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When you travel as a means to destress, the least you can expect is to deal with stressful surprises along the way. Anything can happen, and you may not get the most out of the experience as you come home feeling more stressed than when you departed on your trip.
Your vacation doesn’t have to end with you feeling more uneasy. For the most part, you can overcome the more stressful aspects of traveling if you learn how to prioritize your wellness throughout the trip. Bear in mind that the way you respond to situations beyond your control informs the kind of experience you end up enjoying. It’s essential to consider how you can safeguard your wellness as you find a much-needed respite from getting lost in your travel experience. Here are a few tips you might want to follow:
1. Give yourself ample time for planning
The worst part of planning the details of an extended trip is giving yourself little room to prepare. Nothing good ever comes out of making last-minute plans, as it will only add to your anxiety. Instead of letting yourself focus more on what you want to do once you arrive, you worry more about arriving at the airport late and finding available hotel rooms that will fit your budget. There’s a sense of satisfaction in booking an unplanned trip out of an abrupt need for a wellness break, but the limited time you have for planning will come at the cost of your peace.
To get the most out of traveling, especially if it’s focused more on your mental wellness, give yourself as much time as possible to prepare for the trip. If you’re planning to experience a mental health break on an exotic island in the Caribbean, at least two months will do.
In case if you’re traveling locally, a month of planning should be enough to seek out the best accommodation deals and craft an itinerary that will lead you to the best wellness attractions, such as scenic towns on the Outer Banks of North Carolina or Sedona near Flagstaff, Arizona. Giving yourself enough preparation time will spare you from making stressful last-minute decisions that could shatter your travel experience even before arriving at your destination.
2. Don’t take your work with you
You might think you will be missing out on productive work while you’re away. What’s more, you might be worried about having to come back home with a ton of backlogs waiting for you at your desk. You might be tempted to bring your laptop with you on your wellness break, in case you feel like working during your idle time. If that’s the case, then you’re only wasting the time and money you will be spending throughout the trip.
Since you’re taking a wellness break, it might as well be counterproductive if you do extra work on the side. After all, the purpose of taking the trip is to escape work. There’s nothing for you to gain when you bring your work laptop with you, so you must leave your work gadgets. If you’re worried about having to deal with extra work once you arrive, spend the time you’ve set aside for preparation to deal with priority tasks in advance. That way, you will have no reason to check your email inbox while you spend an afternoon at a French villa.
3. Never compromise sleep
Throughout the trip, you may have to chase schedules and spend most of your time waiting. Added to that is the fact that you will have to cross different time zones. Jetlag can do a number on your sleeping habits. The fewer hours you spend recharging your mind and body, the less focused and the more stressed you get, especially when unexpected problems occur at some point in your travel.
Sleep is non-negotiable if you’re traveling for the sake of improving your wellness. It’s never wise to sacrifice sleep. Even if you lose a few hours along the way, it pays to make up for the time you should’ve spent resting. Unless a comfortable and affordable hotel room is waiting for you at your destination, it matters to catch extra hours of sleep time, especially during your most idle moments.
4. Ensure you’re well nourished
Along with sleep, another thing you wouldn’t want to overlook is a healthy diet. Unplanned trips could lead to numerous sacrifices, and skipping a balanced meal is expected. You may have to opt for processed food out of convenience, but these meals can hardly provide you with the necessary nutrients to stay alert. Moreover, fast food can only worsen your mood and make you more susceptible to fatigue.
Always make healthy choices when you’re traveling as much as you can. Don’t be tempted to consume fast food and street food. Instead, consider packing healthier snacks, such as fruit slices and nuts. When you have to look for a place to eat, consider the menu items and check if they offer salads and other meals. As you consume along the way, limit your portions to amounts that are just enough to help you stay active until your next mealtime.
Endnote
Don’t let the stress of traveling get in the way of your much-deserved wellness break. Guard your body and mind as you book a trip to unwind!