4 Tips To Reduce Travel Fatigue

Vacations are worth it for the memories (and your sanity!) but getting there and back can physically and mentally take a lot out of you. You get back to reality thinking, “Now, I need a vacation from my vacation.”

There’s a lot out of your control when you travel, but getting a handle on what you can control will minimize some of that travel fatigue.

Here are 4 things I’ve learned to do that make traveling easier so I can focus on other things (like where to find the best local eats – I’m hungry!)

Travel lightly.
Less is more when it comes to baggage. When possible, I like to limit myself to one luggage and one small carry-on, especially since I don’t own a car and rely on taxis and public transportation to get around. The less I have to lift into taxi trunks/overhead bin compartments or drag along at my destination means less physical effort for me!

I’m also a fan of being a minimalist on the plane. Unless I’m flying a budget airline, there’s usually enough entertainment on board that all I really need is my phone, travel documents, cash/credit cards and a few toiletries, all under 100 ml of course.

Do some (literal) housekeeping before you leave.
Coming back to a clean home is one of the best feelings for me as a weary traveller. It’s nice to return to familiar surroundings that are easy on those tired eyes. Clean your bathroom, sweep the floors, take out the trash, do as much laundry as you can, make your bed, wash all dishes, and, depending on how long you’ll be gone, clean out your fridge so you don’t come home to any nasty smells or surprises.

If you cook, it’s also nice to have something in the freezer that you can easily reheat, or some non-perishables in the pantry so you don’t have to go out and get food.

Avoid alcohol on flights, and eat healthy.
Indulge in all of the food and all of the drinks once you reach your destination, but I’d refrain from alcohol on flights to avoid dehydration. Staying hydrated and eating healthy while in transit will help you feel a lot better physically (and will hopefully help you get some good rest in between.) Speaking of rest…

Get a good amount of sleep on days you have to travel.
Some say sleep is for the weak, but I think sleep allows you to be a non-asshole. Catch those z’s and be that well-adjusted person with enough patience to deal with airline staff, security, obnoxious passengers, and any other unforeseen circumstances that come your way!