How to Deal With Travel Anxiety

 

The time has arrived for you to travel and guess what? You're one of those people who get travel anxiety no matter how frequently you travel.

Travel anxiety is very real, and while there are many solutions out there, ranging from taking deep breaths and listening to calming music, why not try a different tactic? One that not only tackles anxiety but also makes you relaxed and perhaps even smiles?

Here are some ways to deal with travel anxiety:

1) Pretend you're the MC in a movie

You are the main character in your life, so why not pretend you've landed a major role in a movie that involves you traveling.

Pretend that the first shot is of you in the airport. Wear your best clothes, and make sure you're delivering your dialogues properly. Consider wearing makeup. Make sure you're giving your best take as you get your bags checked in.

Don't forget to pose occasionally.

2) Act like a celebrity

We've all seen the paparazzi hound celebrities when they are going to the airport.

Pretend you're the celebrity now, either posing for photos or requesting the paps to leave you alone because you have to catch a flight urgently.

Smile at people who look at you. You don't really want people to think you're a snobbish celebrity, do you?

3) Pretend you're on a mission

The best way to deal with anxiety is to replace your thoughts with something more important...like mission details.

Pretend you're a spy who has been given a really challenging mission. You must board the plane and head to your destination soon. Your baggage contains important antiques that must reach their destination safely, but be careful! There are other spies trying to get their hands on them.

You must protect your bags at all costs.

4) Carry an emotional support item

Break the seriousness of travelling with something childish. You must have carried a favourite toy while travelling when you were a kid. Why not resume that tradition? Carry your favourite toy or item in your backpack so that you can feel safe knowing it is right next to you to give you comfort.

5) Pretend you're a time traveller

If you're travelling alone and suffering from anxiety, why not break the tension by pretending you're a time traveller?

As a time traveller, you're either from the past or the future.

Imagine you have no idea how planes work or what an airport even is. Pay attention to everything around you as if you're seeing them for the first time.

If you're from the future, pretend to sneer at how primitive the technology is or how much time it takes to make it to the gates.

In the future, you would have been in the plane by now and reaching your destination in seconds.

6) Makeup weird customs

It's time to introduce new customs and follow them every time you need to travel.

You can make them as weird as possible. For example, you can shake hands with every passenger in the waiting area.

Or you can clap every time the plane takes off.

Maybe even carry a treat that you can share with the passengers next to you every time the plane lands.

7) Think of travel as a game

You've made casual bets while watching sports. Why not insert that gimmick during your travel? For example, make a bet with yourself that your flight will be on time. If you win, reward yourself with a treat.

Or write down all the things that you will encounter during your travel and see how many you get right.

Flight on time. Check. Crying, baby. Check. A couple who shows too much PDA. Check.

8) Talk to your anxiety as if it were a person

If you're on your own, make anxiety your companion. Give it some personality and talk to it.

Say, I know you think things can go wrong, but don't worry, at least your wallet is still with you and you can always go shopping.

Or, I know you think your luggage could get lost, but it mostly contains gifts for your relatives, and you don't like them anyway.

9) Narrate your journey

Think of travelling as your job. You make documentaries for a living, and your latest project includes traveling through this airport. Plus, your life is so exciting, everyone wants to know how you live your life.

Start taking small videos of yourself narrating how you came to be at the airport and all the things you can see.

Imagine yourself posting this documentary and winning several awards for such a sincere and informative video.

10) Create a fake backstory for yourself

You may encounter someone at the airport who may be your fellow passenger. They may strike up a conversation and, rather than responding sincerely, make up a story.

After all, what are the chances you're going to meet them again?

If your anxiety is acting up, pretend to be someone else who is not anxious. Rather, you're this important business person who travels every day to different parts of the world.

You can be whoever you want to be. You could be a farmer or an astronaut who wants to travel by plane for a change.

Maybe even a sports person who is off to play a very important tournament.

Remember, never let your anxiety win.