The Most Stressful Things About Travel (And How To Combat Them) – Travel is fun, however, for many people, travel can cause a lot of stress too.
Many people dream of travelling. They imagine the warm sun on their face, the new foods that they’ll taste, and the glorious sights that they’ll see. Travel is about so much more than just fun. It’s also an effective stress reliever, allowing people to disconnect from everyday life and the worries that come with it. However, for many people, travel can cause a lot of stress too. Despite the positive effects a holiday can bring, the experience can take a toll, draining your mind and body. If ignored, these consequences can leave you with poor travel experiences and even develop into more serious issues. With that in mind, here are thirteen causes of travel stress.
- Financial Related Issues
No one ever said that travel was cheap. In fact, ask anyone, and they’ll tell you how expensive it can be. It doesn’t matter how long you’re going away for or where you’re headed; It’s possible it might cost quite a bit to get there. This can cause financial trouble that casts a shadow over your entire holiday. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to cut the cost of your trip. You could search online for voucher codes, for example, and plan your trip during the off-peak season. Some people also book accommodation that has kitchen space so that they can cook their own meals each night.
- Planning The Trip
Planning a holiday is no small feat. There are many elements that need to be booked well in advance, which can create quite an overwhelming situation, especially if you don’t plan trips very often. The easiest way to keep yourself sane is to approach the task in parts, rather than all at once. You can create a checklist of all of the things that you need to do before going away and slowly work your way through them, ticking off the tasks as they’re completed. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to do all of this alone, then you may want to work with a travel agent.
Another thing you have to worry about now when travelling are the travel restrictions to and from certain countries. You will need to understand all the proper protocols and which countries are not allowing international travel right now. Some countries may have a quarantine period during which you will have to self-isolate either when arriving or coming back home. You may also need a pcr fit to fly certificate depending on the airline you are using and the country you are visiting. Make sure that you travel safely and follow all guidelines.
- Juggling Companions’ Needs
Solo travel is definitely a daunting experience, but no one can deny that it makes planning a trip a whole lot easier. After all, when you go on holiday by yourself, you only have your own needs, wants, and expectations to plan around. This means that you can stay where you want, go where you want, and do what you want. When you’re travelling with friends or family, on the other hand, you have to ensure that they’re happy too. Because of this, it makes sense to invite your loved ones to help you plan. This way, everyone has a say in how the trip is going to turn out.
- Worries About Safety
Many travellers worry about their safety when they go abroad. This is particularly true if they’ve been watching horror films or listening to the news. Every day you hear a new story of someone who has been kidnapped, conned, or injured while on holiday, but, it’s important to remember that any of those things could happen in your own country too. In fact, they’re even more likely back home, as you feel more at ease there. While there’s no way to guarantee your safety, paying attention to travel alerts, learning safety tactics, and buying insurance can minimise any risks.
- Abandoning Work Commitments
A holiday is supposed to serve as an escape, but, when you have work commitments, either to your job or school, it’s very difficult to keep your mind in the present. For this reason, you may want to bring your work away with you. There are many courses these days, from neonatal NP programs to arts degrees, that allow you to complete most, if not all of your work online. This means that you could complete your coursework by the pool or in your hotel room. If you mostly complete your job on a computer, you could telecommute when you go away too.
Another thing you might have to worry about when planning your trip is schoolwork. The best way around this is probably to postpone your travel plans until your academic calendar allows you to travel. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case, especially when online or remote learning options are available. You can take online courses and have the freedom to travel the world. Thankfully, you should find online courses in almost every field. For instance, if you’re in the nursing field, you can take up an online psychiatric nurse practitioner program
- Fear Of Flying
Air travel is an incredibly common fear, even among avid travellers. After all, if we were supposed to fly through the sky, then we surely would have been born with that ability. There are lots of qualities of air travel that can be seen as unappealing, including the crowds, long lines, and security. Planning your trip during less busy times can reduce these worries, as there will be fewer people around. You can also make flying easier by wearing comfortable clothes and bringing a distraction. If you truly can’t fly, then try travelling by boat, train, or car instead.
- Packing The Bags
There is only so much that you can take with you when you go away. Although you could potentially buy lots of extra luggage space, few people want or have the money to do this. For this reason, you must utilize the space that you do have well. Before you start packing, write a list of everything that you need to bring with you and tick this list off as you put things into the bag. Once you’ve finished packing, you should go away for a while and then come back to look at your bag again. You’ll probably spot a few things that you can take out to free up some space.
- Missing A Flight
As scary as flying can often be, missing the flight that you need to catch is so much worse. Whether you’re supposed to be jetting off or heading home, it can ruin your holiday, cost you a lot of money, and cause you unnecessary worry. To make it less likely that you’ll miss your flight, you should set off to the airport hours before you need to be there. This means that, if there is traffic or some other sort of delay, it won’t keep you from getting to the airport on time. Some people choose to book a hotel near the airport the day before their flight, just to be extra safe.
- Losing Important Belongings
Leaving all of your valuables at home is practically impossible when travelling these days. Even if you don’t pack camera equipment, laptops, tablets, and more, you’ll still need to take your phone, some cash, a passport, and a few other important belongings. If you were to lose any one of these things, especially your passport, it would cause a lot of bother. To make it less likely that you’ll lose everything, you should spread your valuables out, keeping them in different pockets. You can also buy insurance to cover the cost of any loses and make copies of your documents.
- Navigating Unfamiliar Situations
Heading somewhere new is bound to lead to unfamiliar situations. You will try new foods, be introduced to new customs, explore new places, and a whole lot more. These experiences are exciting and fun, but they can also be overwhelming at times. You may face culture shock, which can leave you feeling isolated and homesick. Reading about the destination before you go can prepare you for the differences that you’ll face, and there are lots of great travel guide books on the market. Also, bringing a few comforts from home, like a blanket or your favourite snacks, will also help you to adjust and make the place seem more familiar.
- Concerns Back Home
Even when exploring somewhere completely new, some travellers have trouble letting go of everything going on back home. You might worry about the security of your home, if your pets are being fed, and if your plants are being watered. This is completely normal, but that doesn’t mean that you should allow these concerns to take over your entire holiday. Asking someone that you know you can trust to take care of things for you can give you peace of mind. You might also want to have security equipment installed so that you know immediately when there is an issue.
- Unfulfilled vacation Expectations
Most people daydream about their upcoming holidays for months before they actually roll around. They think about the activities that they’re going to do, the foods that they’re going to eat, the sights that they’re going to see, and how amazing all of it will be. This is a healthy way to escape from everyday life, but only if you keep your daydreams realistic. The moment you start expecting your holiday to be perfect, you set yourself up for disappointment. Nothing in life ever goes exactly to plan, so remember this and prepare for a bump in the road or two.
- Bringing the Children Along
Going on holiday with children can make the experience a lot more fun. However, it also comes with extra stress. The costs will be higher, there’ll be more to pack, and you’ll need to fit your routine around them. Plus, children are impatient creatures, so you can bet that you’ll be asked “Are we there yet?” at least once every hour. If you’ve never travelled with kids before, it’s sensible to start with a shorter trip, rather than one that lasts several weeks. You may also want to stay closer to home. Involving the children in the planning process will help to keep them happy too.
Travel can be a stressful experience, but, hopefully, with the advice above, you’ll find your next trip a lot more relaxing.
*Collaborative post*
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