5 Tips to Less Stress While Traveling
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We’ve all done it before: made the mad dash through the airport, recreating the scene from Home Alone, rushing to make the flight. Right as you sit down in your seat, gearing up for take off, you realize you forgot something. While it may not have been a child, it’s probably still important. Almost instantaneously, the headaches start to take over and your relaxing trip doesn’t seem so carefree anymore. To help minimize the chances of finding yourself in a situation similar to the one above, pay attention to the following tips on how to stress less while traveling.
1. Make Lists
This is one thing that cannot be stressed enough. Even though our brains can hold a vast amount of information, humans are not perfect and tend to forget things. These things always seems to be important. Whether it be your toothbrush or your passport, a list will help tremendously in remembering things. Usually writing down a list with a pen and paper helps most with memory, but writing a note on a phone also helps.
2. Give Yourself Reminders
With sticky notes, sticking reminders on things such as electronic chargers, glasses, or plane/train tickets helps to remember to grab them before heading out the door. On another note (literally), it also helps to put a note on the back of your front door, or whichever door you will be exiting out of, reminding you to grab your purse or wallet, tickets, and other components that are crucial to your trip.
3. Label Your Luggage
Nothing can ruin a trip like lost or misplaced luggage. With most luggage looking the same, it is important that you can identify your luggage at a glance to make sure you are grabbing the right one. Make sure that your name and phone number are written on the luggage, ensuring that if it is lost, there is a better chance of getting it back. Another way of identifying your luggage is to tie a ribbon or string along the handle of the luggage. This way, if there is luggage identical to yours, you will be able to identify your own personal touch, and be on your way to enjoying your trip knowing your belongings are safe and sound.
4. Put Necessities in Your Carry-On
In the off-chance that your luggage does get misplaced, you want to make sure your essentials are in your carry-on bag with you. This would include your wallet, tickets, phone, phone charger, any medicines you may need, headphones, and a small snack like a granola bar. Another thing to pack in your carry-on bag is a change of clothes because nothing can brighten a mood more than being able to change into fresh clothes after traveling.
5. Give Yourself Ample Travel Time
When packing, make sure to do so early enough so that you are not scrambling at the last second to get things together. You could also set alarms for the time you are planning to leave the house. Doing so will remind you to be on your way. Be sure to give yourself ample time to travel to the airport or another mode of transportation you are taking, as it is always better to arrive early than late.
Following these tips, along with maintaining a good attitude, will help to create a better time traveling so that you can enjoy your destination with less stress. Maybe if the family from Home Alone followed some of these tips, they would have enjoyed their time traveling as well.