How to combat travel burnout
AND STILL MAKE MEMORIES
Well, it finally happened. After three months working abroad, a week learning to ski and a long weekend in Dublin, I came down with a nasty throat cold.
I’d hit travel burnout.
If you don’t know, I work abroad, and my breaks are my time to discover places I don’t go to with work and catch up with my family and friends.
Only on this occasion, I think I packed a little too much into what should be my rest time. So, I wanted to put together a postcard about what I’ve learnt from burning the candle at both ends.
1. YOUR ROUTINE IS KEY
What I’ve learned over the last few years, especially this year, is that routine is everything when I travel. This is my experience and it won’t be the same for everyone, but when I travel I only tend to spiral towards travel burnout when my routines drop.
And it’s something you can’t beat yourself up on. You will meet new people so you may head out later than planned (which may knock onto a slightly later morning), time zones can mess up your sleeping patterns, you may even have to amend your travel itinerary unexpectedly.
I know routines are really powerful for me, but in the midst of all the self help and morning routine videos on Instagram and Youtube, they are difficult to slot into travel, because travel isn’t stereotypically routine.
Ultimately, it depends what type of person you are in the life stage you are at. As I get older, I am seeking a slower peace to my life, with travel that matches. Some of you reading this may be like me when I first travelled, happy to forego routine.
Both are valid, but for me right now, something I am working towards is being more resilient with my routines, so I don’t get to the stage where I’m facing travel burnout.
2. DO YOUR BEST TO PREVENT THE ONSET
Travelling is all about making memories, and many times I have pushed self care to the side to enjoy the situations I have been met with.
And I’m not saying don’t ever do that. Because sometimes that’s just not feasible with travel. The whole reason I’m sure 99% of us travel is for the memories.
What I’m going to focus on is, if I do slip in my routines, or self care, or I end up doing way too much, I’m going to aim to balance it.
I’m talking taking a full day off to rest, finding a good spa deal, taking time to check in on your finances for an afternoon (this is my worst habit when I travel). Doesn’t have to be typical R&R, but seeing the signs and slower down according to how you know your body and mind saves you from facing full out burnout down the line.
And, you’re going to go out in Dublin with your friend and spend your rent at Temple Bar, at least have a Berocca in your backpack. I did not.
3. TRAVEL SHOULD BE FOR YOU
It is so, so easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you have to travel in a certain way. But there are so many ways to travel, it should ultimately come down to what you want to do.
Sounds super simple, but how many places have you got saved on Pinterest or in your Saved folder that you want to go to just to say you’ve been? Or because everyone is travelling there right now.
I know somewhere for me is South East Asia. I know. I see so many reels, videos, hotels, etc and part of me thinks I should just tick it off. Especially as it’s a massive backpacking hotspot. But it’s just not me.
It’s like the fact I’m flying to Mexico for a week for an all inclusive, which cost around the same as travelling Central Europe as a backpacker for two weeks. I know I could backpack and see new countries, but I also know I need a slower travel experience every now and then.
You’ve got to go at your pace, otherwise you’ll lose your spark and energy if you try and replicate everyone else’s travel style.
As I prepare for Mexico and my biggest career contract yet (working on a world cruise voyage) I’m very much centring towards prioritising a slower pace. If you’re in the same boat, I’d love to know your thoughts over on my Instagram @thatgirladventures
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