The Travel Reset: How to Plan a Year of Intentional Trips

Nov 23

A new year always feels like a soft reset. It’s the perfect time to take a moment, pause and gently ask yourself: Where do I want to go? And who am I becoming as I move through the world?

If you subscribe to my Substack, you know I often write about how travel has helped me breathe through grief, healing, and finding my Ikigai. This season, I am thinking a lot about how travel continues to influence my world view, friendships, marriage, and the small patterns of my daily life. Each trip offers me new perspective on how I can be a better human, to slow down, to stay curious, to live with compassion. Each trip gives me space to reflect on the kind of legacy I want to leave behind and the ways I want to grow. Because in the end, there is no sequel to this life. We’ve got one story, one shot. And I want mine to be intentional.

At the end of each year, I do an honest check in with myself. What is nourishing my soul? What do I need? What kind of energy do I want to invite into my daily routine? These are a few of the same questions I also ask myself when planning travel for the next year. Because looking at it from this perspective feels less logistical and more intentional in growing into the best version of me. It makes each trip feel more meaningful. It makes life feel more meaningful.

As you think about the year ahead, I challenge you to look at travel differently, with intention and curiosity. Not every trip needs to be far, involve a flight, or be Instagram-ready. Some of the most transformative moments come from quite romantic weekend getaways, a slow lunch with your family at a cafe near a winery, a solo road trip to a scenic waterfall, a girls’ trip across state lines that brings you closer together. When you plan travel for the new year, I challenge you to plan trips that are less about escaping life and more about expanding it.

Whether you are planning one big trip or several small getaways, this guide will help you plan a year of travel that feels inspiring, intentional, and aligned with your goals, energy and the kind of beauty you want to bring into your life.

Start With Your Energy, Not a Map

Most people begin planning by listing places they want to visit. However, a more aligned approach is to start with your energy.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I want rest or inspiration?
Do I need nature or a bustling city?
Do I want something familiar or something that challenges me?
Do I want to go slow or cover more ground?

Instead of following trends, choose destinations that actually support you, the places that match your energy and the life you want to cultivate.

Choose Your “Anchor Trips” for the Year

These are the 1–3 trips that shape your year.
They can be:

A one-week cultural deep dive
A creative retreat
A slow-living stretch somewhere soothing
A big bucket-list destination
A trip connected to family heritage or identity

Anchor trips give your year a sense of purpose, and everything else naturally falls into place around them.

Build in One Trip That Grows You

Personal growth doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be choosing a place that:

Expands your understanding of another culture
Teaches you a craft
Pushes you creatively
Helps you reconnect with a part of yourself you’ve outgrown or forgotten

Ask yourself:
What is the version of me I want to meet this year? And what destination can help me find them?

Plan for Rest, Not Just Movement

We often plan travel like a marathon. But intentional travel honors rest.

Consider adding:

A cozy winter weekend with no agenda
A quiet spring escape to reset
A summer trip focused on slow mornings and soft evenings
A fall getaway for reflection

Rest is a destination, too.

Align Your Travel With Your Real Life

Your calendar, budget, and responsibilities matter and intentional travel respects your real life.

Tips:

Use a travel fund (even a small one) you contribute to monthly.
Look at your busiest seasons and plan trips during your natural “open” months.
Book time off early so your calendar reflects your priorities.
Don’t overcommit and leave space for spontaneous adventures.

Travel becomes sustainable when it fits into your life with ease.

Create Your Yearly Travel Vision

This is the fun part. Set the mood with music, candles, or a cozy morning ritual. Then gather:

A list of destinations you’re dreaming of
Photos that inspire you
Notes about how you want each season to feel
Your travel energy words (ex: calm, curious, cozy, expansive)

Put it all together on Pinterest, on a physical board, or in a simple note. This becomes your guide when you’re choosing flights, hotels, or experiences throughout the year.

Make Space for Surprise

Intentional travel isn’t rigid, it’s rooted.

Leave room for:

A cheap flight deal you can’t ignore
A friend inviting you somewhere unexpected
A destination that starts calling your name mid-year

The magic of travel comes from what you don’t plan too.

Check In With Yourself Seasonally

Every new season is a chance to reset. Ask yourself:

What do I need right now?
Has my energy shifted?
What feels aligned for the next three months?

Intentional travel is a practice and it grows with you.

Reflection

This year, let your travel feel like a series of small choices that bring you closer to the life you want. Not rushed. Not performative. Not overwhelming.

Just aligned.
Just inspired.
Just yours.

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