While the prospect of exploring new destinations and eating exotic foods is appealing, it can also be daunting — especially if you’re travelling as a single parent and child or as a solo traveller. It can be hard to get excited for the adventures you have planned if you’re plagued with worries about travelling solo or travel in general, whether it’s triggered by a fear of flying, being by yourself in a new location or something else entirely. The good news is that you don’t need to put your plans on hold. There are ways to overcome travel anxiety so you can ensure your first solo trip is a fun, stress-free experience.
Know The Triggers of Your Travel Anxiety
Negative travel experiences are common, and they can be caused by a number of things. You might have heard stories about plane crashes, for example, which has led to a fear of flying, or you might know someone who came back from holiday with a nasty illness which has made you nervous to travel abroad. Anxiety can also develop early in life, making you more prone to fear new experiences which can, in turn, lead to travel anxiety. Understanding what your triggers are can help you target your approach to overcoming them, breaking your fears down into more manageable chunks so they don’t feel so overwhelming.
Seek Out Professional Advice
If your fear of travelling is particularly bad, and you have plenty of time before your trip, it can help to seek out professional guidance from a licensed therapist. Counselling in London can offer specialised mental health resources for travellers struggling with anxiety. Professional therapists can provide targeted strategies to help you manage travel-related stress, so you can develop coping mechanisms tailored to your specific challenges or triggers.
Connect With Fellow Travellers
Just because you’re travelling by yourself doesn’t mean you need to spend the entire trip in isolation. In fact, you might be surprised just how big the solo travel community is. Why not connect with fellow travellers online to garner their advice on the best places to travel solo or their tips for making the most of a particular destination? Getting advice from people who have been to the country you’re visiting can help you feel more prepared which in turn combats fear of travelling.
If you are travelling solo with your child or children and are too anxious doing it alone, you could join an organised group holiday for single parent families. Having someone else preparing certain aspects of your trip and meeting other families on holiday makes for the best single parent and child holiday and can be a first step in overcoming travel anxiety.
Plan And Prepare Well in Advance
For many people, it’s the fear of the unknown that makes them anxious. So, if you’ve never travelled by yourself, it’s understandable that you may be nervous because you don’t know what to expect. Planning your trip in detail can help here as it will make you feel more in control and prepared for all eventualities.
For example, book a hotel in the centre of the town or city you’re visiting so you can make your way around more easily. Use public transport and taxis instead of walking, especially at night, and do your research as to which buses or trains you’ll need to get so you don’t need to worry about getting lost. Make sure you have travel insurance in place and a list of services handy that you can refer to if you become unwell or injured.
Practice Self-Care
When you’re struggling with anxiety, taking care of yourself is vital. Make sure you exercise, before and during your trip, because integrating movement into your routine will boost your mood. Yoga, Pilates, and high-intensity interval training are all great options that can be done anywhere. Even a walk in fresh air can help to calm the mind.
If you can find time to practice breathwork and mindfulness when you feel yourself becoming anxious, this can help to ease a racing mind and bring you back to a state of calm. It’s also important to get plenty of sleep, make sure you stay hydrated, and engage in hobbies that will keep you calm, such as listening to music or reading a book.
Bring Distractions with You
Find activities that minimise your travel anxiety and bring them with you on your trip. If you usually watch a film to calm your mind when your thoughts are racing, consider downloading a few favourites to your phone or laptop, or pack a book or puzzle in your suitcase that you can pull out when you feel yourself becoming nervous. Calming distractions can help enormously when flying solo with kids or travelling by yourself. They will make you feel more comfortable and prevent negative thoughts from getting too loud, so you can focus your attention on something more positive.
Understand That What You’re Feeling Is Normal
Lastly, being in an unfamiliar environment is naturally nerve-wracking, particularly if you factor in the effects of jetlag. So, don’t worry — it’s a feeling that will pass and the more you get used to travelling by yourself, the easier each trip will be.
Before your trip, write down all the positive experiences you want to get from your trip to remind you why you’re travelling. Maybe you’ve always wanted to visit a particular destination or perhaps there’s a bucket list experience you can only tick off by travelling. Having this list to refer to in those anxious moments will motivate you to push through your anxiety and remember the benefits of your adventure.
Finally
Travel anxiety is a common fear and much more widespread than you think. Just don’t let it stop you from travelling the world! Seek help, connect with others, or join solo travel groups to help alleviate your fears. Facing your travel fears will boost your self-esteem and help you grow as a person.
About the author:
Single Parents on Holiday are a UK tour operator providing single parent family holidays and solo trips for single travellers. Not only do we offer the best holiday for single parents and children in the market, but our holidays are also excellent ways to overcome your fear of travelling.
