If you are a homebody like me then traveling can bring out all kinds of anxiety.  What if I forget something? What if something goes wrong while I’m gone? What if the bed is uncomfortable?  What if the rental place has a weird smell or scratchy toilet paper? What if there isn’t any good food anywhere?  I think about all of these things and much more before I go on a trip, but I found a few things that help me prepare that make my trips as homey as they can be. 

I stay in houses/condos vs. hotel rooms. 

Having a kitchen, a living area, and a separate bedroom make me feel more at home than a hotel room.  By staying in an Airbnb or something similar I can cook my own food if I want and I can spread out my things a little bit more.  Hotel rooms make me feel cramped and I’m also afraid of heights so sleeping anywhere above the 6th floor makes me panic. Side note: if you are also afraid of heights and you have to stay in a hotel for whatever reason just call them and tell them that you prefer a lower room.  I’ve done this many times and every hotel has been more than accommodating.

I pack smart. 

I always pack as I live life.  What does that mean? I spend the 24 hours before a trip packing slowly as I do things.  So if I take my vitamins for the last time before we leave, that’s when I pack them. After I shower for the last time before I’m leaving I then put my shampoo and other shower products in the bag.  Same for makeup, the blow dryer, lotion, etc. As for clothes I like to check and see if the place I’m staying has a washer and dryer and then if they do, I pack really light. I look at the time I’m going to be away and pack my most favorite outfits and comfy clothes the day before I’m going to leave, making sure to leave out the most ridiculously comfortable travel attire.  The last thing I do to make sure I pack well is to research the area to see if they have a Target. I mean if I forget something, I can always find it at Target, right?  

So what do I pack?

1. My Own Pillow - Save your neck and bring your own pillow with you on your trip. Why mess around with the crap shoot of hotel pillows when you love your own? Bring it. You know it will make a difference.

2. My Weighted Blanket - This is the weighted blanket I use to manage my anxiety and get a good night’s sleep every night so I won’t spend the night anywhere without it.

3. An Eye Mask and Earplugs - Bringing an eye mask and ear plugs with you is important especially if you are staying in a hotel or in a rental on a busy street. As you can tell I am very serious about my sleep and making sure that the room is dark, silent and cool helps me get the sleep I need even in a strange place.

4. Comfy Clothes - I’m talking leggings, sweatshirts, and my favorite walking shoes!

5. Walking Shoes - The Ecco Women’s Soft Seven Sneaker is my favorite walking shoe and believe me, I have tried everything including very expensive flats. I’ve had three foot surgeries for plantar fasciitis and I have absolutely no pain in these shoes I have even worn them on multiple college visits with my son and we walked miles with no pain whatsoever! I’m ready to buy multiple pairs.

6. Vitamins and Medication - If you have medication or a vitamin regimen please make sure this is one of the first things you pack or throw in your purse. Being without your daily regimen could really throw off your whole trip and make you feel sick or worse.

7. Healthy Snacks - I pack healthy snacks like dried fruit, chopped up veggies, and nuts. I do not snack on candy when I travel anymore. It used to be my go-to road snack, but over the years I’ve realized that sugar and I do not get along so I switched up my routine.

8. A Heating Pad or Ice Packs - You never know how you are going to feel the day after sleeping in a different bed so bring along some supplies to deal with sore or achy muscles.

9. Books- I always bring a new book with me on a trip, however I also bring a favorite or two as backup just in case the new book doesn’t grab me right away.

10. Noise Cancelling Headphones - I like to tune out the world sometimes and these noise cancelling headphones by Anker are inexpensive compared to other noise-cancelling headphones and the charge lasts forever! I’ve had mine for over a month and have only charged them ONCE!

I leave space in my itinerary. 

Whenever I am planning a trip I make sure not to overbook myself.  If I am going somewhere that is touristy then I make sure that each day isn’t jam-packed with activities.  I mean, who wants to be exhausted when they come home from vacation? Being there, it was not fun. For example, when we went to Disney a few years ago we did not go to every park.  We picked two parks and then spent the other days at the pool, playing mini-golf, and just being together. It was much better than rushing from thing to thing just to say we saw it all.  

Knowing what you need and what makes you anxious about traveling will help tremendously.  When you plan ahead to make yourself comfortable on the road you will have a more enjoyable experience and less stress.  This will not only help you have a good time, but your traveling companions will notice a difference too!

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