Dealing with Travel Stress
 

My imaginings of faraway places are always better than reality. When I finally arrive at my destination, I am exhausted from the stress of getting to the airport, parking, getting to the gate, waiting, and then the six-hour overnight flight. I try to be optimistic and enjoy the beauty, the people, the food, the sights, but I'm always uncomfortable throughout the stay. My entire body, especially the feet, aches from walking and museum standing. I suffer from digestive troubles that I won't elaborate on except to say my body alternates between two very unpleasant extremes. I'm constantly tired from getting up early, going all day, and staying up late. By the time the trip is over, I'm a wreck! Besides the obvious of pacing yourself, taking taxis, going to bed early, wearing good shoes, etc., do you have any stress-inducing (physical and mental) tips to share? How do you ensure that you feel your best?

Sorry, I meant "stress-reducing"!

I can relate!!! My pre Europe flying panic attack kicked in a month early this year when the Concorde went down. My solution is a)not to overdo it the first day. Contrary to what everyone says about jet lag, i do try to get a few hours shut eye when I arrive at my destination. I'm usually so exhausted from the pre vacation doings that I cannot function let alone sightsee. I have slept in hotel lobbies when my room was not ready. b)Even thought there are sooooo many sights to see and things to do, you absolutely must pace yourself. You have to come to the realization that you can't do it all, so see what you can and make plans to return. Take time to stop and smell the proverbial roses, in other words, if you are tired stop in a cafe or pub and just relax.

I try to pre-plan as much of the trip as I can. Find out where I want to go and what I don't mind missing. Also, double-check all plane and hotel reservations to ensure no (or fewer hassles. Pack light so there are fewer decisions about what to wear. <BR> <BR>I try not to eat in restaurants for all my meals. Sometimes, I really need a light and healthy meal and that is hard to find in a restaurant so I go to a supermarket and buy the basics for a do-it-yourself meal. <BR> <BR>Finally, I tell myself (over and over) that we WILL come back and that I am supposed to be on vacation. That makes me less stressed about needing to see each and every sight there is.

I can definitely relate, and to try and feel my best I make sure and take my vitamins. I load up on C, E, multi, and zinc. But one problem that I have experienced each of my 3 trips to Europe is not being able to sleep the first night after arrival. Each time I think I will sleep well, especially after a sleepless night on a plane. Then arriving exhausted and I usually check into the hotel, shower and hit the streets sight seeing for the rest of the day. However, when it's bedtime, I lie in bed awake for hours. Does anyone else have that same problem?

Man, I am always am on such a natural high when I am in Europe that I just bull doze right over tiredness. After two weeks of course, I go home and collapse. That's my pattern and I'm stickin' to it. Works for me!

1) Don't eat differently than you do at home; by that I mean, for example: don't eat rich desserts, rich sauces, lots of meat, or drink alcohol if you don't at home - an occasional indulgence is ok, buy I've seen tourists just hoover things they'd never eat at home. <BR> <BR>2) Drink more water than you usually do; with all the walking you do on a trip, you can get dehydrated and not know it. That sounds like the body aches thing - also, up your potassium intake. That'll help with the muscle aches (try getting it through food, rather than pills). <BR> <BR>3) Even the most comfortable shoes will cause problems if they are significantly different than what you wear every day; for example, if you normally wear lightweight slipons, heavy tie shoes can throw your gait all off. <BR> <BR>4) Do relax before going to bed; don't rush back from sightseeing then hop into bed. Wind down at a cafe (no caffeine; try lemonade or a tisane), or read in the hotel lobby or your room. You'll probably eat a later dinner than you do at home; take a stroll to walk it off and relax you before going to bed. <BR> <BR>5) If you usually don't take sleeping pills, don't start now. Try a couple of aspirin, or a cup of chamomile tea. <BR> <BR>6) Don't put unnecessary stress on yourself; you are not responsible for the weather, train strikes, unexpected closings or poor service. If something goes wrong, take a big deep breath and figure out what to do next. Accept the fact and don't do the 'what-ifs'. If you're traveling with people who either do it to themselves or try to dump stuff on you, become immune.

I never DO seem to get over jet lag when I travel. I'm always wide awake at 4:00 am, so I get up, do my hand laundry, organize, write in my journal, etc...until the hotel breakfast buffet is open. I'm usually one of the first in line at the museums and other attractions. Because of my early-bird body clock, by 4:00 pm each day I'm pooped! I skip the pubs, restaurants and night life for a light meal and a very early bed time. I need my eight hours of sleep!

Jackie, my body tends to rebel as well. I try to eat small meals and make sure I drink plenty of fluids. And I also take a 2-3 hour nap on arrival then get up and get on local time. Since we generally have more of a time change coming from the West Coast, and I like Tammy can't fall asleep the first night, I take a mild sleeping pill for the first two nights on recommendation of my doctor. I would never advocate regular use of sleeping pills, but in this case it really helps me to adjust to the time. I was awake for three night straight one time in Venice and when I did drift off had violent nightmares. That was when I asked the doctor and it was a no brainer for her! Suggest you speak to yours as well since it doesn't sound like you're having a really good time on these trips. Oh, and there's nothing as nice as returning to a destination the second time knowing you don't have to "see it all."

I SWEAR by Advil! I take two about 30 before bed, it takes away my aches and pains, and allows me to sleep naturally. I also take two BEFORE I set out in the morning, then two in the afternoon, again BEFORE I need them. It is the best thing since sliced bread!

I am sorry to say that I nearly had stress ruin a perfectly wonderful trip in 1997. It was our Honeymoon trip, so I suppose with the stress of the wedding plans etc just never stopped.I was kind of running at warp speed. It was like I hadn't slowed down since 1996! By the time we got to our first night's hotel in Paris I was a jittery wreck and it kept getting worse. I so desperatly wanted that particular trip to be PERFECT, the result being I stressed out over EVERYTHING! I fretted about our rental car, worried over hotels.. had anxiety when my husband got a little sore throat. What a disaster... When we got home I sat down and had a good rethink of the situation. The next trip I was resolved not to be in the same boat so I did the following. <BR>Leave early from work the day before trip or day of trip/make sure you are alone in the house and already packed/Prepare a hot bath/dim lights/put on soothing music/ pour glass of wine soak in tube until you are wrinkled!! Keep reminding yourself to SLOW down, you are now on vacation! The last few trips we've made I have gone to a salon for a massage or facial if possible on the way to the airport. I have to tell you that every trip since the honeymoon as been bliss. For me, it's all about where you are at mentally while you are travelling. If you leave stressed out you arrive stressed out. Do something totally indulgent and keep repeating to yourself, before and during the trip " I am on vacation, this is ok, I am relaxed" I don't know if this will help you but it sure helped me.

Jackie - . On our last trip, we used rather complicated instructions from Conde Nast on taking melatonin to avoid jet lag. We took 1/4th of the smallest pill & adjusted the timing across several time lines. I believe it worked as we had NO jet lag when we got to Ireland! This contrasts markedly to our prior trip to Paris in which I slept a total of no more than 4 hours a night(for 5 nights in a row!) & was ready to swear off traveling. <BR> We fly from California (I envy Easterners with their relatively short hops to Europe). A few times we've flown to N.Y. & stayed overnight & then gone on to Europe, which knocked the jet lag. <BR> It pays to pace yourself. We don't try to see & do a lot in 1 day, even though we're missing some "must sees." (We have a good excuse to return in order to see the things we miss.) <BR> I think some of this has to do with being "professional worriers" (we manage to worry about everything in spite of long range planning). Several friends are quite different: they have gone to Paris without a hotel reservation in June, driven in Athens, gone to Egypt right after the killings of tourists (the only Americans on their tour), etc. We come from different planets. (They NEVER have jet lag - sleep on the plane like babies, etc.)

I just returned from my very first overseas trip, so I won't pretend to know a lot. My sister encouraged the rest of us to take advantage of the great fresh food in London groceries. We bought it and ate it as a picnic and another time we took it back to the flat and relaxed and ate. True, we didn't hit as many cool restaurants, but we did keep our digestive tracts calm and happy. <BR> <BR>As for the feet aching - I got advice from this site a few months ago to see a podiatrist because I was complaining that my feet were going to hurt and I needed shoe advice. Well, my podiatrist took molds of my feet and ordered orthotics (my feet were extra flat) and I had zero foot pains the WHOLE trip! And I just had regular Wal Mart special tennis shoes! <BR> <BR>Lastly, about six days into our trip, the four members of my group split-up for an evening because the 24/7 togetherness (even sharing a flat) was making us grumpy. That was a nice change of pace. Plus we could do some things the others didn't really like. <BR> <BR>Good luck!

Melatonin doesn't work for me but Tylenol PM does just fine. No alcohol on flight over and lots of water. Flight attendants don't want you up and walking around, but ignore them. Drink the water and visit the head as needed. Don't eat all the meal on the plane and then sit in your seat. That's an invitation to stomach distress. Oh, and avoid United Airlines at all costs. It will really add to your stress.

My solution is to slow down. In my youth I could get off the plane at 6am and go go go. Now I make sure there's a room waiting, even if it does mean you've paid for an extra night. A couple of hours sleep when I first arrive and taking rest of day at a quiet strolling pace sort of clicks me into the new environment. Also, holidays are to be enjoyed, so don't treat them as a marathon. Europe has been around for many centuries and hopefully will be around for awhile yet. Build a few "mooching around' days into the vacation and you'll go home feeling great.

Thank you all for your great suggestions. We're going to Spain in October, so will try them out.

Lots of great advice about vacation stress! I agree with Expat. A European trip is not a beach lay-about or cruise, but it shouldn't be a campaign either. <BR> <BR>For me, a good idea is to work in a little physical recreation such as biking, country hiking, boating or even horseback riding. Think up at least one "do something" activity to take yourself completely off the tiresome tourist treadmill role. <BR> <BR>Don't know if anyone wants to hear this but I started taking "extra fiber powder" three weeks before I travel. That's helped me the last two trips to Mexico. <BR> <BR>I hope more people post on this one for Jackie: I think it is interesting to discover other's struggle/victory over the general discomforts of travel.

Be very careful with Tylenol PM - or any acetaminophen product, especially when having a drink or two. It can greatly damage your liver. Even two drinks and Extra Strength Tylenol causes major damage. (Do a search on any engine and you will see countless articles.) <BR> <BR>Instead of Tylenol PM, take Benadryl, which IS the "PM" ingredient added to Tylenol. Then you don't have to worry about liver damage.

GULP. <BR> <BR>Patti - thanks for the advice. I love Tylenol PM and how it helps sleep esp on long flights! Unfortunately, I have had drinks en flight at the same time. <BR> <BR>In the future, I will either take the PM and no cocktails or Benadryl and one cocktail. <BR> <BR>Let me ask this though - does the Benadryl leave you feeling sluggish when you wake up b/c that's the Tylenol PM does not (which is why we love it on long flights)? <BR> <BR>To the original poster - the more sleep you can get in flight - the better. Just returned from Australia to East Coast US with barely any jet lag. Was tired, but not nearly as bad as I thought I would be.

I'd recommend trying a morning flight. Normally I have bad jet lag from the overnight flight. The past 3 years I've taken American Airlines morning flights to Europe, and the difference is dramatic. You fly all day, arrive in London or Paris at 8 p.m., it's 10 by the time you settle into the hotel. So you're asleep by midnight because you're tired from the trip -- perfect timing for adapting to the new time zone. <BR> <BR>Take direct flights whenever possible. If you have to take the overnight, take the latest flight possible, since there's a better chance of falling asleep later in the evening. If you have a connecting flight, I'd suggest making the connection in the US, instead of having an hour-plus layover in a foreign airport in the middle of the night. <BR> <BR>Also I'd recommend not being on too tight a budget; you can spend enormous time and effort trying to save on restaurants, currency exchange, etc. The $10 you'll save at a slightly cheaper restaurant may not be worth the hour you spent hunting for it when you're tired and hungry.