Your Out of Office Adventures start here
A place to reflect on burnout, travel and rebuilding self-trust.
The first time I got on a plane, I hated it. At 10 years old, boarding a flight to Germany, the change in air pressure felt like daggers in my ears. All I could focus on was trying not to cry. Never again, I told myself.
Fast forward to my early 30s and that scared kid would never have believed she’d become someone travelling solo around the world.
Welcome to my newsletter: Out of Office Adventures.
If you’re new here
Hi — I’m Claire. I’m originally from the UK and have been living in Belgium for the past decade. In 2013, I left my corporate life in London and set off on a solo round-the-world journey, documenting it on my travel blog, Backpacking Bella.
What started as a dream trip reshaped how I live, work and define success.
These days, I write from the other side of that story - making sense of it all and what becomes clearer when you stop pushing yourself to have it all figured out.
If you’re new here, welcome. I write personal essays about travel, burnout, and rebuilding a life after taking time out from your career.
Who is Out of Office Adventures for?
This newsletter is for people who feel that little thrill when setting an out-of-office message - that precious time away giving you space to relax, think and be yourself.
It’s for professionals looking at their life and thinking something doesn’t quite fit any more.
What to expect every week
Reflections on burnout, self-trust and identity
Perspectives on soft travel and letting go of the tourist checklist
Personal stories from my own travels
Start here
Welcome - I’m happy to have you here. Most of my articles are free to read. My more personal stories are reserved for paid subscribers, so I can write openly about sometimes sensitive topics.
If you’d like a way in, start with these posts:
How to travel in 2026: ‘why’ matters more than ‘where’ - a more intentional way of thinking about your next trip
What happened on my adult gap year - and how it ended up rerouting my life entirely
I ditched the dating advice and went to Thailand instead - what happens when everyone else falls in love but you book a flight
How to get paid to travel the world - Easy ways to earn money while you’re abroad
Thank you, Ella! 🥰 And happy to hear you're excited for the Japan guide! ⛩️🏯 🇯🇵
Hey Claire!! I think this is such a great rebrand! I love the title of your publication and it sounds like you've done a lot of work to get super clear on your target audience and your content. I look forward to reading more from you!!