9 Key Tips to Stress-Free Travels And Vacations

By Chinelo Ngene,

When you’re going on a vacation, or traveling for recreational purposes, one can only assume that your intention is to relax and take a load off. And even if you happen to be travelling for business purposes, I’m sure you want to rest as much as possible before arriving at your destination and getting to work. Whatever the case, traveling should be stress free and not make you regret deciding to go on a trip or invoke multiple curse on yourself and several other people.

Besides the obvious things like planning ahead, using a packing list, and getting to the airport early, there are some pretty simple things that we often overlook which could actually significantly reduce our stress levels during trips. Below are some key tips for having a stress-free holiday.

· Keep your attitude in check. Being rude to security never helps anyone. Things will go a lot smoother if you just follow instructions. If you feel the need to question an instruction, be polite about it. Avoid sarcasm and never raise your voice.

· If you know you’re choosy about where you seat, and the leg space available, request a seat you’d prefer when booking your ticket. Some airlines might allow pick a preferred seat. Others may require you to pay for preferred seating or extra leg room. If you have some extra money, your comfort is worth it.

· As often as you can, only travel with a carry-on. This way, you know exactly where your belongings are and you won’t have to worry about it getting lost or arriving days after you. Plus, it’s a lot easier to move across the airport with.

· There’s a saying “everything that could possibly go wrong will”, or something like that. While this may stand, it’s also important to remember that a positive energy makes for a lot of good karma. It’s alright to be cautious, but you should also expect good things to happen on your trip.

· Be polite to the people you come across. Simple words like “please”,  “excuse me”, and “hello” can improve the next person’s mood and also prevent a confrontation. You could even make friends in the waiting area or on the plane. Everyone has stuff going on in their lives and sometimes some people just need someone to talk to.

· Worrying never really solves any problems. All it’s likely to do is give you a headache. What you need to do is relax, try to have some fun, and don’t take yourself or things too seriously. Remember some things are beyond your control and it is the way you handle these situations that matters.

· Try to get as much sleep as you can on the plane. This is actually a great way to beat jet lag. Being well rested when you arrive at your destination will help you adjust to the time zone more easily. If you find it difficult to fall asleep, bring ear plugs and a sleep mask.

· It’s essential to stay hydrated when on the move. Have a water bottle on hand and take huge gulps at intervals. Not having enough water in your system will actually make you feel tired faster, and you might even get lightheaded and faint.

· Always keep your essentials – glasses, keys, medication, cards/wallet, etc - close to you. And double-check before you get off the plane. It’s easy for something to slip out of your pocket. And sometimes, we’re so eager to get off, we leave behind important things like phones and tablets. Getting off is not a contest; take the time to make sure you have everything.

Chinelo Ngene writes for Jovago.com