3 Ways to Avoid Stress and Maintain Your Inner Zen While Traveling

May 03, 2019
Jess

pexels-photo-1079033Ah, the love of travel. Is there a better way to expand our horizons and elevate our sense of being than to experience other cultures, explore new places, and meet new people? Indeed, you can have all of the luxury cars and McMansions as you want: I’ll take a trek to anywhere interesting in a heartbeat!

However, there’s also the fact that it doesn’t matter how much yoga or meditation you do, or how open and energized your heart chakra might be: there are some travel-related frustrations lurking out there that can quickly turn a delightful trip into a dreadful one; or at least, a stressful one. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that, as The Buddha sagely advised: awareness is your ally. To that end, here are three simple, yet profound ways to avoid stress and maintain your inner Zen while traveling:

  1. Carry toilet paper with you (seriously).

It may not seem very esoteric, but trust me: if you’re traveling in a part of the world where toilet paper isn’t part of the day-to-day experience, then you’ll deeply thank the universe for giving you the wisdom to pack the necessary supplies. If lugging around toilet paper isn’t practical, then some travel-sized baby wipes can do the trick.

  1. Think ahead when it comes to food.

If you’re a vegan, fruitarian, vegetarian, or have specific dietary preferences or restrictions (e.g. no spicy food, no gluten, etc.), then you need to think and plan ahead when it comes to food. Why is this so important? Well, because if you have trouble finding sufficient sustenance, then your blood sugar levels will plunge and you’ll feel cranky and miserable.

  1. Getting dinged by ATM and data roaming costs.

A Zen saying goes: “first enlightenment, then laundry” — which means that while we should certainly cultivate our awareness and raise our level of consciousness, we can’t forget the fact that we live in a terrestrial rather than celestial world, and as such we need to make sure we have enough money to pay our bills (and of course, to fund our next excursion!). That’s why you definitely need to do your homework and make sure that if you withdraw money from an ATM in another country, or if you plan on traveling with your smartphone, that you know about potential roaming fees. It’s also worth speaking with your bank and cellular provider to see if they can hook you up with a package or option that is travel-friendly.

The Bottom Line

Traveling is sublime — and it’s often divine, too! But it can also trigger some frustrations if you aren’t aware and prepared. Remember, certain places may lack a few of the basic amenities many of us have come to rely on. It may be difficult to find air conditioning in a faraway land –– let alone a shop that offers violin rentals while on the go! Thankfully, the above tips will help you avoid some common problems, and ensure that your adventure is better than you hoped and imagined. Bon voyage!