Add These “Travel” Tips To Your Next Adventure

     Here at Jetlaggin, we advocate for a greater sense of community. We want to motivate you to visit the best, most noteworthy, natural-breathtaking, and culturally engaging locations and cities across the globe. We anticipate that the journey will be well worth it at the end of the day when the trip goes according to plan. Unfortunately, after forcing ourselves to be “jet-lagged” day in and day out, we realize that sometimes the greatest trips fall by the wayside. Even expert planners can’t starve off all known and unknown “missed directions.” Still, with unexpected chaos lurking at every corner of our lives, we have learned that taking a second to remember our personal journey will ultimately lead to a happier trip and life. We’ve learned to take a frown-producing moment and turn it into a smile. In essence, we’ve picked up a few mental tricks to help prevent your negative travel experiences and keep a smile on your face during the adventure of a lifetime.

Smile!

When you’re happy, you tend to smile! The crazy part about this “phenomenon” is that when we smile, our brains continue to release dopamine which makes us smile even more! Don’t worry about traveling the world with a fake smile, however. Instead, when an appropriate moment calls for a crack of a smile, let one loose. Not only will it positively affect you, but it will also benefit all those around you.

Exercise

Beyond the physical benefits of exercise, exercising while on the road can lead to a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression – all while promoting self-esteem and inner-happiness.  It doesn’t take an hour-long session at the gym. Even a brisk walk around your hotel or Airbnb can proactively change your mindset. When you wake up, stretch for a few moments. After dinner, take a walk down the street. The steps are easy, get it?

Sleep it Off

Whether you have friends or family that are consistent late night-owls, find some time for your own health and sanity. Adults require a solid 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night and if this range isn’t met, your mind will be foggy and your body will be attempting to get you to rest. No matter where you are, stick to a sleep schedule. Your body will stay on point and your mind will perform at its optimal rate. Keep your bedroom dark and cool, invest or splurge in some quality bedding, avoid excess alcohol before the light turns off, and find a calming before-bed ritual.

Just Breathe

Travel brings a certain uncertainty. A late flight? Missed connection? Wrong accommodations? The list goes on and on. Thankfully, even some dedicated moments to take notice of your breathing pattern can greatly effect reduce your stress and concurrently bring your attention more into focus. In four easy steps, you can have a drastically different time compared to the minutes before. Close your eyes and recall a happy place or memory. Take a slow and deep breath, in through your nose. Now release through your mouth or nose – your call. Then, simply repeat these primarily two steps to bring yourself into greater self-awareness.

You Came From This Earth

A 2016 study mentioned that spending a tiny 30-minute session in a green space at least once a week can help reduce depression and blood pressure. A backyard patio with some potted plants, a neighborhood park, or rooftop green space will do. Ideally, you will want to find a space, far from excess distraction, to allow yourself a moment to reconnect with nature – a place to breathe.

These rather obvious steps are easy to implement. Don’t waste any more time!