Stress-Busting Holiday Tips

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Many of us can’t wait to get back into the swing of things when it comes to travel. The coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult for many of us to get away as often as we would like, or even at all in some cases, but that is starting to change and now we can think about getting out there and getting on a plane again.

Of course, travel can be stressful at the best of times, and now we have travelling in a pandemic to worry about too, which is why I’ve put together some tips to help you bust the stress of holidaying and have the most amazing trips in 2021 and beyond…

1. Start early

Booking last minutes trips is still possible, and some people think that this is the way to go right now due to ongoing pandemic issues and the possibility of trips needing to be cancelled. However, if you’re planning to go to a green destination it is almost certainly going to be a good idea to start planning your trip as far in advance as possible. Why? Because doing so will enable you to really research your holiday from booking the best flights and accommodation to ensuring that you meet all of the travel requirements, which means you’re less likely to end up stressed out due to various factors going wrong.

2. Gather your documents

As soon as you have your holiday booked, make a real effort to gather together all of the documents you are likely to need (research this if you are not sure) from your passport to your visa and vaccine documentation. Put it in a safe place and that way you won’t be running around like a headless chicken trying to find it all the night before your holiday – a sure-fire way to be stressed out before your holiday has even started.

3. Ditch the plane

If you are the kind of person who gets stressed out by airports and/or flying, then have you considered travelling by a different method completely? Depending on where you are travelling, it may be possible to go by train, boat or even car instead and this could help you to enjoy the travel part of your holiday almost as much as the rest of it so it’s definitely worth considering, although you should bear in mind it will probably take you longer and potentially cost you more. St6ill, you get more time to relax and enjoy the scenery so is that really a bad thing?

4. Create a capsule wardrobe

Creating a capsule holiday wardrobe will lighten your suitcase’s load significantly, and if you do it right, it should mean that you always have something to wear because each individual piece will go with every other piece to create an endless number of ensemble options.

5. Queue behind business travellers

This may sound odd, but if you tend to get stressed out by long queues at the airport, try to identify any business travellers who are taking the same flight, and make an effort to stand behind them when going through security. Why? Because business travellers tend to pack light with little more than efficiency on their mind, which means they will probably get waved through pretty quickly, and you won’t have to wait around for an age either. 

6. Avoid queuing with families

On a similar note, try to avoid queueing behind families as they will probably have packed a lot of things, which means it will take longer for them to get through security. Not only that, but if the children get bored, they might have a tantrum or become disruptive, and that’s the last thing you need when you’re already feeling stressed, no matter how much you normally love children.

7. Download a packing app

Packing apps are really good for those of you who get stressed out by the process. They enable you to generate lists based on various factors including the weather conditions at your destination and which activities you will be doing there, so you can be sure that you pack everything you were likely to need.

8. Leave plenty of time

It doesn’t matter how close you live to the airport or how many trains are running to your destination, there is always a chance that something could go wrong – you could get held up in traffic or weather conditions could cancel the trains, for example – which is why it is always a good idea to get up and out early. Leaving plenty of time to account for any mishaps along the way.

9. Clean the house

Before you go, clean and tidy the house so that when you get back from your holiday, you can prolong the relaxation for a bit longer instead of having to worry about all of the dust or the washing that you forgot to fold.

10. Make sure you’re insured

You should not, especially now, be even thinking about going on holiday if you are not fully insured. Accidents can and do happen, and illnesses are unpredictable, and there is nothing more stressful than being ill and having to worry about how you will get medical treatment or pay the bills.

11. Get plenty of sleep

The night before travelling, be sure to have a good dinner, plenty of water and a good night’s sleep. This will set you up for the long day ahead and ensure that you don’t end up getting exhausted, hangry and stressed out when you should be starting to relax and get excited for your holiday.

12. Pack earplugs

Oh, and don’t forget to pack earplugs and maybe a sleep mask for the plane so that you can block out any annoying distractions that threaten to take you out of your peaceful state and get your holiday off to a bad start.

Stress is not inevitable whether you are flying to France or cruising the Med, all you need to do is put the above ideas into action and holiday bliss can be yours.