5 Things You Must Do To Make Traveling Stress-free

If you’re like me, I love the thought of traveling.  Whether it is planning a vacation or traveling for work, I get excited by the idea of going somewhere new or different.

But, when the time comes to pack my bags and make it to the airport on time, I get STRESSED.

That is why I’ve put together 5 key tips for you to kick the stress from your travel plans and enjoy yourself! Check them out below!

1) Use a “Travel Checklist”

Before you even get to go on your trip – you need to pack – And let’s be honest, packing is not what I would call “fun”.

Ok, so maybe its a little bit of fun when you’re packing up bathing suits & flip flops because you’re about to escape the freezing cold northern winter for your vacation to the warm Bahamas, but most of the time, I associate packing with stress.

“Underwear, toothbrush, socks…. did I pack phone charger?”

I always felt like there was something I was missing. And usually, there I was missing something. Of course, I didn’t usually know that I had forgotten something until I went to go use my *insert forgotten item* to find out that I didn’t pack it! Last time, it was my face moisturizer. That is not something a girl wants to live without for 5 days.

That’s why I created my “Travel Checklist” below.  It has everything I would need (and more!) when I am traveling, whether that be for work or for personnel trips. Check it out here!

2) Screenshot your reservations

For me, I’ve learned this is a MUST.

The worst is when you are standing in the TSA line at the airport and it is finally your turn to step up to the Officer and your internet connection is being slow, your Airline App isn’t working on your phone, and you are overcome with panic.

You can avoid this panic completely by knowing you have a screenshot of your ticket information/boarding pass on your phone if you need it.

Also, for hotel and car reservations, a screenshot will allow you to have quick access to know where you are going and what your reservation or confirmation number is if they ask. This is usually pretty readily available in your email on your phone anyways, but again, knowing it is saved and easily accessible right in my photos gives me a peace of mind.

Who gets stressed when they feel rushed? *insert hand-raising emoji here*

3) Give yourself enough time

It is the worst when I am driving to the airport, find myself stuck in traffic barely moving, and I keep looking at the clock as the minutes pass, hoping that I get there in time.

In all honesty, it always works out just fine. I’ve never missed a flight, but the worry and anxiety of “cutting it close” is not worth it for me. I’d rather sacrifice a little spare time to avoid those stressful situations.

4) Dress comfy

When I think of travel clothes, the first thing that comes to mind is leggings. Big surprise? Right 😉

But seriously – the last thing I want when traveling is to feel uncomfortable or restricted and unable to move around and change sitting positions when on a flight or in a car for hours.

Second item that comes to mind is a sweatshirt. Airplanes are sometimes chilly, so you want to make sure you have something to keep you warm if needed.

Now dressing comfy isn’t always 100% possible. For example, just a few weeks back I travelled for work. I flew to and from NC in one day for a business meeting. I didn’t really have a choice of wearing leggings, a hoodie, and my hair in a knot on the top of my head (at least not on the way to the meeting 😉 )

However, even while dressing professional, I still make comfy choices where I could. Knowing I would be doing a lot of walking in the airport, I chose comfy little boots that have minimal height to the heel. 

Bonus option: Get yourself a comfy neck pillow so you can get cozy while on an airplane or in a car.  I bought one a few years back from the Brookstone store in the DTW airport, and I love it. It has an attached hood too!

5) Plan ahead

When taking a trip, there are often so many things to do and see that it can be overwhelming.

Who else has wasted time (hours) in a new city trying to look up and decide what restaurants have the best reviews, what events/landmarks are must-sees, etc.? By the time you do your research and decide on a plan, you’ve already lost valuable vacation time!

Get ahead of the game and do this research ahead of time. Go online, check out some of the cool things your vacation spot has to offer and make a list of those that you’re interested in.

My boyfriend and I (along with about 15 other family members) are going on a cruise in two months. We have been making a list of some things that we would be interested in doing, or seeing, on each island.

Especially with a cruise, there is not much time on each island. We will make the most of it by being prepared with ideas and activities! That is not to say you should plan it all out and never deviate from the plan. Instead, do the brain storming work ahead of time so your “day of” planning is simple!

Give these 5 tips a try next time you travel and let me know your thoughts in the comments below. What other travel tips do you swear by? Share them below!

simply,

lindsay nicole