Going on vacation is supposed to be full of fun and relaxation, but “getting away from it all” can often feel overwhelming. Travel anxiety is very real for many people, adults and children alike. Fortunately, you and your family can find a way to lessen the stress with healthy coping strategies and alternatives to anxiety medication so you all can make the most of special family time while experiencing a change of scenery. As a parent, reducing your anxiety can help improve everyone’s experience. Try these tips today for your summer travel.
Seek Support Beforehand
Reading this article is the first step to minimizing your anxiety before your journey. Whether searching online for tips or speaking openly with a counselor or friend, seeking support can help immensely. Contrary to how it may feel, you aren’t the only person experiencing travel anxiety. Others can help calm your nerves and share practices that help them while traveling.
Prepare Ahead of Time
It’s helpful to think about what triggers your travel anxiety. Then you can consider ways to deal with them. These anticipations may be irrational, which means that your worries are extremely unlikely to become a reality. Research has found that when it comes to anxiety, your brain can’t detect what is real and what is not, producing the same response either way. Make a list of triggers, then decide if they are rational or irrational. Then, write solutions for everything that you can do something about. Once you implement the solutions, you can put your mind at ease because you have done everything possible to make the trip easier.
Ensure Everyone Is Entertained
Ensure everyone in your family takes some things to keep them occupied during travel and downtimes. Familiarize yourself with the signs of anxiety in teenagers and younger kids to help determine when they need to occupy their minds with a different activity. Even if you’re driving, you can keep yourself entertained by listening to music, audiobooks or podcasts. A tablet should be enough to keep most family members occupied with games, books, videos, music and other activities.
Make Lists
Many people find it helpful to make lists before traveling. One of the most essential lists is what you need to pack. Begin days or weeks in advance. You can also list what you must do before your trip and keep an itinerary. Keep your list of everything you want to pack, take it with you on your trip and reuse it so you won’t leave anything at the hotel or in the rental car!
Get Plenty of Sleep
Ensure everyone sleeps well the night before heading out on your adventure. When well-rested, you are much less likely to be anxious or irritable. Having everything ready to go well before bed the night before will allow for better rest.
Knowing various coping techniques for anxiety can benefit you throughout your daily life. Although it may be nice when doing something outside your daily routine, it can produce more challenges for kids and adults. Look into natural anxiety medication for children and adults to start conquering anxiety now. Then, enjoy this quality time with your family and experience new adventures.
