Travelling has kept you happy for years, but what do you do when you suddenly realise it's time to stay home for a while? Here are a few tips that will help you cure your wanderlust without even having to leave your home.
1. Become a tourist in your own city
Image courtesy of Harshill Shah
So you are sick of being home, sick of looking at the same street and longing to get away? Well, running is not the answer - but role play is. Pretend to be a real tourist, get the outfit, buy the travel guide book and start exploring your local areas as if you have just flown in from overseas.
2. Go camping in the countryside
Image courtesy of Steve Cadman
Bring your camping gear to the nearest campsite and start the journey. Cook over an open fire, catch up with friends and take long walks in the forest... Just pretend you are an explorer entering an unknown territory, it could be fun.
3. Seek out people who are very different to you
Image courtesy of Stuart Heath
Ever wondered what it's like to meditate in a Buddhist centre? Fancy doing something crazy with a bunch of adrenaline freaks? Experiencing a completely new environment could be the ideal cure for wanderlust. Instead of escaping abroad, the adventure is likely to hide in your backyard and the world is full of interesting people.
4. Become a volunteer
Image courtesy of Daniel Thornton
It's common to travel and volunteer abroad. However, it's less common to volunteer on a more local level and that is a shame. Volunteering could not only benefit you on a professional and personal level, it could also open the doors to a new journey - almost like travelling.
5. Start writing a novel and outlive all your travel dreams
Image courtesy of Tony Hall
The world of fiction is something magical. Imagine being a writer with the power to decide an entire storyline, leading your characters into one country after the other and make them face flying dragons, mysterious islands and hidden treasures. Leaving your house is overrated.
6. Learn how to cook dishes from all over the world
Image courtesy of Jeff Kubina
Time to polish your cooking skills! There is no better way to cure wanderlust than to bring the world into your own kitchen. Become an expert on Thai food, Central American spices or learn how to cook a proper Argentinian steak.
7. Do adventure sports
Image courtesy of Sunill
Most travellers end up doing some sort of adventure sport. However, only a tiny percentage continues the fun at home - all the more reason to do it. Why not explore things such as paragliding, rock climbing, diving or surfing?
8. Get yourself a cute puppy (it will make travelling harder)
Image courtesy of Jonathan Kriz
Okay, it might come across as the slightly weirder one on the list, but there is a reason for its appearance. Getting a dog means commitment and while travellers sometimes bring their children along when they backpack, taking your dog along is just a bit odd. So if you want to cure your wanderlust - get yourself a sweet puppy you can't resist.
It's not so difficult, is it? By following these simple steps it could be years before you finally hit the road again, and that is good... time is money and the longer you wait, the more you can save up, and countries you could potentially visit in the future.
Check out 'Into the Wild' for more articles like this.
Caroline Edwards is an Online Media Intern for Frontier, a non-profit conservation NGO that helps people plan their gap year with over 300 opportunities to volunteer abroad and take part in adventure travel across the globe.