How to cope with travel-related stress

For many individuals in the UK, an annual holiday is the highlight of the year. Whether it s a one week beachside break in the Canary Islands or a two-week skiing trip to Japan, holidays can take months of careful planning and preparation. But if you suffer from a fear of flying or the thought of world travel simply raises your stress levels through the roof, it s possible that your long-cherished trip could turn into a nightmare. So how exactly do you beat the perils of travel-related stress? Essentially, much of the stress incurred by travelling has to do with simple worries, like missing your plane or forgetting vital documents, such as passports or travellers cheques. This is easy to conquer if you take positive action. Ensure you arrive at the airport well before you re required to check-in, whether this means calling a taxi before you normally would or getting an earlier train. This way, you know for sure that there s no chance of you being late, even if trains get cancelled or there s traffic on the motorway. Additionally, check you ve got your travel documents before you leave home and keep them in a safe place where you ll be able to keep track of them - for instance, a bum bag or a neck purse worn across your body, rather than a pocket which they might fall out of or be stolen. Once you re at the airport, keep yourself busy: take an engrossing book with you, wander around the duty-free shops or engage your mind by working through a book of crosswords or sudoku puzzles. You ll find that this will help you take your mind off any travel-related worries. Many experts on stress also suggest altering your diet slightly the day before you fly and while you re on your flight. On the day prior to flying, avoid eating rich or fatty foods, and try not to drink too much tea, coffee or alcohol - after all, there s nothing worse than being hung-over when you re fifty thousand feet high in the air! Choosing a comprehensive travel insurance policy can also help you feel more at ease on your holiday, both when you re flying and during your trip itself. For instance, if you re anxious that your luggage might be mislaid or a delayed flight could result in you missing your connection, having the safety net of travel insurance ensures that you re well covered if these events do happen. The majority of travel-related stress, however, can be beaten simply by remaining calm and composed. Make sure you keep your head above water when travelling and, if adverse events do occur, simply tackle them one step at a time. As a result, you ll find that your holiday will get off to a much more relaxing start - a trend that can only continue into your vacation. Paul McIndoe is an online, freelance journalist and keen hillwalker. He lives in Edinburgh with his two dogs.



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