Patricia
Does getting ready for a big trip make you feel completely stressed out? If so, you’re not alone. An estimated 25% of people experience notable travel anxiety no matter how often they’re on the go.
For some, it’s the need to live out of a suitcase that brings on stress. For others, navigating a crowded airport is the biggest culprit.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to start reducing travel anxiety. From improving your packing to skipping airport crowds, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for our best tips to keep travel anxiety at bay.
Identify the Root
When we start to feel stressed about one thing, that stress can spiral out of control, tainting our view of everything in sight. By identifying the root cause of your stress, you can keep your stress reduction efforts focused and maintain perspective.
Common sources of travel anxiety include:
- fear of new places
- attachment to routine
- car, bus, or airplane phobia
- fear of leaving kids or pets in someone else’s care
If the source is strong or connected to a past trauma, consider enlisting the help of a licensed therapist. Otherwise, find ways to change how you approach travel. For example, if airport stress is your biggest issue, consider chartering a flight through a company like Jackson Jet Center.
Keep a Necessity Bag on Hand
Packing is another major source of stress, especially if you have a tendency to forget essentials. If you travel often, it’s time to build a bag of necessities (think toiletries, underwear, phone chargers, etc.) for traveling purposes, only.
When all of your essentials are already packed, you can approach packing with more ease, focusing on things like appropriate apparel for the weather and fun things you want to bring along. This is the perfect hack for procrastinators and under-packers, alike.
Practice Grounding Exercises
What if you could keep your anxiety under control before it scrambles your brain? Grounding exercises can help to regulate your nervous system while focusing your mind on something soothing. Plus, many of them can be performed conspicuously, making them ideal for crowded spaces.
Start practicing grounding techniques before you travel to get the hang of them and find out what works for you. Some people may prefer guided meditation while others will prefer the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. Some may benefit from visualizing a positive outcome while others may get the most out of a fidget toy.
Kiss Travel Anxiety Goodbye in 2023
If you’ve been living with travel anxiety, it’s time to find more ease so that you can enjoy your next travel destination. Use this guide to address the source of your anxiety and kiss travel anxiety goodbye for good.
Now that you’re ready to face your travel anxiety, it’s time to start thinking about your next trip. Take a look at our travel content to discover the most interesting travel destinations, travel trends, and more.
