Stress-Free Travel: Tips for Enjoyable Journeys

Travel can be very enjoyable.

Or…

Travel can be very stressful.

Here are three tips that I’ve found to be helpful in ensuring my travel stays on the enjoyable side.

Set Timing. One of the biggest stressors is feeling rushed. Most of that can be planned for. Review and write out time frames for the travel portion of your trip. Airport arrival time, layover time (make sure there is enough to get from one gate to another with potential delays), eating time, driving time (traffic?), and bathroom breaks.

Prioritization. When things change during your trip (not if things change), decide in advance what your priorities will be. If there is agreement on the priority of activities and timing, decisions can become less stressful.

Keep Your Focus. While traveling, it can become easy to focus on the next point. Get to the gate. Get to the Hotel on time. Purchase tickets. None of these “to-do” items are the point of your trip. Whether traveling alone or with a group, decide on the purpose of the trip. What do you want to get from it? Relaxation? Excitement? Time together? Whatever it is, as stressors arise, think about your purpose and don’t allow that stressor to keep you from it.

No matter your travel plans, it is important to set out plans, prioritize them, and don’t let anything deter you from meeting the purpose of your trip.