Travel stress
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11833)
March 4, 2011 2:05am CST
I have a train journey planned for later today, with two changes. I haven't got to arrive at the other end by any particular time, but I do have rather allot of baggage to haul along with me. On Monday I have a bus journey, then a plane journey, then three different buses to catch at the other end and I'll have even more luggage to drag along. If I miss any of the connections the whole plan will fall apart.
I am not a good traveller. Although I'm fine with actually getting on the plane, the train or whatever, the actual planning and anticipation of the journey ties me knots. Last night I went to bed early as I was feeling so wired up, but I was awake again by 1.30am and of course I'm now exhausted. Which doesn't make life any easier when you're travelling!
What I would like to know is how to calm myself down? I honestly don't fear the travel, but I have thoughts of it perpetually buzzing around my head, and I'm just desperate for it all to be over.
Have you got any tips for me? How do you cope with travel yourself?
2 people like this
10 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Mar 11
I mimimize travel stress as follows:
1. I get straight through flights with no stopovers, layovers or only one of those if I absolutely have to.
2. I have only carry on luggage unless I absolutely have to have more than carry on luggage.
3. I have a varitey of very comming CDs and meditation CDS and tapes.
4. Also, I've said a prayer and said to heck with it, "what will be will be," because I had way too many things to get done before I could leave anyway.
Hope something helps. Sounds like a really long trip. My husband picked up my brother at our airport last night and then brought him home. He had only one stop over, just carry on luggage. I think you plan really complicated trips and that might be part of the problem. Europe is probably harder than the states and Canada. From New York State to Florida, my brother only had one stop over. If he had flown out of Burlington, he would probably had none, but it would have cost him more and he'd need a ride to Vermont. I flew from Montreal, Canada to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada without any stopovers.
I definitely go to sleep when stressed with relaxing music, if my mind is working too hard for than, then relaxation tapes or meditation tapes. You'll do way better with rest.
Safe and happy trip, my friend. Hope it's all you want it to be.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
4 Mar 11
Actually the flight part of my journey is very simple. But I have to get to and fro the airport and that is where all the buses come in.
The simplicity of carry on only really makes sense, but for a trip of 7 weeks isn't terribly practical.
Anyway, trip number one is now complete and I have have arrived at my first destination without losing anything, missing my stop or getting lost.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Mar 11
Yeah, having someone drive us to the airport is where we gain a lot. There are not buses to our airport anyway.
I've NEVER been on a trip for 7 weeks. 2 weeks and I did have lots of clothes. Mostly because it was a cruise and they had formal and semi formal nights so I had to have a lot of clothes. Otherwise, I wouldn't have that many. Enough for one week and then wash them all for the next week is about what I would normally take if going for 2 weeks. I can't even imagine a 7 week vacation.
Glad all is well so far. Good luck and hope you're able to relax.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
5 Mar 11
I've not had access to a washing machine so I've had to have enough clothes and stuff to manage with just hand washing bits and bobs in the sink. However, I'm leaving pretty much all of those behind when I fly on Monday. Most of my luggage will consist of course work and books (heavy!) and items I've bought specifically to take back because they're hard to find at home or whatever. Thankfully when I travel on Monday I'll also be leaving sleeping bags and bedding behind as I borrowed it for the course only. I did have to carry it yesterday though, which was a bit of a shock as when I arrived I got a lift in a car and when I came away the same volume of stuff had to fit in my rucksack not a car boot!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Mar 11
hi green moo good for you and hap py traveling . I have not done any traveling for so m any years I do not even remember really how I handled it. Now I am limited to mostly doctors appts which asre not at all
fun or exciting either. lol I wo
uld suggest having some great
paperback books to take with you and relax over. I used to do that
on long bus trips across the US and it worked for me3.
uld suggest having some great
paperback books to take with you and relax over. I used to do that
on long bus trips across the US and it worked for me3.
@GardenGerty (161080)
• United States
5 Mar 11
Since packing light was not an option at this time, I would have looked into shipping my seven weeks worth of luggage on ahead if possible. Before the trip calming music and a nice cup of tea would be great too.
@Anitismo (229)
• Bahamas
5 Mar 11
With any travel I've done and believe me there was a lot that I'm not planning any thing right now or in the near future unless its to Florida and back. The thing is you anyways gonna be excited. You gonna wake up early, or not be able to sleep and when you arrive to your destination you are so tired. its just the way it is.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
6 Mar 11
I think it is quite hard to get ride of, since there's so much anticipation and excitement to any travel. But even with this, I'm pretty sure you'll pull through and the high might just make it better for you. Even with stress sometimes we end up functioning well. Just keep focus on your breathing.. do some stretches when you can. Good luck and have fun.
@Accelerator004 (43)
• China
5 Mar 11
I like travelling,I often travel 2 to 3 times a year.But I don't like the tourist transport,too.Just like the train,airplane,tourist bus and so on.These made me feel very tired.But I come to the conclusion 2 piont experience:First,sleeping!This is the best way for you to do on the tourist transport.Second,is chatting with your friends onthe transport,it can reduce your tiredness~~~~
Good luck,have a nice day~~~~
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
5 Mar 11
I would certainly feel better about travelling if I had people to travel with as chatting with them would distract me from stressing about it. I find it very sad actually that strangers on trains and buses rarely speak to each other, particularly longer journeys. It is a missed opportunity to meet new friends.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
4 Mar 11
I am a very keen traveler. I love to travel by train most of all and enjoy watching the scenery out of the window. On a plane I like to look at the route map and follow the journey's progress. A plane travels very quickly and in my mind I count the hours down. To prevent pain I wear ear planes in my ears.
This year I went on a journey that I think you might be interested to hear about. I went on three different trains with my disabled son and my baby daughter plus all our luggage. We walked to our hotel and stayed overnight waking up at 4 in the morning. Going out of our hotel it was raining and we caught a bus to the airport.
The plane sat on the ground for two hours due to fog. It departed all of a sudden without any explanatory announcement. Arriving so late in Madrid meant we had missed our connection. Luckily another airline let us go with them on to Bogota arrving at midnight. Our original airline gave us a hotel room for the night. We had to get up at 4 in the morning and we went to catch our plane to Cartagena. Arriving there we found out our baggage was delayed.
Good luck with your travel stress.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
4 Mar 11
I really don't know what it is about travel which means I can't relax. I've actually just completed the first journey I mentioned, and I was no sooner sat down than I was peering out the window worrying about missing my stop (the journey was a hour on that first train). My rucksack was on the suitcase rack a few seats from me, but i couldn't concentrate on my book because I kept feeling compelled to look over the seat above to check on it. Honestly, it's ridiculous. If anyone nicked my rucksack off the rack, where would they go with it on a moving train?
I think the worst trip I ever had involved the car breaking down and having to spend the night with the kids at the airport. It was freezing because of the air conditioning so I gave my coat to the kids to sleep under, and I couldn't check the bags in so had them to keep an eye on too.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
4 Mar 11
I pack really light...that elimiates a bunch of stress right off the get go...I also get a bit stressed always worrying about missing a connection....I hope all your travel goes well...I don't know what to tell you about relieving the stress...I am usually stressed until I actually get to my destination!
@Eugene126 (124)
• United States
4 Mar 11
Sleep deprivation and booze have worked for me (I get to sleep on the plain, train...) but I would not recommend this. :)
