It’s easy for things to go wrong while traveling – but don’t let it stress you out. No trip is bound to be hassle-free, so planning for mishaps can help when they happen. Learn how to keep stress at bay while traveling before your next trip.
Be Early
It may seem like common sense, but make every effort to be early when traveling. This includes waiting for pickup cars, to the airport, and at hotel check-in. Arriving late often creates undesirable situations, adding stress to your travels. Skip this hassle by ensuring you and your party are always early.
Print Your Itinerary
Much of our travel nowadays relies on technology. It can be incredibly stressful when our phones die, tablets malfunction, or laptops freeze. To keep stress at bay, print your itinerary ahead of time. It may seem “old school,” but bringing a back up paper copy can fix any situation where you might need to show your tickets or find your route in case of technology failure.
Pack an Eye Cover & Earplugs
When things get overwhelming on the plane, put on your gear. Pack a lightproof eye cover and a simple set of earplugs. This will help you de-stress while the baby screams two aisles over and the kid behind you continues to kick your seat.
Enjoy Every Meal
Traveling sometimes involves less of fun sight seeing and more of train and plane hopping. If this is the case, try something simple to keep stress at bay – enjoy every meal. Whether it is a fresh baked good you picked up at the local bakery, or a savory street treat you grab on the way to your hotel, take a few seconds to appreciate and enjoy every meal you eat. This simple, yet mindful activity can help to relieve stress and focus on the positive things around you.
Don’t Skip Sleep
It doesn’t make sense for most people to sleep their vacation away, but many travelers don’t get enough sleep while adventuring. Getting enough sleep doesn’t mean you have to go to bed early and wake up at 11 a.m.; but it does mean you need to make sure your body is properly rested and cared for each day. By starting your travels already tired, you’re opening yourself up to stress-causing irritability and agitation. Get enough sleep each night to be able to enjoy the following day.
Skip The Lines
Sometimes it pays to skip the lines. Traveling is often filled with long, agonizing lines that are a major source of stress for vacationers. But looking into ways to skip the lines may be worth your while.
TSA Pre-Check allows you to skip the long security lines at airports, keep your shoes on during security checks, and more. Consider this perk if you frequent airports to keep the headaches to a minimum.
Many amusement parks feature passes that allow line skipping (to an extent), and are totally worth the price. One of the most well known is the Disney Fast Pass. This pass will not only save you a headache now, but also later as your children will be thrilled they don’t have to wait in the hot weather for hours just to ride their favorite rollercoaster.
The main way to keep stress at bay while traveling is remember to KISS: Keep It Simple, Sweetie. Don’t overthink it, and when you can take shortcuts or make your travel easier – do it! Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing, not dreadful and stressful. Make the most of your next adventure and keep stress at bay while traveling.
