Helpful tips for the anxious traveller
Travelling can be daunting and anxiety-inducing for many people. Whether you’re travelling to and from work, for a getaway or to see friends and family, feeling uneasy on your journey is never a pleasant experience. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the impact of travel anxieties, which we explore down below.
Plan ahead
Thorough planning is the antidote to so many anxious traveller’s concerns. With a better understanding of where you’re going and what you’re doing, there’s less chance you’ll make mistakes or run late.
Familiarise yourself with your destination and the transport links needed to get you there, whether that be by train, bus or plane. And pack in advance with the help of a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything – no one enjoys a last-minute panic pack.
Understand your triggers
Nervy travellers often have triggers that bring on a rush of anxiety. For some, this can be uncertainty or a lack of control over proceedings. For others, it may be crowded public spaces or interactions with strangers. Identify what your triggers are and come up with ways to avoid or cope with them should they arise.
Whether you need to call a loved one or sit down and think for a few minutes, do what you need to do to get yourself back in the driver’s seat.
Get to grips with logistics
Some find it difficult to visualise and plan multi-part journeys and that’s totally understandable. Knowing how you’re getting to the airport or train station, then which terminal, gate or platform you’re finding and how you’re onward journey will play out after you get off is a lot to think about.
Planning is key here, use it to get to grips with logistics from end to end. You can even create a roadmap of the journey with timings and locations if you so wish. It often helps to print off booking confirmations and instructions, so you’ve got a backup if you can’t find information on your phone for some reason.
Choose your accommodation wisely
When you reach your destination, your choice of accommodation is important to make you feel safe and secure. A calm and comfortable environment with helpful staff is usually enough to ease anxiety once you walk through the doors.
Check online reviews on platforms such as TripAdvisor to get a sense of different places before you book. You don’t want to pay for somewhere that’s not going to help you get a good night’s sleep.
Pack comfort items
A little familiarity and comfort during your travels can do wonders when it comes to putting you at ease. For long trips, a pillow, blanket or cuddly toy can help to settle the nerves and let you get some sleep in a car, on a train or plane. You’ll be able to make your accommodation feel more like home while you’re there too.
For shorter journeys, where those kinds of home comforts may not be warranted, listening to your favourite music, audiobooks or podcasts, or watching familiar TV shows can help you zone out during your journey. Using something to distract you is often one of the best ways to avoid over-thinking where you are and what you’re doing.