{"id":172,"date":"2019-01-28T14:00:22","date_gmt":"2019-01-28T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=160558"},"modified":"2019-01-28T14:00:22","modified_gmt":"2019-01-28T14:00:22","slug":"this-blog-will-suck-less-or-how-i-got-my-motivation-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/28\/this-blog-will-suck-less-or-how-i-got-my-motivation-back\/","title":{"rendered":"This Blog Will Suck Less (Or How I Got My Motivation Back)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Matt
\nofPosted:<\/strong> 1\/28\/2019 | January 28th, 2019<\/p>\n

Let me say what most of you are (probably) thinking: this blog kind of sucked in 2018. It actually might have started sucking a bit toward the end of 2017. Maybe even 2016. <\/p>\n

What do I mean by that? <\/p>\n

Well, while we continue to produce \u201chow-to\u201d content that I am very proud of and think is better and more detailed than what else you\u2019ll find on the web (\u2019cause we\u2019re the best!), those kinds of articles \u2014 while I like writing them because, to me, budget travel<\/a> is like solving a puzzle (and they are great for Google) \u2014 just doesn\u2019t make a blog….well, a blog. <\/p>\n

They lack personality. <\/p>\n

They are helpful, sure, but you read blogs because of the people<\/em> behind them, not just the useful information they give. <\/p>\n

And think this website has become a lot less personal and a bit stale over the last couple of years. <\/p>\n

I just haven\u2019t been motivated to write anything “personal.” Once in a while, sure, but like in the old days? Ehhh. Not really. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t travel as much as I used to<\/a> and think my days are pretty mundane. I mean who cares about what I eat for breakfast, what I do on the weekends, or really anything non-travel related? <\/p>\n

Moreover, I felt like my thoughts and feelings about travel were already out there and that there was nothing else really left to say. <\/p>\n

So what was<\/em> left to write about? <\/p>\n

Another “best hostel in X” post, that\u2019s what! <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t feel I really wrote anything “groundbreaking: last year. A lot of what we posted in 2018 was just old posts updated with new content.<\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, I mentioned moving to Paris<\/a> (temporarily but maybe forever? Who knows! I got to try it out first). NYC<\/a> is an unproductive place for me and I want to spend more time writing this year. I need a new space for that. I need a place where I feel my creative juices flowing. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if that is Paris but I know it\u2019s not NYC. <\/p>\n

But, as I mentioned in that post, this year, I want to change this website too. <\/p>\n

Or, should I say, change it back to what it used to be. <\/p>\n

I want to write more stories<\/em>.<\/p>\n

After a two year break and a case of unmotivation, I\u2019m finally feeling motivated again. <\/p>\n

This year you\u2019re going to see not only the \u201chow-to\u201d posts we\u2019re good at here but also more of me<\/em> \u2014 more about my life as a traveler, more posts about the emotional ups and downs of travel, and more posts about people. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got a dozen articles drafted on my desktop: thoughts on globalization and travel, plastic and travel, life in hostels, what I hate about travel right now, being connected “to home” on the road (I\u2019ve noticed a lot of hostels have Netflix now), getting “stuck” in places, why I never want to hear about digital nomads again, and a bunch more stuff! <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been writing up a storm this month. <\/p>\n

And I\u2019m also going to start sharing more photos and stories on my Instagram<\/a> (especially as I\u2019ll probably have a lot to say when trying to settle into Paris)! <\/p>\n

One other thing that is happening this year: I\u2019m opening the website up to more guest posters starting in March. I want to bring in different voices and more stories on the website. People who are just starting out or have expertise in a certain area. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a new idea. I don\u2019t know how it will work. I want to create some guidelines first (so don\u2019t email just yet! If you do, we won\u2019t reply!) as I want to make sure we do this right! <\/p>\n

So, yes, new year, new me! <\/p>\n

But also a \u201cnew\u201d blog! <\/p>\n

I\u2019m excited to make this website personal again.<\/p>\n

Who knew I had so much still left to say after all? <\/p>\n

I guess all that was missing was a bit of motivation! <\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a> or Momondo<\/a>. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewher eother than a hotel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads<\/a> for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n