Leisure travel accounts for about 80% of all domestic tourism. But what happens travel anxiety ruins the leisurely experience of traveling? Planes, unpredictable weather, and unavoidable delays all contribute to travel anxiety.
Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate the stress of being a tourist. Learn the art of keeping calm on a trip with these seven helpful travel anxiety solutions.
1. Stay Organized
Fear of travel often stems from a lack of organization. Alleviate airport anxiety by keeping your passport, plane ticket, and ID in an easily-reachable place. You can either keep these items in a small bag separate from your other bags or in the front pocket of your suitcase.
Preparing for security at the airport also helps relieve apprehensiveness. Before you head to your flight, review what you need to remove from your bags and figure out what isn’t allowed on the plane. Knowing these rules beforehand will give you peace of mind.
Beyond airport anxiety, other aspects of your trip will feel more enjoyable with proper organization. Keep a list of activities and tickets to excursions in an accessible area. Be sure to keep your ID or passport on you at all times to prevent them from getting lost or stolen.
2. Prepare for Everything
Unforeseen circumstances can happen to anyone, anywhere. It’s best to plan for the worst-case-scenario involving your trip, so you’re not left confused when things go awry.
For example, try to learn what you need to do in the event of a flight cancellation before it happens. Make sure you bring inclement weather essentials, like an umbrella, no matter what the weather forecast predicts.
Preparation also involves back-up plans. If you plan an assortment of activities, make sure you have some other excursions in mind in case the activities are canceled at the last minute.
Don’t forget to have a back-up hotel in mind, too. Mistakes happen, and your hotel might mistakenly overbook, so write down the names of nearby hotels in case this happens.
3. Handle Your Home and Work Needs
The last thing you want to worry about while traveling is a problem back at home. Prevent problems from occurring beforehand by settling anything that could cause an issue.
If you leave your pets behind, ensure they receive proper care while you’re away. You can choose to house them in a kennel or ask a trusted friend to house sit.
Make sure you clean out your refrigerator, trash can, and mailbox before your trip. Don’t forget to double-check that your appliances are turned off, and all your doors are locked.
If you’re taking time off of work, set up an automatic email alert describing that you’re out of the office. This will help prevent urgent messages from getting ignored.
4. Take Some CBD
CBD promotes relaxation and aids in discomfort relief, which is great for calming your travel anxiety. If you’re in the midst of your trip and you’re feeling anxious, take a dose of CBD.
CBD comes in several forms, many of which are delicious and refreshing. Getting your dose in CBD mints gives double-duty support by freshening your breath while calming you down at the same time.
Since CBD comes in the form of mints, drink mixes, and other small snacks, they’re easy to bring on-the-go.
5. Splurge if You Can
Sometimes, splurging on extra legroom on an airplane or a bigger hotel room is worth your money. Common travel stressors relate to bargains. If you know that spending a bit of extra money will alleviate stress, it’s often worth it.
For example, saving money on a flight with two layovers will cause much more stress than a one-way flight. While a one-way flight is often pricier, your mental health will thank you for splurging.
If you know your destination experiences inclement weather during its off-season, it’s worth spending more money for a vacation during the busy season.
Splurging on trip insurance is also worth your money. Travel insurance covers the cost of your trip in the event of a flight cancellation, natural disaster, or other scenarios. Without travel insurance, you’ll end up stressing about losing money on events out of your control.
6. Do Your Research
Researching your destination before your trip is a must, especially if you’re traveling overseas. It’s vital to make sure you understand the culture and customs of your destination.
For example, some cities may not have an abundance of English-speakers. Finding this out during your trip is much more stressful than finding out beforehand.
If you’re staying at a hotel, take some time to research the surrounding area. Knowing where the restaurants, convenience stores, and health clinics are in advance will provide more peace of mind.
Figure out how much money you need to bring. The cost-of-living in some countries may be higher than you’re used to, so prepare accordingly. Plus, bring more cash than you normally carry. Some countries may not have viable access to ATM machines or currency exchanges.
7. Make a Schedule
If you’re going on several excursions during your trip, make sure you keep track of them with a schedule. Schedules are a simple and effective way to keep yourself on track.
A proper schedule should include the date and time of each activity, as well as the cost and location. Schedules help prevent the stress of looking up information about each activity in the moment.
Schedules should also incorporate blocks for spontaneity and relaxation. After all, planning back-to-back activities is exhausting. Giving yourself and your family time to regroup and rejuvenate after a busy day will prevent everyone from feeling stressed out.
Keeping Calm While You’re Abroad
Traveling doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these helpful tips, you’ll learn that keeping calm on the road (or in the air) isn’t as hard as it may seem. So enjoy your vacation and relax!
Looking for more travel insights? Our blog has more helpful travel tips posts about must-see destinations, travel activities, and more.
