Let’s face it, we can’t be home all the time. Whether you have to go out of town for a friend’s wedding, or you’re finally crossing off that trip to Europe from your bucket list, everybody travels once in a while. Traveling can be stressful for a lot of people, some more than others. If you’re one of them, here are some of our tips to reduce stress while you’re traveling.
Sources: Pixabay
Before you leave
Preparing for travel can be taxing, and you don’t want to be so stressed out before you even get where you’re going. Being prepared is essential when getting ready to go on a trip. Don’t wait until the last minute to start packing. If you pack the day before you leave, you’ll only increase the chances of forgetting something. If you’re leaving on a Friday, start packing the Monday before. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to triple check your bags or remind yourself of anything you might have forgotten. Stay organized and label your luggage with a luggage tag so you don’t lose it at baggage claim. Utilize a duffel garment hanging bag so that your clothes stay looking nice while you travel. Having all your affairs in order before you leave means you won’t have to stress when it comes time to get in the car or catch your plane.
Sources: Pixabay
While you’re away
Once you get to your destination, you don’t want to have to worry about your home while you can’t keep an eye on it. It’s necessary to keep your home safe while you’re away so that your thoughts aren’t filled with every worst case scenario until you get home. Having a good home security system in place will keep your mind at ease so you can enjoy your trip. SimpliSafe has an abundance of information on how to keep your home safe while traveling. You’ll want to have an alarm system set up to alert you of any break-ins and a security camera so you can watch what’s going on at your house when you can’t be there. When you know your home is safe, you can sit back and relax on your vacation.
When you get home
The stress of traveling doesn’t necessarily stop once you get home. It can be tough to get back into the swing of things after being away for a while. The last thing you’ll want to do is figure out what’s for dinner, so sign up for a subscription box like Hello Fresh. Meal subscriptions make choosing and preparing dinner easy since they provide all of the ingredients and directions. Take the extra few minutes to unpack your suitcase and put everything in place before going to bed. As tempting as it might be to crash in bed the minute you get home, you’ll thank yourself later when the mess isn’t piling up a week after your vacation is over.
Sources: Pixabay
The physical preparation for traveling can be easier to remember to do but you must not forget to incorporate the art of stillness during your travels. Find moments everyday to meditate and reflect on what you experience. This will help your mind absorb all the new and different things you have experience and not have it overwhelm you or let it be lost from your memory after you return home. Bring along a journal or use your phone or laptop to document your experiences. Being able to to find quiet time during your travel really helps heighten your sense of awareness of the culture and the people. Do a little bit of people watching, you would be surprise that you may learn something new about yourself by simply doing some “people watching”. By finding stillness in your travels, you will return home feeling refreshed and renewed and not feel exhausted and going back to the same 9 to 5 grind mentality. Instead you will feel a sense of gratitude and hope.