Wait, there is a way to travel stress-free? Kind of, well, depending on the situation. I have been a missionary for 8 months now and my team travels in a group of 40 and mostly during the night. I am sure TSA just adores us (jk). However, being put into this crazy situation when we move to different countries at the end of every month has shown me that I can do just about anything. At first, creating a stress-free travel routine seemed impossible, but then realizing, “I honestly don’t care what people think,” has made it a lot easier. Let’s start with us, while traveling during the day, do what you would normally do. While traveling at night, do what you would normally do.
Your routine
I am THAT GIRL that does a full face mask on the plane. Before getting comfortable and making the plane like my one-bedroom apartment, I would feel weird even using the bathroom time to brush my teeth, but now during night flights, I hog that sucker for like 20 minutes and leave in bliss (sorry to the people that are waiting in line for the bathroom). Once the plane took off, I would go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, wash my face, do all the things that made me less stressed out and comfortable. It really changes the game when you have a routine in place. Even make a tiny list on your phone to do so you have all the goodies prepared for you. This works during the day too!
Your carryon
Prepare your carryon. I usually have two backpacks; the one I put above me has books, gadgets, and random things I don’t need and the one under my feet has my routine needs, a book, and my laptop plus chargers. Be strategic with your carryon and make things easily accessible. I pack compression socks (so my feet don’t swell), light snacks (I don’t eat airplane food, it’s not good for your digestive system to eat that much and stay sitting high up in their air), chargers, a small bag for my night routine, my laptop, a book, my wallet, etc. Also, for the sake of stress-free security; put your electronics and liquids on top. I’ve had to deconstruct my bag numerous times and I have social anxiety, so making people wait in line after me makes me want to cry.
Your checked bag
They have these cool gadgets now that helps you weigh your stuff ahead of time if your luggage is too heavy and could break your scale. Nothing is worse than paying a fee for being a pound over so make sure you are good to go before you go! Relieves a lot of stress. I cannot count the number of times I have played dumb to get out of those fees.
Your “I’m bored” moments
Download 10 movies, a few tv shows, a book, an audiobook, some games, bring playing cards, and make sure everything is charged up! Might sound dramatic for your two-hour flight, but nothing is better than having options! Don’t always try to be productive during these times either. I’ve purposely skipped all these things thinking I would use my flight time to blog or work, but when I don’t want to do that, I sit there withering away into pure boredom. You will thank your past self for being considerate.
Your priorities & timing
What is important to you on a travel day? Coffee? Being early? Getting in a meal? Having time to buy a magazine? Think about it before planning on what time you want to show up at the airport. Coffee is a priority to me, so I give myself time to get some and time to be able to sit and chillax before boarding my flight because that is stress -free for me. I am like my parents where I love showing up to the airport 8 years early.
What are your favorite stress-free travel tips??
