As fun and exciting as travel can be, it sure can come with some chaos.
To some degree, we have to accept that stressors are just a part of life and travel. However, there are also plenty of ways to plan for a happy and calm trip — and who better to ask than therapists who travel?
Ahead, check out 10 ways that mental health pros help their own trips go smoothly.
1. Plan to have ample time throughout.
The last thing you want while traveling is extra, unnecessary stress — like running through the airport so you don’t miss your flight. To some extent, that’s in your control. The key is doing what you need to do before you need to do it.
“There’s nothing that stresses me out more than being rushed,” said the Rev. Connie L. Habash, a psychotherapist. “So when I travel, I plan as much extra time for every step of the process as possible.”
Arriving early may entail more time sitting around, but Habash said she likes to bring a book or listen to a podcast to fill the time. For her, that’s more desirable than stressing about missing a flight ― which would also stop her from being present on her trip.
2. Go into the trip with an open mind rather than specific expectations.
On the note of staying present and mindful, another tip is to reduce expectations and be flexible.
“This does not mean I don’t make plans,” said Amelia Kelley, a trauma-informed therapist, author and podcaster. “But once I do, I try not to predict how they will go and rather be open to whatever happens ― especially because sometimes the unexpected ends up being the best parts.”
This makes you less likely to experience anger or resentment when plans get disrupted, she explained. An actionable step is to create and repeat a mantra. Kelley and her friend went with “everything is a story” on their last trip.
3. Budget and pay ahead.
Besides time, another common stressor on trips is money. What can you do?
“I like to make sure that even before I go on the trip, all known expenses, travel excursions and accommodations are already paid for, so I have no choice but to enjoy the time away,” said Jamie Downie, an associate therapist at the Gateway to Solutions practice. “I also make sure that I have extra money set aside ahead of time for meals and leisure expenses, too, so that the time away does not cut into regular monthly expenses.”
Something to keep in mind while planning, he added, is to pick a trip or destination that fits your budget and to start saving as early…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Travel…