Practice Travel Self Care
by Yasmine Lawson
We can all acknowledge and appreciate the allure of traveling. Travel provides an escape from our everyday routines and systems. It also can provide immense comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment when approached in the right way. To practice travel self care while traveling is vital when you want your vacations and trips to last past your departure date. Here are some practical ways to practice self care while on your next adventure.
Get Good Sleep
Travel is so much fun, but it requires energy, mental focus, and being alert and aware. When your sleep is off, so are you; A lack of sleep permeates all areas of your health.
Be aware of what you personally need for a night of solid sleep. If it’s total darkness, consider adding an eye mask to your packing list. If you need silence to sleep well, pack ear plugs. You can also see where your itinerary allows some time for a quick nap before your next activity.
Don’t be the grump that can’t enjoy a vacation because they’re too tired, get some sleep!
Learn To Say No
Getting out in the world brings so many new opportunities. There’s new destinations, new friends, new activities, and new foods. It’s a lot, and can be tempting to try it all.
Saying “yes” to every new experience might leave you more exhausted and confused about who you are than you were before you left. Being more selective about what you say “yes” to will help you have the travel experience you personally want or need. Maybe you’re not into hiking and adventuring. Maybe you’re not concerned with glam travel. There’s something for everyone, so say “yes” to the things you love.
Stay Hydrated
Whether it’s H2O, or tea, make sure that you keep your body properly hydrated. You might have a heavy walking day or are outside in heat, so it’s essential that you have water on hand or around you. The last thing you want are those pesky dehydration headaches when you’re on your dream vacation.
Try To Stay Off Your Phone
Posting trip photos. Coordinating with new friends. Checking your emails. It can be tempting to pass time on your phone while traveling. But phones distract and take us away from the present.
Try to create a time or space in your accommodation or in your day for a digital detox. You can end your evenings with an hour of screen-free time or remove phones from dinner and promote conversation.
Slow Down
Take a moment, or even a day, to stop and appreciate where you are and who you’re with. It can be easy to get caught up in all the accommodations, transfers, and excursions you’re participating in, but it can be exhausting! Be sure to schedule some down time or leisure time to catch up with yourself. Find moments of calm during your trip and use them to slow down.
If you’re struggling with slowing down, give yourself a reflective activity. Journal about your travel experiences so far, read a book, complete a simple skincare routine, go on a walk around your hotel, take a quick break by a pool, do anything that calms your mind.
When I’m in a new place, I love to watch people. I take note of new languages, different ways of moving, expressions of style, and the environment. It allows me to really take in where I am and learn about my surroundings. Here are things to think about when you “people watch”:
What are the different levels of interactions (personal, societal, group, etc) like here and what can they tell me about the local culture?
What does the local language sound like?
Is the tea/water/coffee/soda here any different from what I would get where I’m from? Where am I sitting, and who is sitting around me?
The longer you wait, the more possible flight options are likely to vanish, as hundreds of other passengers beat you to the rebooking. Make sure to weigh your options and make a decision in a timely manner in order to retain some control on your original schedule. Hopefully these tips have given you something of value to keep in mind the next time your flight is in jeopardy of being canceled or delayed.
