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Travel is an exciting adventure that allows you to explore the world and create memories that last a lifetime. However, with travel often comes stress, especially when it comes to getting enough sleep. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, dealing with exhaustion and stress can put a significant damper on your trip. Who wants their trip to be ruined by stress and exhaustion? In this blog post, you’ll learn five practical steps to help manage travel stress and find peace in the midst of your travels.
Step 1: Make Sleep a Priority
Maybe sleep seems secondary on your family vacation. You want to see all the sites, visit all the people, eat all the food! But in order to keep yourself from experiencing health issues due to travel stress, prioritizing sleep is important. It’s tempting to stay at that theme park until it closes every night, or run yourself ragged just to take it all in. You spent all that money to get there, right? You want to make the most of it.
But getting enough rest is essential for your physical and mental well-being. You’ll be sharper, calmer, have more energy, and be fully present if you get enough rest. Psalm 127:2 says, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Even if you’re travel plans are for pleasure and not for work, prioritize rest and you’ll be much better equipped to handle any stress that comes your way.
Step 2: Carry Comfort Items
When you’re out of your normal routine and away from home, stress is normal. Managing that stress is key. Packing a few comforting items can go a long way toward helping you feel more at ease. These could include a favorite book, a cozy blanket or pillow, or a stress ball to squeeze during moments of tension. Psalm 32:7 says, “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” Even though you know God is always with you, sometimes a familiar item can remind you of the peace and rest that comes from God.
Step 3: Be Present
When you’re traveling with young kids, the tides can turn very quickly from joyful to cranky. It’s helpful to practice the art of being present in the moment and not get caught up in the chaos. Take time out to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It’s a powerful tool for managing stress and finding peace. Teach this practice to your kids. If they’re starting to melt down, tell them to find 5 things they can touch. Then find 4 things they can smell. Then 3 things they can hear. Then 2 things they can see. Then 1 thing they can taste.
As they go through this exercise, have them (and you!) focus on their breath. Peace will follow as calmness comes to their body. Then take a moment to thank God for those things that they observed. As Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Trust that God is with you and that he is in control.
Step 4: Stay Active
Exercise is an excellent way to relieve stress and boost your mood. Even when you’re traveling, it’s essential to remain active. That might seem to be a no-brainer if you’re on a family vacation, walking everywhere you go. But if you’re on a work trip, make sure you get some movement in. Take a stroll around your hotel or go for a run in a nearby park. If you’re staying in a location with a gym, take advantage of the facilities. You could even try doing a few stretches in your hotel room. Find ways to stay active during your travels, and you’ll be much better equipped to handle any stress or anxiety that comes your way.
Step 5: Lean on God
The most important step in managing travel stress is to remember that God is always with you. Lean on him during your travels by praying to start each day—and throughout your day, reading your Bible, or listening to inspirational podcasts or music. Remember that God promises to give you peace even in difficult circumstances. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Trust in God’s promises and find comfort in his presence.
Now that you have some tips for reducing travel stress, listen to this fun travel story from Abide on the Wonders of the Rain Forest centered around Romans 1:20. Let it whet your appetite for your next journey.
Travel stress is something everyone encounters at some point in their lives. You can find peace and comfort even in the midst of the sometimes chaotic and uncertain joy of travel. By prioritizing rest, carrying comfort items, being present every day, staying active, and leaning on God, you can manage travel stress and enjoy your journey with a greater sense of peace and calm. Remember that God is with you always, and he promises to give you the rest and comfort you need to face any challenge that comes your way.
Take the Abide app with you wherever you go. With its library of guided meditations, daily devotionals, and more than 300 Bible-based sleep stories (plus 80 just for kids!) Abide can help you experience the peace of God wherever you may be. Download it now and receive 25% off a premium subscription.
