Self-care travel tips to help you to pause, recharge & make space for yourself on your next adventure.
Given the stress and uncertainty of the past few years, self-care is more relevant and necessary than ever before.
Whether you at home or on the road, it matters.
In fact, a 2023 American Express Survey showed that 74% of respondents were more focused on self-care than they were a year ago.
Are you among them? I definitely am.
Self-care comes in many forms and crosses many areas of our health.
Yet, at its core, it’s about finding those actions, both big or small, that support and sustain the mind, body, & spirit.
It’s not just a luxury or a trend, but a vital practice that allows us to recharge, refuel, and reconnect with ourselves.
Let’s discover more, so you can build the wellness journey you want and deserve!
The Importance of Self-Care for Travelers
Self-care allows us to bring our best self to the world, day after day, and there are two ways it comes into play when we’re exploring the world.
First, incorporating self-care practices help us find moments of calm and clarity during the natural ups and downs of travel.
While travel is awesome, we all know that it’s never with out a challenge or two.
From managing the everyday stresses like weather delays and cancellations, to managing more personal issues like loneliness and grief, wherever you go there you are.
A human being with human challenges.
Secondly, self-care practices also allow us to more deeply connect and experience all of the wonder travel affords.
It supports us in making every moment count.
As a wellness travel coach and avid traveler myself, I know the first hand value of self-care. I live it, advocate for it, and know it makes a quantifiable difference in how we live our lives.
Yet…sometimes it’s hard to know where to start with self-care. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering:
- What do I prioritize?
- What do I tend to first?
- How do I make it happen?
This is when a simple framework can help us to take action.
With that idea in mind, here is a simple 4 part self-care framework for travel. One that will help you cultivate mental resilience, physical health, emotional balance, & spiritual well-being.
Here are three ways to use this framework on your next day trip, weekend getaway, or vacation:
- Choose one idea to focus on (perfect for a day trip)
- Choose one area to highlight (ideal for a weekend getaway)
- Try one idea from each of the 4 areas (great for a vacation)
- Or do whatever works best for you, after all the best self-care is personalized
Ready? Let’s andiamo!
Self-Care Travel Tips for Mental Resilience
Your mental wellness doesn’t take a break when you’re on holiday, so here are a few simple ways to stay grounded:
- Practice mindfulness: Take a few moments each day to be fully present in the moment. Observe your surroundings, focus on your breath, and embrace the beauty of your surroundings. This practice can help alleviate stress and enhance your overall mental well-being. My favorite practice for travel is mindful photography!
- Take breaks: It’s quite easy to get caught up in the excitement of exploring a new destination, but it’s also important to listen to your body & take breaks when needed. Whether it’s sitting in a park, enjoying a cup of coffee at a local cafe, or simply resting in your hotel room, giving yourself permission to rest is crucial for your mental well-being.
- Create a self-care kit: Pack a small bag with your favorite calming items, such as essential oils, a journal, or a book. Having these familiar items on hand can provide a sense of comfort and stability during your travels.
Self-Care Travel Tips for Physical Health
Build the basics of your self-care toolkit with these three simple ideas to keep your energy up throughout your adventures.
These self-care travel tips are really the foundation of health, but can be easy to overlook when we’re busy engaging with our well-earned travel adventures.
- Prioritize sleep: Getting enough rest is vital for your physical health. Aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow your body to recover and recharge. If you’re changing time zones, establish a consistent sleep routine to help your body adjust.
- Engage in physical activity: While exploring a new destination can be physically demanding, it’s essential to incorporate intentional physical activity into your travel itinerary. Whether it’s going for a hike, taking a yoga class, or taking a photo walk, moving your body can boost your energy levels and enhance your overall well-being.
- Stay hydrated: Traveling often involves long flights, exposure to different climates, and increased physical activity. These factors make it absolutely essential to stay hydrated throughout the day. Carrying a reusable water bottle is an easy way to stay prepared and cut back on plastic use too!
Self-Care Travel Tips for Emotional Balance
No matter where we are in the world, managing our emotions is a key to well-being.
One of the great aspects of travel is that it’s an ideal opportunity to cultivate more positive emotions organically. It comes with living out your dreams and appreciating new places.
Here are three ideas to help you find balance:
- Engage in activities that bring you joy: Take time to identify activities that bring you joy and incorporate them into your travel itinerary. Whether it’s visiting an art gallery, attending a music performance, or exploring a market, engaging in activities that align with your interests and passions can uplift your spirits and enhance your well-being.
- Stay connected with loved ones: Traveling can sometimes make us feel disconnected from our support systems. So, making an effort to stay connected with your loved ones matters. Phone calls, video chats, or even sending postcards are all simple ways to share your experiences and feelings and stay connected with those who love and support you.
- Embrace the ups and downs: Traveling, like life, has its ups and downs. Embrace the unexpected moments, whether they’re joyful or challenging. Remind yourself that you can’t have the lows of travel, without the highs. While uncomfortable at times, they are an equally important part of the journey that that in the long run will foster resilience and self-growth.
Self-Care Tips for Spiritual Well-Being
Travel affords a wonderful opportunity to become more in sync with yourself and aligned with your spirituality.
This sense of internal wellbeing is guided by and the way you go about connecting with something greater than yourself—whether that’s a higher power, nature, music, art or humanity.
Here are three avenues to explore:
- Explore local spiritual practices: Every culture has its unique spiritual practices and rituals. Take the opportunity to learn about and even participate in these practices during your travels. Whether it’s visiting a spiritual site, attending a religious ceremony, or meditating in nature, immersing yourself in different spiritual traditions can deepen your own spiritual well-being.
- Connect with nature: Nature has a profound effect on our well-being. So, seek out natural landscapes and spend time connecting with the beauty. Practice mindfulness, take a mindful photo walk, or simply sit in quiet contemplation to nurture your spiritual self.
- Journaling and reflection: Set aside time each day to reflect on your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and spiritual growth. Write down your reflections, gratitude, and insights gained during your journey.
Incorporating Self-Care into Your Travel Itinerary
By considering the different areas of our health and aligning it with our intuition, it acts as a compass to ensure we holistically approach self-care.
To help you in bridging the gap between the knowing (ideas above) and the doing (taking action), here are a few strategies that will help you to make the time and space for your own self-care while traveling:
- Plan downtime: When creating your travel itinerary, be sure to leave time some downtime, for rest & relaxation. Avoid overpacking your days with activities and allow yourself room to be, breathe and rejuvenate.
- Prioritize self-care activities: Incorporate self-care activities that speak to you and schedule at least a few ahead of time. Take your favorite practices with you on the road and research to see what local wellness offerings stand out. Then find the mix that works best for you. Above all, get quiet and listen to your inner voice, it will know the way.
- Seek out wellness-focused locations: Consider traveling to destinations that are known for their wellness offerings. Or those that offer what you want and need. Consider aspects like unique cultural experiences, nature & outdoor activities, and other things that align with your interests and passions. Wherever there is meaning, well-being is sure to follow!
These fundamental self-care travel tips are certain to help you to manage the chaos, evoke the calm, and create meaningful travel memories to keep you company for years to come.
Happy travels everyone!
until the next time…
…live well – travel well – be well
More inspiration:
Capturing Wellness: Photography as Self-Care
Escape The Everyday with These Self-Care Day Trips
How to Make Your Next Trip to Ireland a Self-Care Vacation
