Even in the best of circumstances, travel can be stressful. It’s obvious that travelers may use some assistance calming frazzled nerves when you consider the high degree of tension that appears to be ingrained in every holiday season.
According to travel experts, there are many things you can do in advance to ensure a more joyful and stress-free vacation.
Make a list and check things off
Make a list of the things you need to pack and the things you need to complete the week before your trip.
According to Jess Feldman, special projects editor at Travel and Leisure magazine, this can involve basic chores like watering the plants or removing expired food from the refrigerator, as well as necessary packing supplies. The secret is to avoid bringing the list with you for the full week before to your trip. Every time I cross things off my to-do list during the week, I feel incredibly prepared and my stress level drops.
Carry your comfort zone with you
Traveling with noise-canceling headphones can help you avoid annoying things, but if you do, you should monitor your phone or display boards for any changes to the flight or gate.
Music playlists with titles like Perfect Music Travel Relax and Calming Music for Airports are available on Spotify, YouTube, and other websites. Or listen to Music for Airports, a seminal album that introduced ambient music in 1978.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to have a phone charging cord, a toothbrush, a change of clothes, and extra prescriptions on hand.
Packing a sandwich or some snacks from home might be a terrific way to avoid expensive airport food and feel more at ease.
I usually prepare for the worst-case situations, such travel cancellations and delays. Naturally, this entails carrying activities, such as multiple books, knitting supplies, or a couple additional downloaded films, Feldman explains. She might pack a meal in a Tupperware container for longer trips.
Stay hydrated
Bring an empty water bottle (fill it after security) and a tiny pouch containing travel-sized moisturizers and lip balm to combat the dry air on flights.
Before your flight, Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief of the digital beauty care website Byrdie, advises hydrating your skin thoroughly. This entails increasing your hydration levels by applying moisturizing skin care products and consuming more water, so you’re taking care of your body and mind.
Remember your hair, too.
The low humidity on an airplane can cause your hair to become dry, just as it can dehydrate your skin. Gould advises using a deep conditioner prior to your trip if at all possible.
Get app-y and know the rules
According to Feldman, every airline has various policies regarding the boarding procedure, prepayment for benefits, and seat upgrades. To avoid being caught off guard, it is advisable to be aware of everything mentioned above before arriving at the airport.
You may identify alternate flights or connections more quickly if necessary and be informed sooner of gate changes, flight delays, or cancellations when you have the airline’s app.
Give yourself the gift of extra time
Both the stroll through a huge airport and the security lines can be significantly slower and longer than anticipated. Thus, allowing yourself more time can help you feel less stressed. Arriving at the airport two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours prior to departure for international flights is the standard procedure.
You can always tour the airport stores and lounges or find a place to read a nice book if you arrive too early.
According to Feldman, I usually make sure in advance if I have access to a lounge at my outgoing gate. However, she adds, “I’d like to know how the restaurants and waiting areas (near) the gate are, even without lounge access.”
Try to identify the source of your anxiety
Lynn F. Bufka, head of practice for the American Psychological Association, argues that understanding the reasons behind your stress might help you find strategies to lessen it. Is there anything you can outsource if you’re feeling overburdened? Does anyone in your family have the ability to assist with some of the planning?
Understand that you have no control over crowds, inclement weather, or canceled flights.
Additionally, some folks simply dislike flying or long flights.
According to Bufka, it’s critical to understand that if you have a phobia, such as a fear of flying, it can be cured and that doing so can significantly enhance your quality of life.
Prepare to welcome yourself home
A far more inviting return can be achieved by taking a little more time to clean your house and make sure you have some simple-to-prepare meals in the cupboard or freezer.
Before departing on a trip, make sure your space is clean. After a long day of travel, you will undoubtedly feel a little weird, and Feldman warns that returning home to a disorganized area will make it much worse.
Clean the countertops, put away clothing, wash the bedding, and take out the trash. “The best homecoming, especially after a long time away, is coming home to a clean and organized space,” she says.
By Associated Press’s Katherine Roth
This report was written from Detroit by Dee-Ann Durbin, an AP Business Writer.
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