Do holidays secretly fill you with dread? While travel is viewed as a peak highlight of our existence, holidays can also provoke huge anxiety.  As we step into the unknown, our minds whirr with a thousand different catastrophic scenarios.  If this is you, read on to find out how to conquer the angst and step into a thrilling adventure.

Decide what sort of holiday would suit you best

If you’re new to travel or feel particularly anxious, think about what holiday would suit you best.  You could stick with a short break close to home or within an easy flight time.  The simpler the trip – the less to manage.  If you’d rather not do the organising, you could go with an organised group where airport transfers, meals and your daily activities and excursions are all taken care of for you. There are organised holidays to suit all tastes from informal travel meetup groups like the one below through to coach tours and even cruises.

Manage your expectations

When I used to work in travel – I learned the mantra that the holiday business is about selling dreams.  All our hopes are pinned on those two precious weeks of technicolour freedom. But sadly, like life, holidays don’t always live up to what we expect.  To avoid undue stress and disappointment, keep your expectations in perspective. Some things will go well and others won’t.  And that’s just life! Focus on the positives and remember that no matter what we’re faced with, we always adapt. Remember things could be worse – you could be at work.

Managing travel anxiety 2 weeks before departure

Once the initial euphoria of the booking confirmation has worn off, doubts start to creep in. Usually around two weeks before you depart.  Remember that fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin.  What makes travel so stimulating yet terrifying is the unknown – and there’s only so much you can prepare for.   But here’s what you can do:

Packing

Packing is undoubtedly one of the most stress-inducing parts of the holiday. If flying to your destination, baggage size will take up all of your mental capacity.  Will you manage with hand baggage? Or would you prefer the peace of mind that comes with a suitcase in the hold?  Think about the time of year, the resort and the type of activities you’ll be doing. If it’s a hiking holiday, there’s no point bringing smart evening wear.  You might also have to factor in dramatic changes in terrain and weather such as an excursion to Mount Etna in Sicily.

Some travellers swear by the 5-4-3-2-1 packing rule which pares down your wardrobe to the strict essentials.  Remember that packing can become an endless obsession if you let it. Your wallet, passport, mobile and medicines are the essentials – most other things can be purchased once you get there. 

Prepare for the things you can control

When thinking about your holiday, do you dwell on every scenario that could go wrong? While mentally draining, catastrophising does help you become an expert in contingency planning.  Fretting about a lost passport? Ensure you have a paper copy with you.  The same goes for your hotel address and phone number, visa and travel insurance policy details.  These simple steps can help you to feel more in control. Similarly, if you fret about health problems, get any vaccinations booked in well in advance. If you’re an over-thinke, you’ll also be the first to pack mosquito repellent, travel sickness tablets and sunscreen.

How to avoid financial travel anxiety

While holidays should feel liberating, they do come at a cost.  So research your destination well in advance – particularly if eating out.  Barbados and Switzerland are two examples of countries where you might want to explore self-catering options.  Also, factor in the cost of any must-do excursions where you might want to splash the cash for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  Setting a budget in advance of your trip will go a long way to easing any financial worries while away. To make your money stretch further, consider taking a credit card that can be used abroad for free such as the Halifax Clarify Credit Card.

How to cope with anxiety when leaving home

Do you sometimes believe that you’ve left the door unlocked when you leave for work? Locking your house up for an extended period can increase these worries exponentially. One trick is to take photos of every area of the house which might later trigger you on the way to the airport.  In my case, I photograph the taps in the kitchen and bathroom, the cooker, the shower cord and the plug points. Then if those intrusive thoughts pop up – usually just as I’m getting on the tube, I can reassure myself with the photographic evidence.

How to cope with a fear of flying

While the journey to the airport can be the worst bit for some – for others, stepping on the plane is when the blood pressure peaks. Again, preparation here is key. Pre-flight, you can read Soar – the breakthrough treatment for the fear of flying by Tom Bunn or Cockpit Confidential by Patrick Smith.  In the weeks leading up to your holiday, it’s also worth using visualisations to imagine yourself into a calm and collected state.  (The mind can’t tell the difference between imagining and the real thing so you can trick it into submission with this nifty technique).

Once on the flight, continue with the visualisations and add deep breathing with your hand on your chest to further calm the nervous system.  Some people also find it reassuring to consult Flight Radar 24 which continually tracks 200,000 flights daily to highlight how safe flying actually is.

While stress is part and parcel of the holiday experience, there are many steps you can take to alleviate your worst fears.  If we can break through the barriers which are all in our mind, there’s a whole world out there waiting to be discovered.  Never let travel anxiety win!