Being constantly on the go can be draining, both physically and mentally, and it can really take a toll on our overall health.
That being said, optimizing your travel to make things as easy for yourself as humanly possible can really help alleviate some of these negative effects, and make the whole experience more enjoyable and less stressful.
When you’re travelling and flying on a regular basis (whether for work or play), there are some easy travel hacks that can help you speed up and ease up the process. Here’s what you should be focusing on.
Easy Planning and Bookings
The planning part of the trip is almost always the least exciting, and can often be a pain in the rear end. There’s a whole load of documentation involved, and you end up spending days on end worrying that you’ve forgotten something.
Putting a fool-proof system in place for every trip can help make the whole process a little quicker, easier, and less stressful. If necessary, have a step-by-step guide written down, your preferred websites and details on hand. Having a travel calendar to plan things as far ahead in advance can also be helpful, and ensuring that you have a great trip insurance policy in place for every trip will help alleviate some financial concerns.
Strategic Packing
Having a packing strategy can remove about half of the stress that comes along with a trip. Again, having a list of the typical items you need to pack can prevent you from forgetting important things, and remove the possibility of you running around last-minute searching for crucial things.
Remember that there is also a major difference between packing for a long trip and overstuffing your carry-on for a quick weekend away, and packing smart can make your trip more comfortable. Use packing cubes for longer trips and have a space-efficient carry-on bag for just the basics. You should also avoid on-the-day packing at all costs – this is just looking for trouble!
Airport and Other Loyalty Benefits
If you’re going to be travelling on a constant basis, you’re going to want to make sure that you make it as affordable for yourself as you possibly can. One way of doing this is by leaning into any loyalty or membership benefits you can.
Some airlines offer these types of memberships to frequent fliers, and you might be able to get discount on your trips, access to nicer lounges, priority boarding and other benefits. Not only can this help you save some money, but it will also make your flight and airport experience quicker, more seamless, and far more comfortable.
Consider other loyalty programmes as well that might help you save money on accommodation, car hire, food, or other aspects of your travels.
Staying Healthy on the Move
Constantly travelling makes it hard to keep up with a health and fitness routine. This is why it’s important to adapt your habits to fit your jet-setter lifestyle if you want to take good care of your health and stay in shape.
One example is making your snacks at home instead of grabbing whatever you can find at the airport. When dining out, you should also take care to opt for more nutritionally balanced meals as often as possible.
When it comes to exercise, try to lean into movement that doesn’t require a gym membership in order to be consistent. You could consider running in the street, or following online workouts that require little to no equipment. You might also try to book accommodation that offers a gym if your preferred type of exercise involved machines.
Anti-Theft Travel Gear and Other Security
The more you travel, the more at-risk you are for things to go wrong. Making sure that you and your belongings are secure is an important step to take before your trips.
Invest in anti-theft luggage that will prevent slippery fingers from cracking into your suitcase, and keep your possessions in clear view whenever you can. Another consideration is cyber security. Remember that public networks (like the Wi-Fi at the airport) will leave you and your data vulnerable to outsiders, so using a VPN or avoiding logging on is probably your safest bet.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
If you’re concerned with sustainability (as you should be) then you might be stressed out by how your constant travelling might be affecting the environment and even more micro-level concerns. While there’s not much to be done about the effects of air travel (other than avoiding it whenever possible), you can still make an effort to keep the rest of your trip as sustainable as possible.
For example, try to find accommodation that is green and eco-friendly and support businesses and institutions that prioritize sustainability. You could reduce your meat intake when travelling, and make an effort to support more local businesses and restaurants on your trip.
