Tips For Stress-Free Travel
With today’s hectic lifestyle and work life pressure, it’s never been more important to take a break and time for yourself. Vacations allow you to relax and do the things you love with family or friends, while leaving the hassles of the daily grind at home. However, it’s no secret that preparing for a holiday can be stressful in itself!
Rescue® has teamed up with The Stress Management Society to offer 5 tips to avoid vacation anxiety and enjoy your travels, wherever you may go:
1. Think ahead to the destination
Don’t leave anything to chance when you get to the other end of your journey. Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork handy, including any visas you might need and the address and telephone number of your accommodation.
Research whether you will need any vaccinations for your destination, and take a first aid kit with some essentials. Items that are easy to come by at home may not be so readily available abroad!
It is also important that you think through how you will get from the airport to the hotel. It helps to have printed itineraries for each transfer, and local transportation guides and schedules. There is nothing worse for your stress levels than arriving in a country after a long journey to find nobody available to ask for help and no internet connection to work out how to get to your hotel.
2. Arrive early
Nothing gets travel off to a more stressful start than running late. However you are getting there, be it by plane, train or bus, make sure you have factored in enough time for any unforeseeable delays.
When booking your travel, consider departing midday verse early morning. This will give you extra time to finish your last minute packing and get to the airport. And remember: if you are earlier than necessary, there is always something to do at the airport to keep you busy. Better to get there early and relax than arrive late and in a rush. (Check out these time management tips.)
3. Check in online
Avoid lines by checking in to your flight in advance. This will save you valuable time at the airport, and if your flight is delayed, you won’t have to worry about check in closing. Make sure that you send your boarding passes to your smartphone, as this will be an additional time saver and reduce your chances of misplacing them.
4. Be prepared
Make sure you are prepared for all stages of your travel. Write a packing check list leading up to your trip, and pack early to ensure you’ve got everything you’ll need. And ensuring you have only the bare essentials in your carry-on luggage will save you time at security. Preparation really is the traveler's best friend!
5. Relax and breathe
If you suffer from fear of flying, be sure to take a few comfort items along in your carry-on. Whether it’s a good book to keep you entertained or an eye mask for an overnight flight, it helps to take items that will make you feel more comfortable.
When you are on your flight you can also do some activities to help you relax. The plane might not have a lot of leg room but you can always practice some meditation, mindfulness or breathing exercises to help you unwind.
Here's another article on stress-free travel essentials. Check out our favorite calming essential oils. If you like, our 4 favorite mindfulness apps are here. Learn about stress here with 10 facts about stress you may not know.
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