# @stephmylife on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DH5E1WdM8Hd
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/31312349-stephmylife-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e1b9ea26c7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-01T05:19:50.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Stephanie Barry Woods (@stephmylife) — https://gondola.cc/stephmylife

## Caption

Before meeting Tim I’d never backpacked, never been to Asia, never budget-travelled, and honestly didn’t really know the first thing about it! The last 8 years have taught me SO MUCH, and sometimes I look back on our first trips and wish I could do it over 😂😂 

Here’s what I’d change: 

1️⃣ I wouldn’t stress so much about the budget. 
For the first year, it would ruin my day if we went over budget. I missed out on such cool things because I was so worried about the finances. But now I realise that *averages* are more important than daily values. I look at weekly, fortnightly and monthly budgets and worry less if I go over one day. I know I can pull back another day if I want to. And I’m never going to get this time back, sometimes just do the thing!

2️⃣ I’d move slower 
For the first 10 months of backpacking we stopped for a max of 3/4 nights. We were so thirsty for travel. We’d just quit our jobs and we just wanted to see and do EVERYTHING. To us that meant covering as much ground as possible. Now I like to stay a bit longer and delve deeper into the places we go. My travels have been so much richer for it! 

3️⃣ I’d take more videos 
Since TikTok and reels became more popular I’ve taken more videos and I’ve found they can capture our trips in ways photos can’t. I have hundreds of thousands of photos of our travels but very few videos that are more than a couple of years old. Now I take videos of the funny moments, the special moments, the little things and I have gorgeous memories to look back on and show my family. 

4️⃣ I’d let go of FOMO. 
I used to feel like I had to do *everything* in a new place. But now I realise that skipping some activities or sights actually make the trip less stressful and more meaningful. I found more joy in really savoring fewer experiences rather than rushing to cram in everything just ‘because’

5️⃣ I’d keep a diary
I *wish* I’d kept a diary or journal from day one. Not just to keep track of where we went, but to capture how I felt and experienced each place we visited. That’s one thing I’m going to start this year! 

What would you change if you could go and do it all again?

#couplestravel #traveltips #travel #thailand

## Stats

- **Views:** 42,577
- **Likes:** 567
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 22

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Stephanie Barry Woods | @stephmylife | https://gondola.cc/stephmylife | Influencer |

## Tags

thailand, travel, traveltips, couplestravel

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