If you’ve ever rushed through an airport terminal with a full load of luggage to catch a departing flight, you know that traveling can be stressful.
Some travelers experience high anxiety levels when an aspect of their trip doesn’t go the way they planned. Leaving your home for days or weeks and traveling to an unfamiliar location can raise your stress levels, but you can minimize your anxiety and enjoy the trip by implementing the following techniques.
1. Research Your Destination
Thoroughly planning your trip can prevent an uncomfortable situation when you reach your destination. If you have food allergies or a restrictive diet, you can research the local restaurants in the area that will meet your needs. Nearly every restaurant in the world has a website with a menu that you can scroll through, and most include contact numbers that you can call if you have concerns. To avoid spending cash on expensive clothing or weather-related accessories, you can study a seven-day forecast of your destination before you leave. Buying a jacket in a new town may cost several hundred dollars and will lower your overall budget for the trip. For international travelers, it’s wise to study the country’s laws or restrictions before you leave. If you unknowingly violate a law on your journey and end up in jail, you’re unlikely to have a stress-free experience. Although you cannot prepare for unforeseen circumstances, you can lower your traveling stress by taking CBD gummies.
2. Pack Light
The fear of forgetting an essential item for a vacation leads some travelers to assemble an enormous pile of luggage. Packing heavy is a common mistake that often contributes to higher anxiety levels, muscle pain and limited mobility. Make a list of essential items before you pack, like clothing and medications, but try to limit the extraneous items like extra batteries, snacks or umbrellas. A rain poncho or light jacket is easier to store than an umbrella and is less cumbersome to manage in crowded city streets. More travelers have recently scaled back their luggage and decided to rely on a medium-sized backpack for extended trips. You’ll need access to a washer and dryer if you pack light, but you’ll appreciate the mobility and freedom of traveling with a light load. Rick Steves, an experienced travel expert, recommends using his packing list to assemble your essential items in a standard backpack
3. Secure Cash and Documents
Passports, driver’s licenses and prescriptions are items that can cause stress or anger when you lose them on a trip. Every traveler fears losing a passport in a foreign country, but if you photograph your IDs and documents before leaving, you can recover or replace the documents quicker in the event of a loss. Make multiple copies of critical data and store the images in a password-protected file on your mobile phone or device. When you’re out on the town, use a money belt to protect your cash and IDs. In tourist locations like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, experienced pick-pocketers target tourists and make a livelihood by stealing wallets and purses. Wear a money belt that rests under your waistline for the best protection and avoid removing large amounts of cash in public areas.
4. Keep a Flexible Itinerary
A rigid itinerary that crams multiple events into a limited period is a recipe for anxiety. Keep your traveling plans flexible and prepare yourself for eventual disappointments. A closed restaurant or canceled event are situations that are out of your control, and it’s better to move on to the next activity than to worry about what you missed.
5. Limit Your Technology
Technological devices have become a vital part of our everyday lives, but sometimes it’s healthier to limit your device usage when visiting a new location. Take in the sights and sounds of a new town without being distracted by a computer screen and you’ll get more out of the experience. The depressing news articles and social media posts will still exist when you get home.
Traveling can raise your anxiety and test your patience, but you can enjoy a stress-free experience by using the previous tips.
