of taking spontaneous trips

According to Sharma, one of the biggest reasons she is able to travel regularly is advance planning. Rather than making last-minute travel decisions, she prepares for every trip well beforehand.


Explaining her approach, Sharma said, "One is pre-planning. I usually don't take these spontaneous trips because this helps me calculate how much money I need to save, how much will be the expenditure and how many leaves I need to save."

She also prefers taking longer holidays instead of multiple short breaks. "Trips are usually 10 days long instead of being of 4 or 5 days," she said, explaining that this gives her more flexibility while managing work commitments.

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A post shared by Annie Sharma | Lifestyle & Travel Creator (@gypsyescape)

Using weekends and remote work to her advantage

Another strategy, Sharma said, is planning trips around weekends. This allows her to spend more time at her destination without using too many office leaves.

Describing how it works, she said, "What this helps me do is that I sandwich two weekends during my trip in which I can explore the place and on the weekdays I can also work remotely."

She acknowledged that having a remote job plays a major role in making this possible. "And the most important point, I have a remote job which obviously helps my passion for travel," Sharma said.

Apart from her regular salary, she also earns through social media content and collaborations. Sharma shared that sponsored activities and sponsored trips also contribute to her travel plans, making it easier to manage expenses.

You don't have to quit your job to follow your passion

Ending the video, Sharma encouraged working professionals not to feel pressured by online trends that suggest quitting a job is the only way to pursue a passion.

"But the point is, let me hold your hand while I say that. You don't have to leave your job to follow your passion because everyone on social media is saying you to do that. Sometimes all it needs is better planning and following," she said.