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Relaxation Tips for the Holidays

Are you prepared for your holiday travels? By prepared, we don’t just mean tickets purchased and plans set. We mean mentally prepared. Thanksgiving through New Year’s is a hectic time of year for travelers, which is why we’re providing you some simple tips for staying relaxed this travel season.

1) Book Smart: Holiday flights and hotels are often booked months in advance, which is why you need a solid plan for streamlined transportation and accommodations for a smooth trip. If you’re still in need of tickets or you’re planning to drive, consider avoiding the busiest days immediately before and after a holiday. You could find less traffic, smaller crowds, extra arm room, and perhaps peace of mind by traveling the day of an actual holiday. Rest assured, your friends and family will save you a heaping plate of holiday food if you happen to arrive late.

2) Be Prepared: Make a list, pre-pack, and double-check that you have all clothing, shoes, and essentials before leaving home. You don’t want to be waiting in long checkout lines or battling crowds at busy shopping centers to purchase forgotten items. Also, consider wearing certain heavy items on your flight, like hats or boots, to avoid the stress of carrying heavy luggage and paying extra baggage fees. Carrying a lighter load will take strain off your body and mind.

3) Stay Nourished: It’s stressful to feel hungry. Holiday travel often involves unexpected delays and roadblocks, which is why it is smart to pack a few convenient, healthy snacks. We all know that fast food and junk foods are tempting on trips; however, those fatty, sugary, greasy foods often deplete our energy and can make us feel rundown. At Eat, Heal, Travel, we recommend packing fruits, veggies, and protein bars to appease your appetite until you arrive at your destination for a comforting holiday meal.

4) Keep Calm: There are bound to be conflicts and issues that arise during your trip. Perhaps your Uber is late or there is ice on the roads. It is important to keep calm and manage the stress. Breathing exercises and other techniques could prove useful. For a quick fix, we recommend deep breathing in through your nose, holding the breath for 5 to 10 seconds, and releasing very slowly through your mouth to lower your heart rate and calm nerves.

5) Meditate: If you find yourself on a long flight, stuck with a delay, or desperately in need of relaxation, consider mediation. Download peaceful music or an audio meditation on a phone or device prior to departure to have available during any downtime. Visualization is also a technique for reducing stress. Close your eyes and picture yourself in your happy place (perhaps think about your childhood holidays). Do this quietly for at least 10 minutes. Feel it, smell it, hear it, and see it in your mind. You’ll find yourself relaxed and ready for a wonderful time.

Keeping calm and managing stress is vital to overall happiness and physical wellbeing. We hope these simple tips will help you travel safe and enjoy the holiday season.

Tell us on Twitter or Facebook about how you relax during trips. Eat well, live long, and travel far!