How to Stay Relaxed While Traveling? Check Out These 13 Tips to Help You

Travel is supposed to be a joyful experience, but many people start to feel uncontrollable anxiety, sadness, or discomfort during their journeys. Whether it's due to lack of sleep, being unaccustomed to local food, or unexpected mishaps preventing them from reaching a long-awaited destination as planned.

For some, simply being away from home and their usual environment can trigger travel anxiety, particularly for those prone to panic attacks. Interacting with new people or trying unfamiliar foods can heighten feelings of insecurity, and concerns about emotional reactions can exacerbate anxiety. If you experience travel anxiety, these tips can help you gain a sense of control:

1. Prepare to tackle your anxiety head-on! Sharpen your coping strategies and pack items that you know will keep you grounded. For instance, double-check that your go-to tunes are downloaded on your phone, or stash your favorite pillow in your suitcase to ensure you catch some quality Zs.

2. Get proactive about calming your nerves before you even set off on your adventure! Practice relaxation techniques ahead of time, so you're ready to deploy them the moment anxiety strikes.

• Visualize a soothing scene in your mind or focus on a tangible object around you to divert your attention from your worries. Immersing yourself in a book or tuning into a movie can be engaging distractions that keep unfamiliar surroundings from stressing you out.

• Harness the power of affirmations like, "I am safe," to steady your thoughts.

• Embrace the benefits of deep, deliberate breathing. Inhaling slowly through your nose and exhaling gradually through your mouth can counteract the shallow, rapid breaths that can trigger panic attacks.

• Explore meditation—it’s a proven stress-buster and health enhancer. Did you know losing yourself in music or daydreaming can also be a form of meditation? Making meditation a regular practice can help you build lasting resilience.

3. Keep your travel goals front and center! Imagine your life a year down the line—will you regret missing out on your dream destination?

4. Combat anxiety by taking charge of your trip's first few days. Dive into detailed planning: browse airport photos, familiarize yourself with the city's subway or local transit options, pinpoint your hotel on a map, and scope out nearby restaurants along with their reviews. Having this information at your fingertips can ease worries about the unknown.

5. Connect with a community. Whether it's online forums or local support groups, there are plenty of spaces for anxiety sufferers to share travel concerns and find encouragement.

If you're grappling with aerophobia (fear of flying), gear up for your next flight with these game-changing tips to make it your smoothest journey yet:

6. Team up with a seasoned flyer as your travel buddy. Their expertise can demystify the sounds of flying and guide you through airport procedures like security checks, boarding passes, and terminals. If they're seated beside you, they can engage you in conversation, play games to divert your attention from flying or offer words of encouragement.

7. Before boarding, have a heart-to-heart with your travel buddy about your fears and preferences. For instance, if you're not a fan of physical touch, let them know not to reach for your hand during tense moments, which could spike your anxiety.

8. Steer clear of alcohol—it can mess with your brain's reactions and amplify travel anxiety.

9. Master relaxation techniques ahead of time, then employ them the moment you step into the airport:

• Lock onto a visible object or conjure a soothing mental image.

• Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.

• Experiment with tensing each body part for ten seconds before relaxing it and moving on to the next—start with your right hand, then your arm, followed by your left side, and progress to your legs, and so on.

10. Drown out anxiety with your favorite soothing tunes or dive into a captivating movie or TV show on your phone or tablet.

11. Check out the SOAR app for Android or iOS—it's a game-changer for overcoming the fear of flying. Developed by Capt. Tom Bunn, a former U.S. Air Force and commercial jet pilot, this app is packed with reassuring features. It includes a built-in G-force meter to gauge your plane's turbulence, links to weather and turbulence forecasts, and offers downloadable videos of Capt. Bunn guides you through each flight phase, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the cockpit and plane operations.

12. Get your blood pumping with a pre-flight workout. The endorphins released will help soothe your nerves and dissipate anxious energy. If a workout isn't feasible, take a brisk stroll around the terminal to distract yourself and keep your muscles limber, effectively reducing travel jitters.

13. Opt for a seat towards the front of the plane, preferably an aisle seat. While these seats may come with a higher price tag, the extra legroom and spaciousness can be a worthwhile investment for enhanced relaxation.