This is a collaborative post
Travelling should never be tough, but when you’re travelling a long distance, it’s normal if you’re worried about the trip. Making sure you have your passport, aircraft tickets, hotel bookings, and even transportation in place is enough to put anyone’s mind into a tizzy. Fortunately, we’ve got some great advice on how to make long-distance travel less stressful!
Dissect the journey
Concentrating on one element of a long journey at a time is a terrific approach to make it feel less scary. So, if you have to fly two or more times to get to your destination, focus on one flight at a time to make it appear less difficult. Use the time you spend on the flight to plan the next leg of your journey, and you won’t feel as if you have as much to remember.
Don’t worry about parking
Another aspect of the vacation that may cause you anxiety is deciding where you will park your car while travelling. We all know how costly airport parking can be, so leave the car at home instead of driving to the airport! Perhaps a family member or friend could drive you to the airport? If you do have to drive, you can use Parking Up to find cheap airport parking.
Distribute responsibility
Unless you’re travelling with kids, it’s a good idea to divide and conquer tasks so that no one bears the brunt of the burden alone. Assign one element of the journey to your partner (or anyone you’re travelling with) so that you may focus on another. Sharing the load means you’ll be able to unwind and look forward to your arrival at some time during your journey.
Distract yourself
Travel anxiety isn’t only caused by a desire to ensure that everything is in order; it can also be caused by fear about flying or simply travelling in general. While this is a very natural sensation, we recognise that it is unpleasant to go through. So, rather than spending your entire travel feeling nervous and sick to your stomach, make sure you have lots of distractions to keep you going. Download movies to your tablet, load yourself on mind-numbing apps, or even bring a few books with you so you can lose yourself in a fantasy world for a while.
Make a strategy for moving forward
Another factor that makes travel stressful for some people is not knowing what to anticipate once they get to their destination. If you’re visiting a country for the first time, this can be very intimidating. Planning ahead of time so that you know where you should be and who you should be talking to when you arrive is a fantastic method to avoid this. You should also take some time to study a basic level of the language. Taking away the possibility of something unexpected will allow you to relax and enjoy your trip.
Give yourself extra time
Running late is one of the fastest ways to turn a normal journey into a stressful one. Long-distance travel already comes with queues, security checks, boarding times, and possible delays, so building in extra time can make a huge difference to your stress levels. Aim to arrive earlier than you think you need to. That way, if everything goes smoothly, you can grab a coffee, sit down, and relax instead of sprinting through a terminal with your heart racing. Having that time buffer makes the whole experience feel calmer and far more under control.
Keep important items within reach
There is nothing worse than needing something urgently and realising it is buried at the bottom of your bag. When you are travelling a long distance, make sure all your essentials are easy to grab. This includes your passport, boarding passes, phone charger, any medication, and a small amount of cash. Keeping these items in a small pouch or the front section of your bag saves you from frantic searching at the worst possible moment. It also helps you feel more organised, which naturally reduces that background travel anxiety many people feel.
Stay comfortable during the trip
Long journeys can be exhausting, especially if you are stuck sitting for hours at a time. Wearing uncomfortable clothes or forgetting small comfort items can make the experience feel twice as long. Choose loose, soft clothing that you can sit in easily, and consider bringing a light jumper or scarf in case the temperature changes. A small travel pillow or even a rolled up hoodie can help you rest more easily. The more physically comfortable you feel, the less likely you are to become irritable, tired, or overwhelmed during the journey.
Prepare for delays
Even the best planned trips can run into delays, cancellations, or unexpected hold ups. While you cannot control these situations, you can control how prepared you are for them. Bring snacks, a refillable water bottle, and something to keep yourself entertained for longer than you think you will need. Having these backups means that if something does go wrong, you are not left hungry, bored, or stressed. Accepting that delays are sometimes just part of travel can also help you stay calm instead of feeling like the whole trip is ruined.
Look after your energy levels
Travelling long distance can be more tiring than people expect, even before the holiday properly begins. Early starts, long waits, time zone changes, and unfamiliar surroundings all take their toll. Try to get a decent night of sleep before you travel, eat properly during the journey, and drink enough water to stay hydrated. It sounds simple, but basic self care really does make a difference to how well you handle the day. When your body feels better, your mind usually feels calmer too, and the whole journey becomes much easier to handle.
Consider it the beginning of your vacation
Finally, travelling might be difficult because it takes a long time to relax and enjoy your holiday. Many people use the strategy of viewing travel as though it were a part of their vacation. If you’re travelling by airline, rail, or boat, you won’t have to lift a finger since staff will be there to serve you. Perhaps you could approach it as the beginning of your vacation to relieve some of the stress?
