Have you ever felt a rush of nerves, usually mixed with excitement, before setting off on a trip? Or are those nerves more severe; a fear that stops you from wanting to even think about planning a holiday? You’re not alone – according to Google trend data, searches for “nervous about travel” have risen by 200% in the last month, and there are 114.5m views on the TikTok search “fear to travel”.
From mild travel anxiety that makes you want to be at the airport four hours early, to hodophobia – an extreme fear that can make even the thought of going away fill you with dread – travel expert Justin Chapman at Go2Africa explains how you can minimise and overcome the fear, to make your travel as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.
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IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS
The first step is to try and work out exactly what is causing the anxiety and fear. If it’s memories of a past disastrous trip that’s causing the issue, try and be more specific and pinpoint what went wrong and how it affected you.
Was it the flight? Is it the thought of getting lost, or ill, in another country? Losing your luggage? Running out of money? Knowing what your triggers are can make it much easier to overcome the anxiety as you can work on specific worries, rather than fearing the idea of travel entirely.
MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOURSELF
Simple things, like making sure you’ve put your liquids within easy reach for when you go through airport security so you don’t have to fumble for them while you’re at the front of the queue, can make the travelling experience a lot less stressful.
Don’t leave packing to the last minute – and make a detailed packing list that you can tick off as you go, so you can be sure you haven’t forgotten a thing. Pack essentials and a change of clothes in your hand luggage, so you’re not left with absolutely nothing if your suitcase is lost.
Make sure you have travel insurance in place so you’re covered if you fall ill, things are cancelled, or you lose anything – some of the biggest anxiety triggers can be calmed with just a few minutes spent on an insurance comparison site.
If you know things like caffeine or alcohol make you feel anxious, avoid them for a few days leading up to your trip. Your early morning flight might seem tough without a coffee, but it’s worth being a bit tired if it means you’re not adding to your anxiety unnecessarily!
PLAN FOR PLAN B
Have back up plans ready to go, in case of any issues that arise. No matter far in advance you book things and how prepared you are, things beyond your control can go wrong. Have contingency plans in place, like knowing when the next flight is, in case your flight is cancelled last minute. Knowing exactly what plan B is can help decrease the anxiety because if something does go wrong, you won’t need to panic – you already know exactly what to do.
PREPARE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL
Have solid plans in place for when you arrive. This doesn’t necessarily mean a detailed itinerary for each day, but make sure you know exactly how you’re getting to your accommodation and do a little research of the local area. Find the phone number for local taxi companies in case your hotel transfer doesn’t turn up and work out how to use the public transport, so you don’t need to try and download and translate an app with confusing bus routes when you’ve just arrived.
GET SOMEONE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE PLANNING
Whether it’s just a week in the sun or a once in a lifetime African luxury safari, speaking to experts who can plan and organise everything for you is a great way to be able to unwind a little more. They’ll be able to tailor-make the trip to your exact specifications, and they can handle everything so you can just enjoy the trip without the stress.
PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT
Prepare yourself in advance so it’s easier to relax when you need to.
Take some time to practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga in the lead up to your trip, not just on the day you travel. The more you practice, the easier it’ll be to overcome the symptoms of the travel anxiety when they’re at their most powerful.
