Excitedtoget away but dreading the journey? Help is here
Whether you’re returning to somewhere you love or exploring a new destination, there is lots to look forward to if you’re planning your first getaway abroad in a few years. There’s just the small matter of getting there.
From delays and vehicle breakdowns to travel sickness, lost luggage and the pressure of trying to make a connecting flight, travelling has potential pitfalls and roadblocks at every turn.
And, unfortunately for many of us, our travelling anxiety may have gotten worse since the start of the pandemic. Research in November of 2020* revealed that 69% of Brits were experiencing a degree of travel anxiety, compared to only 44% before the outbreak of coronavirus.
The pandemic had also changed what we fear most about travelling, with new Covid-related fears to worry about. This included catching Covid abroad and becoming unwell, alongside the likes of UK or local lockdowns.
However, in general, the top three travelling fears for Brits at the time also show that, even without the pandemic, a holiday can cause stress. Those top three general fears were not being insured if unwell on holiday (37.7%), being late for or missing a flight (32.5%) and losing your passport while away (29.1%).
Despite all these fears, travelling is worth it. Back in late 2020, the same research* revealed what people were missing about holidays: the weather (62.5%), exploring new places (61.5%), downtime from the day-to-day and a chance to relax (54.1%), making memories (53.3%) and quality time with family and friends (46.6%).
All these benefits that come with getting away help cancel out the negatives of travelling. After all, when you look back on a holiday, the trials and tribulations of the journey tend to fade in comparison with all the amazing memories.
Especially if, instead of just gritting your teeth and getting on with it, you spend a little bit of time beforehand to try to make travelling as comfortable as possible.
There are lots of ways you can do exactly that, starting by viewing travelling as less of a necessary evil and more an extension of your actual holiday.
Could you extend a layover for
a day or two, perhaps, for a brief adventure in a city you’ve never seen before? Or maybe you can pop in to visit friends who live along the way? If you’re travelling by car or coach, turn it into an exciting road trip with plenty of snacks, travel games and must-see views to check off as you go.
Better yet, why not use the time spent travelling to really shake off the stresses of normal life and ease yourself in to holiday mode?
If you’re a passenger (and not a driver!) you could always look at packing a favourite face mask, hand moisturiser or nail varnish to pamper yourself during the journey.
But if you can’t be bothered with all that hassle, nothing says relaxing spa session quite like the smell of essential oils. Treat yourself to a roll-on aromatherapy blend. Roll on to your wrists and breathe it in deeply, topping up throughout your journey whenever you need a quick little pick-me-up. Just make sure it’s a travel-friendly size if you’re flying.
Plus, being prepared helps. Check in online, have an on-flight bag packed with the essentials, print out or download the details of any layovers or directions to hotels you might need, place all your travel documents in one place and keep an eye on any restrictions for your destination, be that related to visas or Covid.
And think about how you can support yourself throughout your journey, whether it goes smoothly or you encounter a few hiccups. Are you one of the growing number of users of meditation apps? If so, why not download a few of your favourite meditations for the journey? Or, you could even start practising breathing exercises for stress and anxiety to turn to if you reach a difficult point during travelling. The NHS website details a breathing exercise on its website that takes three to five minutes – it involves breathing in through your nose gently as you count from one to five, and then slowly out through your mouth (without pausing or holding) for a count of one to five.
Ultimately, you may have a long flight ahead of you. You might hit a few bumps along the way. But once you’re settled in your new temporary home, with a favourite book in hand and your bag unpacked, you’ll soon forget all about the journey.