Whether you realise it or not, going on vacation takes its toll, both physically and mentally, from the moment you start planning until way past you return home. This is especially true if you are not used to planning trips and traveling the world. Thankfully, you do not always have to deal with exhaustion, worries, and frustration. In fact, you can have uninterrupted fun and relaxation.
Going on vacation essentially means taking time off from your work and daily life. There is a fine line between every other trip and a vacation. The purpose of travelling may be due to attend a business meeting, participate in a competition or conference or even for studies abroad but going on vacation typically means a stress-free holiday or to enjoy life with your own ideas.
It has been scientifically proven that vacationing has physical and psychological benefits. Going for a vacation not only opens your mind to new ideas but also raises your professional and personal proficiency. Travelling is a key point for having a healthy life and blossom of new ideas. It not only reduces the stress but also improved productivity.
Regardless of whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, it’s safe to say that you have some trouble getting enough sleep. This is unfortunate as then you are not well-rested and might have difficulties following business meetings and truly exploring the city you are visiting. To help you out, we’ve gathered some essential tips and tricks for ensuring you get a good night’s sleep when on the road for a long time so that you can have a stress-free travel experience. Take a look.
To help you with that, read these useful tips for the budget traveler for a solo vacation to relieve stress.
1. Deal with jet lag in advance
In case you are traveling to a faraway destination, you will be faced with jetlag. The best way to prevent jet lag is to deal with it in advance. Therefore, start adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before you leave so that you go to sleep and wake up just like you would at your destination. Match the time zone you will be in by turning the lights on during the night or closing the blinds during the day. Make sure you get enough sleep the night before your trip.
2. Make sure you are comfortable
If it takes a long time to reach your destination, you might be sleeping on the plane, train, bus, or in the car as well. While all of these transportation methods come with their own limitations when it comes to legroom, the timing of the bathroom breaks you can take, and the overall comfort of the trip, something that goes for all of them is the fact that you should dress comfortably.
Plan ahead when it comes to what you will be wearing. You want loose clothes and layers as then you will be able to put them on when the AC gets a bit chilly and take them off when you need to. Footwear is also important as you’ll probably want to take your shoes off to feel more comfortable so put on those that can easily slip off or loosen the laces.
When trying to settle in for the night, don’t cross your legs as that will restrict your blood flow and do your best to keep your spine aligned.
3. Invest in various sleep accessories
Other than wearing comfy clothes, there are other useful hacks that you need to know about if you want to make the trip as pleasant as possible and get the necessary sleep. For one, you can invest in a sleep mask that will block out the light and earplugs that you can use to block the noises around you, like the engine and crying babies.
Then, a travel pillow is something that you cannot overlook either. Luckily, there are many different types that you can look at before you pick the one that will fit your most common sleeping position when traveling. They can even work wonders in your hotel room if you don’t like the pillow you are provided with.
On the other hand, if you need body pillows to sleep and have enough space in your luggage, you can easily bring your own as hotels usually don’t offer these.
4. Look for apps and devices that might help
If simply shutting out the noise is not enough to put you to sleep, even when you are not traveling, you have to look for some alternatives. For example, certain people travel with a white noise machine, which you can easily use in your hotel room when you need lulling to sleep. On a smaller scale, you can easily download a white noise app to your phone and plug in noise-canceling headphones if you need to sleep on the bus or plane.
On the other hand, some individuals prefer listening to audiobooks and podcasts before they go to sleep, which is also something you can find an app for. Plus, there are also apps that help you track and improve your sleep.
5. Stock up on healthy drinks and foods
When on the road, you need to stay hydrated. The best way to do this is by simply drinking water. Caffeine and alcohol might be tempting but excessive amounts will interfere with your sleeping habits. Water, on the other hand, will keep you hydrated and prevent sickness. While it is especially important for air travelers due to low humidity in the cabin, everyone should drink enough water during their trip.
What is more, you should also pack some healthy snacks that can help you sleep better. Various protein and granola bars, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, beef jerky sticks, peanut butter, and carrot sticks are just some of the foods you should consider packing. Finally, if you have issues falling asleep when on the road, you might need some sleep aids in the form of both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.
You can consult with your doctor if you need something stronger but try using melatonin first as it can prepare your body for rest.
6. Packing Hacks
Packing is something that can cause you a lot of stress if you are not careful. You can pack way too much and way too little at the same time, leaving you with a bag of things you do not really need and a house full of things that you did. Because of this, it is important that you write a list. This way, you can check things off as you go, so that nothing vital is forgotten.
Travel wallet with all documents and boarding passes, pieces of paper and pens will be useful, too. Having some chewing gum or candies can help your ears during sudden changes of the cabin pressure.
7. Make Luggage Stand Out
Everyone's heard the holiday horror stories, where entire families have gone on vacation together, and every single one of them has had their luggage lost or stolen. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do about the airline losing your luggage, besides buying travel insurance for travellers, but you can keep people from taking your bags by accident.
All you need to do is make it stand out some way, such as by adding a colourful bow or ribbon to the handle.
8. Rest The Night Before
Traveling can be an exhausting experience, which is why you need to make sure that you are properly rested before you go. There is no point in saying that you will sleep on the plane because, with turbulence, other passengers, and your family, this might not be possible. Instead of staying up all night packing, planning, and worrying, you need to get a good night's sleep. If you are struggling to do this, here are some tips to help you.
9. Lock Up Your Home
Nothing ruins the buzz of a vacation like coming back to a ransacked house. If you want to avoid this stress, then it is crucial that you lock your home up properly before you go. This means checking every single window and door.
You should also ask someone you trust to check in on the property and ensure and looks lived in, by moving the post from behind the door, opening and closing the curtains, and turning lights off and on at different times throughout the day.
10. Enjoy A Stress-Free Vacation With A Travel Insurance Policy
To ensure a relaxed, enjoyable and tension-free vacation, it is crucial to cover your trip using the travel insurance. But planning and going for a vacation comes with its own set of challenges. The risk of uncertainty can ruin a vacation. However, travel insurance plans can significantly help in managing the perils of travelling and minimizing the risks that come with it.
Travel insurance plans cannot stop or restrict a mishap but can cover you against travel related financial losses, helps to tackle medical emergencies, unforeseen expenses and various other risks that you might encounter during initiation of the trip. In simple words, you can say that leaving for a vacation with a backup plan known as travel insurance.
It allows you to be well prepared for any contingencies that you may face while travelling in an unknown location. Incidents such as loss of luggage, loss of wallet, loss of passport, cancellation of flights are covered under a travel insurance policy. This insurance policy provides cover to both domestically or internationally.
The insurance provider may also provide round-the-clock support for any mishaps and make alternative arrangements for a smooth travel experience. Travel insurance provides a traveler with the much-needed assurance that their investment on a vacation is used to the best and any unforeseen travel related contingency is taken care of.
Various companies offers various policies under the travel insurance plan. But it is to be suggested that before taking any plan must check the features and benefits you get for yourself. The following are some of the instances in which travel insurance can significantly minimize your losses and mitigate the risks associated with it.
11. Learn to Communicate in the Local Language
It is always useful to learn a few phrases in the local language, especially if you are going to a place where not many people understand English. At the very least make sure you know how to say things like I need help, where is the hospital or the police station? or what time does the bus/train arrive? etc. Also, make sure you know where your embassy is and how you can reach them.
12. Stick To Your Budget
Holidays can be incredibly expensive, and unless you are careful, you will end up massively overspending, leaving you without any cash to last you the rest of your time away. Because of this, it is crucial that you plan your budget carefully and try to stick to it your entire trip.
You should plan for your travel before 2 months so as to get the cheap travel tickets of airlines, buses and other transport. You will get benefit for your hotel bookings, too. There are going to be days where you spend a little more than you were supposed to, but that just means you will have to spend a little less the next day or dip into your emergency fund if you really need to.
13. Stay Somewhere Like Home
Simply being away from your home comforts is enough to put you on edge, so you should try to find accommodation that is like being at home. If possible, you might even want to consider buying a property abroad. This way, your apartment will be just how you like it. If your budget does not quite stretch to this, then make sure to bring some home comforts with you, like your favourite dressing gown and slippers.
14. Plan To Do Less
Don't pre-plan your itineraries. As you plan your holiday, you will probably start writing down a list of things you want to do while you are away. These could include places you want to visit, activities you want to try, or restaurants you want to eat at. Of course, you should try to do as many fun things as you can, but avoid putting too much on your plate.
Cramming every day with back to back activities will exhaust you, and you won't enjoy your trip away. You need to give yourself some time off too. Sometimes, you will get to know best places after reaching the destination. Also, local transport taxi will be available at lower price than that of pre-booked taxi for sight-seeing.
15. Sort Out Your Routine
Many people view a trip away as a chance to escape from their regular routines. They stay up late, sleep in, and eat whenever they feel like it. Unfortunately, while this does work for the few, most of us suffer when we try to do this. The body runs on cycles, and, as such, loves a regular schedule.
Because of this, it is crucial that you sort out your routine and set regular times to sleep and eat. If you do not, you will end up tired and irritable, which could ruin your trip.
There you go, some of the essentials for ensuring you get a good night’s sleep when traveling. Prepare for the new time zone, make sure you are comfortable and have all the necessary accessories, and stock up on healthy snacks. Traveling offers you the chance to relax and get away from everyday stresses. Unfortunately, if you are not careful, it can become a stress itself.
If you want to go on vacation without the bother, then remember the tips and tricks listed above.
