So what do you do when you want to travel but can’t for whatever the reason—financial, time, work, kids, life responsibilities and so on?

Don’t sulk. Don’t pout. Don’t despair. Trust me, I know how you feel. I’m going through travel withdrawal myself here lately and have been for the last year or so. That’s what prompted this post. But there is hope!

You can still travel without ever stepping foot outside your home. How? Here’s what I do.

1. Read a book that takes you where you want to go.

Every book has a setting, so choose one that piques your interest. A good book will take you there! Transport yourself to another place and time. Escape your daily reality for a while by traveling through the pages of an all-consuming book. The good news is you can do this anytime you need a mini-vacation—whether it’s for a few minutes out of your day or for an entire day (doesn’t that sound nice?) when you desire a full timeout from the day-to-day demands of your daily routine (a rainy day, a vacation day, a weekend off, or whenever the opportunity presents itself).

Need some reading inspiration? Here are some of the best books set in exotic places guaranteed to whisk you away.

2. Follow your favorite adventurers online.

The digital world is a beautiful place. In an instant you can follow the adventures of world travelers with a few clicks. Travel blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Google can hook you up with some amazing adventurers—each with a niche all their own. You can live vicariously through them for awhile until it’s your turn to travel. It’s also great inspiration for your travel bucket list or next travel adventure.

Take a look at these top travel bloggers and see what they’re up to!

3. Dream and plan for future travel adventures.

There’s no time like the present to start dreaming of and planning for your next trip. Do your research now and you’ll find yourself getting into the traveling spirit. You’ll heighten the anticipation, have a solid plan in place, and give yourself something to look forward to as every day that passes is a day closer to your next big adventure.

This happens to be what I’m doing right now. My next adventure is coming soon, so stay tuned and I’ll share more on here when I’m there! Right now I’m just counting down the days….

You can read more about What Smart Travelers Do Between Big Adventures here.

What do you do when you can’t travel? I want to know!