My heart is beating faster, stronger…I can feel the vibrations of my heart beat in my throat. My stomach feels like it’s tied in a knot and my mind is overwhelmed with maps, flight schedules, and over-thought plans.
While there is nothing in the world I love more than traveling, lately I’ve become overwhelmed with travel anxiety.
I’ve embarked on countless trips for both personal and professional reasons, but for the first time in a long time, at least since my move to Paris, I start getting this uneasy feeling as I begin to plan for my 2-month trip to South East Asia.
Why the anxiety?
As much as I’ve traveled, this trip will be the first time I’m traveling solo through a foreign continent. It is significant for me because it’ll be a new challenge for me to find a balance between my personal and professional lifestyles and goals. Although working abroad is still unconventional for most Americans my age, I believe that this trip comes at the most opportune time and is an ambition I’ve pursued for years.
Attempting to ease my anxiety, I started Googling some antedote and came across Matador Network’s “8 Ways to Manage Pre-Trip Anxiety.” Number one on this list is the link to my favorite travel blog post, “The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes.” As I read through the quotes, they reminded me of why I want to go on this trip – to show the world that living a travel/work lifestyle is possible if you are work hard at it and to prove that dreams can only become reality when you try.
And so, I’d like to end this post with one of my favorite travel quotes of all time…
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain
Has any one ever gone through travel anxiety?
If so, how did you deal with it?
Hi I’m Tina – a mid-20s International Marketing professional, Life Experimenter, & Traveler, in search of living a full-filled work/ life balance whilst trying to make my mark on the world!
hello. been going through the same thing as i am about to do my first long-term travel throughout southeast asia. i get the apprehension. it’s terrifying. but i’ve told myself again and again that it’s not about being fearless. it’s about being scared sh*tless and doing it anyway. so yes, i use that fear to fuel me forward.
Paul I couldn’t agree with you more!
And I truely believe it is when we go through these – ‘oh shit I’m gonna pee-in-my-pants!’ and step outside of our comfortzones that the biggest learn curve happens!
We should meet up somewhere in Asia!
Happy Travels!
I haven’t gone through travel anxiety per se [then again, my travel period has a fixed start/end date and I'm usually traveling with someone else] but I do have these fits of, “oh my gosh, i’m not ready yet” because I’m a procrastinator and because I plan for a living, I’m reluctant to plan for vacation. That’s when I realize the reason I’m traveling is to LIVE and EXPERIENCE.
Your trip sounds so exciting!! i can’t wait to read up more about your travels!
Jen! YES! Exactly!
This is the same reason why I am so addicted to traveling! Because I feel most alive when I’m in a foreign country and the experiences I get while traveling are experiences that I know will stay with me for a lifetime!
I don’t suffer with anxiety but I like the idea to use your fear as energy to push you forward! That is true for any fear.
That quote is one of my favorites too!
I know isn’t it funny how we work that way? I love this quote – and all travel quotes totally make my day =)
Don’t worry it’s perfectly natural. When I bought a one-way ticket to Mexico to start my RTW I wanted to puke.
haha! I feel like I wanna pee in my pants! but I’m sure the puking feeling will come right before my plane departs
I usually don’t feel anxious because I look forward to travelling, but if I do I focus on all the positive aspects. I also find the meditation helps a lot.
Heidi
I’m horrible at meditation
I’m hoping that during my trip throughout Asia I’ll find tranquility amongst the culture and people.
As I get older, I find anxiety creeping up about the unknown. I wish I had some advice on how to overcome it, but for me I just push through and once I’m on the trip my fears melt away.
Thanks Christy for the advice. I agree I think I just gotta push through it and think of the amazing adventure that awaits me!
I had travel anxiety doing solo travel to Zimbabwe. So I walked next to some Aussie travelers to become closer to a group until I could get comfortable with my new destination.
When I left for my first solo long-term travel adventure in Latin America (supposed to be a year but will be more), I was insanely stressed my last two weeks at home. Guess it’s only natural.
Good luck, and I look forward to reading about your adventures.
Thanks Steph! Yeah ever since I knew this trip was happening, my stress level has def. gone up! And I’ve lost a lot of sleep over it…but still going through the planning process, so once things are more set I think the stress level will go down…hopefully
I definitely understand the anxiety – I’m just a nervous person overall, so of course I was completely petrified before we started our journey. There were just so many unknowns and things that could go wrong!!
The funny thing is that our traveling has made me a more confident and adventurous person. I have an easier time adjusting to change and uncertainty, and I now LOVE what we do. A full-time travel lifestyle isn’t for everyone… but I didn’t think it was for me and I quickly proved myself wrong.
I read somewhere that a lot of people regret NOT traveling more…. but those that DO embark on this kind of trip (or lifestyle change) rarely regret their decision. Glad I’m in the latter camp. =)
Technosyncratic yes! The unknown can be totally scary! And congrats on living a full-time travel lifestyle, my dream is to do the same one day! =D
for some reason it feels better to know that i’m not alone with the similar problem you have.
although in my case it’s not so much anxiety from the unknown, leaving comfortable life doesn’t look appealing any more.
anyhow, all the best
The times I get anxious about any travel is when I’m separated from my partner. I love travel but if I have to travel solo or he’s traveling without me, I get a little anxious and nervous since I’m not used to traveling alone. But I’m getting better at it now, the more “solo travel” that I do. So hopefully one day I’ll not be as anxious anymore!