More and more people are deciding to quit the job they hate, and taking full advantage of their unemployed status to travel the world before getting a new job. It’s an amazing feeling to cut all ties and take off on a solo adventure where time limitations don’t exist, because you’re not using a finite number of allotted vacation days and you’re so far from home that friends and family just leave you alone instead of blowing up your phone.

In fact, the unemployed traveler is typically much more in-the-moment and carefree than the employed traveler who has a shitty job waiting for them once their pre-determined two week vacation is up.

People say that you shouldn’t quit your job until you have another job lined up. I disagree. I agree that quitting your job requires some planning, but you don’t necessarily need to have another job lined up. It’s perfectly acceptable to plan ahead in other ways. For example, you can cut costs while you’re still employed in order to save up a bunch of money, knowing that you’ll be fine without work for awhile. You can also plan an extended solo vacation and use that isolated time away from distractions to job hunt while you work on your tan.

If you’ve saved up a bunch of cash, and you hate your job, then yes. Quit. Life’s too short to work somewhere you can’t stand, for someone you can’t stand. Plus, cost-effective travel-booking websites like TravelPay will help make sure you don’t spend your entire savings on a trip.

It goes without saying that a solo trip requires a lot more planning than a regular vacation, especially if you’re partially using that time to figure out your purpose and set some goals. Solo travel can be daunting if you’re not prepared. It’s awesome that you’re going to travel alone, self-reflect and enjoy your vacation without having to answer to anyone else – but you have to methodically plan out your solo trip abroad in order to make the most of it.

You’ll need to pack lots of productive “I’m all alone” armour if you’re traveling alone with money on your mind. What is productive “I’m all alone” armour? A laptop or an iPad, so that in case your flight is delayed, you can spend some time working on something productive. (Think: sending out resumes, checking out job boards, or writing out a business pitch.) Pack books that teach you something new, inspire you and motivate you. Download podcasts that inspire optimism and a hustler mentality.

This way, you’ll have so many helpful materials to read and listen to that you’ll be glad you’re alone. Solitude allows you to listen to your educational podcast while you sunbathe, rather than listening your bestie talk your ear off.

When it comes to traveling in-between jobs, you’re going to be in a mentality of self-discovery. You’ll want to do this solo so that you can take in your beautiful surroundings and self-reflect and work on you.

You’ll come back from your trip feeling refreshed, invigorated, happier and less stressed. You’ll be in a fantastic mindset. This version of you will rock those job interviews and hit the ground running back on home turf.

So, if you’ve been thinking about quitting your job to travel, know that it’s a great idea, not a silly one. Contrary to popular belief, quitting your job to travel isn’t you taking a step backwards. This decision can actually help you take two steps forward in life. Need inspiration on where to go? Check out this article on what traveling in Croatia is like!

Have you ever quit your job to travel? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Erica Gordon is the author of the book Aren’t You Glad You Read This? The Complete How-To Guide for Singles with a History of Failed Relationships Who Want their Next Relationship to Succeed, available for only $4.99 here.