Travel plans for summer sound fun until it’s time to go to the airport or begin the road trip.
As the journey begins and your home gets farther and farther away, the endless worries and anxieties in the back of the mind become slightly louder, sounding a little like:
“Did I leave the stove on?”
“I sure hope I packed my hairbrush.”
“Should I have packed a sweater?”
It’s tough to tamp down these what-if scenarios, whether you are a veteran traveler or not.
My job as a reporter, my family in India, and personal interests exploring different cultures often bring me back on the road or inside a plane.
But I am always looking for ways to manage pre-travel anxiety.
An easy one is distracting myself with airport stores. Everything feels better with a magazine and a snack.
I also make sure to recheck whether I packed my ID before leaving the house, while in the car, and right before security, and also repeatedly assure myself that I can buy whatever I forgot to pack.
Travel rituals
Rituals are an age-old way of helping us stay grounded.
Air travel might be a modern marvel, but cultures across the world practice little ways of shaking off these “bad feelings.”
In parts of Eastern Europe, families sit in silence before leaving the house, allowing the traveler to gather their thoughts and calm their nerves before they step out. This Ukrainian practice is known as sidi posidim, or let’s sit for a moment, is meant to fool the spirits in the home so they don’t follow the traveler but stay behind and protect the home. But it has practical benefits: serving as the calm before the storm, it allows a moment to grab anything that may be forgotten.
Mediterranean cultures believe in wearing the blue-and-white eye talisman, designed to “ward off the evil eye,” deflect bad energy and keep them safe on an unknown road. Meanwhile, in the Christian faith, many lean on the St. Christopher medal, a religious pendant, as a way to request safety and divine protection.
Mindfulness
During my latest trip from Salt Lake City, as I sat on my couch, waiting for my Uber, with my bags packed and keys in hand, I tried out a new technique that brought me back to the present.
With my eyes closed, I listened to the sounds coming from within my home and outside. I would focus my attention on a sound, say the A.C., then take my attention off it, moving on to another noise, like the lawnmower at work outside. My mind quieted down as it observed different hums through this intentional listening.
When I opened my eyes, I’d nearly forgotten about my Uber ride, my flight, the hotel — all of it.
Another way is the 4-4-4 breathing method, designed to lower the heart rate. Inhale, hold it and breathe out slowly all for four seconds at a time. Repeat the breathwork pattern about five times to help your mind and body relax. If any meditation or yoga techniques help, try incorporating them into your entire trip to keep any unease at bay.
Basic preparedness
Getting your ducks in a row ahead of a trip is always helpful. That means packing early, creating a breakdown of the itinerary, whether detailed or generic, as well as considering travelers’ insurance.
Make your journey as comfortable as possible. If your feet get cold, throw an extra pair of socks in the carry-on. Snacks, a water bottle, light and easy reading, neck pillows are other essentials that can help during stressful travels.
At the end of the day, it’s about reframing your mind about the idea of traveling. In the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson, adapting an ancient proverb, “Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.”
