Travel shouldn’t be stressful. It should be fun, eye-opening, exciting, and exhilarating. However, if you’re a naturally stressed person, it’s not out of the ordinary for your stomach to get tied up in knots over plans going awry or when you’re navigating the unknown in an unfamiliar location. If you know you’re easily frazzled, but still want to travel and see the world, here are some tips for keeping your stress levels at a manageable level:
Organize Private Transportation
As navigating transportation in a new country or state is one of the top causes of travel stress, organizing private transportation can be the right choice. Instead of worrying about getting on the right bus or navigating multiple shuttles with various drop-off points before you get to where you need to go, you can book a transportation service just for you.
For example, The Genie Transportation will privately transport you to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and Port Canaveral, including all your luggage, strollers, and other travel items. In some locations, you can also hire private drivers for hours or several days in a row, helping you get to the best attractions in the most stress-free way possible.
Plan for Delays
There’s every reason to believe that all parts of your trip will go off without a hitch. Your flights will be on time, you’ll have ample time to make your connecting flights, and you’ll arrive on time for any scheduled activities. While these are all your expectations, just one small delay can throw out a day’s worth of plans.
Lower your stress levels by allowing plenty of time to get to flights and anything else you have scheduled on your travels. Aim to arrive at least three hours early for international flights and two hours before domestic flights. If you’re traveling out of your immediate area for an activity, allow a buffer of at least 30 minutes to an hour.
Digitize and Back Up Essential Documents
The digital age has made it easier than ever before to travel to new countries. We can follow maps on our phones and keep activity confirmations safe in our email inboxes. However, don’t underestimate the importance of having a backup plan.
For example, you may not always be able to access mobile data, the internet, or a signal to use your maps, making it crucial to download them to your device or print them. You should also print physical copies of essential documents, such as boarding passes and itineraries, in case your phone battery dies.
Implement Strategies for Nerves and Overwhelm
There may come a time when you feel so stressed or overwhelmed during your travels that you feel a panic spiral starting. In situations like this, make sure you have strategies you can rely on to pull you back to reality.
For example, you can download mindfulness and meditation apps and complete practices. Alternatively, you might try sensory grounding techniques such as the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method. This involves acknowledging five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Many people who are prone to stress simply avoid traveling, knowing how overwhelming it can be. However, if you try some of the techniques above, you may be able to travel the world and make memories, all while keeping your stress levels at bay.
