It’s great seeing different places and experiencing new things but sometimes the journeys can be awful. Whether you are travelling by car, coach, train, plane or boat, the journey can be tiring, stressful and boring. Here are a few tips to help you cope with long journeys.
Dealing with kids
Children are one of the biggest causes of stress and arguments for families on long journeys. Whether you are trying to cope with squabbling siblings in the back of the car, young children who need the toilet at an awkward moment, or bored teens, it doesn’t make your stress any easier to cope with.The most important thing if you are travelling with children is to be organised. Make sure you have everything you need, and everything they need. Pack them each a bag (to save arguments) containing food, drink, and activities for the journey. These will obviously depend on the age of the child. A long journey is not a good time to try and limit your child’s use of electronic games, mobile phones or mp3 players. If you are in a car you may need to negotiate any music you have on. Personal DVD players are great for journeys but may be impractical in some cases due to limited battery life. There is nothing worse than running out of charge in the middle of a film and having to cope with the ensuing tears!
There are lots of books and websites containing ideas to make journeys less boring and less stressful so it’s worth having a look before you travel.
Dealing with your own stress
Even if you aren’t travelling with children, it can be very stressful. Natural products such as Rescue Remedy or Kalms can help with nerves, and if you have a serious phobia (of flying, for example) then your doctor may prescribe something to help you. Try to organise as much as you can in advance and don’t leave any preparations until the last minute.
Keeping fit and healthy
Depending on your form of travel, try not to stay sitting down in one position for too long. Stand up and stretch your legs, and do exercises to keep the circulation going. If you are on a long flight, then flight compression stockings are advisable. Eat light food, nothing too rich or spicy, and drink plenty of water. If you are flying avoid caffeine and alcohol as they can both dehydrate you a little. Try and sleep if you can, and relax as much as possible. Books, music, or films can help take your mind off the travel.
Enjoy the destination
Once your journey is over, breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the experience of being in a new place.
Alex is a travel writer and blogger. He writes about touring around the UK and Europe by car, train or plane as well as where to find the best coach tours . Image by Unhindered by Talent
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