3 Tips For Overcoming Travel Anxiety
Traveling is something that many people enjoy for a multitude of reasons. It’s an opportunity to step away from day-to-day life, and even something to do when you retire. However, despite travel being a positive thing that most people look forward to, it can also come with a considerable amount of anxiety.
Between deadlines, remembering to pack all your important items, and navigating the airport, some people can find themselves a downright wreck when it comes to traveling.
Unfortunately, this can detract from the overall pleasure of your trip. Why waste a positive experience on fretting over the tiny details? To help you enjoy your travels, here are some of the best tips for staying calm and making the most out of your experience.
Plan Ahead
One of the biggest causes of traveling anxiety is feeling like you’re rushed for time. Getting to the airport is often one of the biggest preoccupations for travelers. Many people find themselves rushing to get to their gate before it’s too late to board. To help combat this stress, it’s important that you plan ahead as much as possible.
Do things like check traffic times, arrange airport shuttles, and double check the time your gate closes. Thinking ahead will avoid last minute stress, and above all avoid the risk of having to buy a new ticket should you miss your flight.
Planning ahead doesn’t only apply to your flights either. Give yourself plenty of time to reserve activities, hotels, and other arrangements that will take place throughout your trip. The less last minute planning you have to do, the more at peace you’ll be.
Know Your Triggers
Anytime you experience anxiety, the first thing you should do is identify what your triggers are. Know what starts to get you frazzled, and avoid these situations. Is it flying itself? Perhaps it’s feeling like you’ll never be able to catch up on your missed work.
Try to take all the precautions necessary to avoid your most likely triggers. Avoiding them altogether is much easier to handle than trying to manage your anxiety once you’re faced with something that stresses you out.
Plan For The Worst
One of the biggest reasons why people get anxious is because they consider all the worst possible scenarios that could happen. Dreading these possibilities can make them feel out of control and anxious.
Yet, if we can manage to strategize for how we would handle these situations should they happen, it can make us feel more in control and less stressed out. Plan ahead for how you would behave should the worst possible scenario happen.
For example, if you lose your passport abroad, get to know where the embassy is and what the process is for an emergency passport. If you’re concerned about losing your credit card, contact your bank about what you should do should you lose access to your funds while on a trip.
Preparing yourself makes you feel more informed and in control, and less susceptible to spinning your wheels worrying.
