Travelling can be a seriously stressful and daunting experience. There’s so much to remember and do while you’re travelling that you can easily forget a crucial part of the process. That’s especially true during these times; coronavirus has made travel even more difficult and imposed even more checks and balances on travellers. Whether you’re looking to travel for business or pleasure, it’s important to keep those comforts around you to remind you of home and of the things you love doing. Here are 10 comforts that can help you stay sane while you travel.
1. Gaming
Gaming has been proven to reduce stress and improve mental health, so it’s an ideal companion for you as a hobby when you travel. You could play video games, board games, or card games, depending on whether you have a travelling companion. If you’re a solo traveller, why not give casino games on a platform like Casimba a try? You’ll quickly find a community to rally around you, and you could even stand to win some real money to help take the edge off your travel costs a little.
2. Music
Just like gaming, music has the power to relieve stress. Certain kinds of music will, of course, have a more calming effect than others, but just listening to music you enjoy can boost your serotonin levels. Make sure that you take some music with you when you travel. This goes double for playing; if you play an instrument and you’re capable of taking it with you, it can make an invaluable companion when you’re far from home and wishing you could be back with your family.
3. Podcasts
Some have dubbed podcasts “radio’s reinvention”, and while we wouldn’t necessarily go that far, we can certainly see why that might be said. Podcasts are effectively radio on demand, and there are thousands upon thousands to choose from. True crime, romance, entertainment, business, politics, and plenty more are all covered by some of the best and most well-informed podcast hosts in the business. The hours will fly by if you take a compelling podcast with you when you travel.
4. Books
Of course, reading is a wonderful pastime for many reasons, but one of them is just how much time it can kill when you travel. You can educate yourself while you move from place to place with a non-fiction book, or you can simply lose yourself in a compelling narrative. The best part of reading nowadays is ebooks and e-readers; with these devices, you can fit thousands of books in your hand luggage, so you don’t need to worry about taking up space.
5. Food
If you happen to be travelling in a place renowned for its food – which, let’s face it, is pretty much everywhere in the world – then eating local delicacies and famous dishes can be an excellent way to seek comfort. If you’re staying somewhere self-catered, why not cook a dish that reminds you of home? Food has been proven to be one of the most nostalgic and emotionally comforting ways to improve your mood, so make sure you eat well while you’re travelling.
6. Creativity
Everyone should pursue some kind of creative endeavour. We all have the spark within us that will allow us to make something special; it’s just about nurturing that spark and turning it into something concrete. You don’t need a ton of special apparatus to effect creativity; all you need is a piece of paper and a pen, or a stylus if you’re creating on a phone or tablet. Art, creative writing, and movie-making are all entirely possible using just your smartphone or laptop.
7. Rest
It’s incredibly important, when travelling, to find some time to take breaks every once in a while. Travelling can be its own form of work; there are a lot of tasks involved, especially during check-in at airports or when following a strict itinerary. With that in mind, finding time to kick back and do nothing is important. Sometimes, it’s just as rewarding to simply drink in the atmosphere of the place in which you find yourself. Don’t get caught up trying too hard to accomplish things while you travel.
8. Self-care
Don’t neglect things like personal hygiene or grooming while you’re travelling. Your regular hygiene routine can be a window into your mental health, and neglecting it could make you feel worse. Of course, there will be days when you’re just not feeling up to it, and leaning into those days is also important. However, be sure not to neglect this aspect of your personal self-care routine overall, because it will tinge any negative experiences and make them that much harder to deal with.
9. Communication
Don’t lose touch with people you love simply because you’re travelling. We live in a world where it’s easier to talk to people than it’s ever been before; thanks to the prevalence of social media, we can often call up conversations with our loved ones in seconds. If you’re not feeling a conversation with your family, why not try to strike up a conversation with a stranger (if you’re fluent in the language, of course)? Humans are inherently social animals, so however you do it, make sure you’re interacting with other people while you travel. It’s worth it!
10. Coffee (or tea)
Supposedly, around 1.4 billion cups of coffee a day are poured around the world. If you’re someone who takes comfort in a cup of coffee – or your preferred brand of tea, or any other hot drink – then taking this with you when you travel can seriously alleviate things like homesickness. Make sure that you bring a sturdy flask with you, as well as some of your favourite type of coffee. That way, if things go wrong – or if they go right – you’ll always be able to prepare a fresh cup to commiserate with yourself (or congratulate yourself on a trip well-enjoyed).
These are just some of the ways we’ve found to keep ourselves sane while we travel. Did we miss anything? What do you bring with you when you travel? Let us know!
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