I recently went on a month-long vacation to a few Asian countries for the first time in my life. I posted my stories daily for my friends and some of them reached out saying I am their travel inspiration. One friend opened up that although she always wanted to visit those countries, she is worried about potential challenges and hasn’t traveled much.
Not a lot of people are talking about things that are not so rosy about travel. Or they look at someone else’s feed and think to themselves “Good for them, I would never be able to do it. They must be easy to adjust/have no health or safety concerns/are just lucky” etc etc. The reality is: that you only see someone’s facade when you scroll through social media, not always the backstory (although I did post about how I got sick, and some of the pains of the long flights, etc – it might have got filtered out in the multitude of beautiful other pictures).
So today I wanted to share some thoughts about common traveling problems many people encounter including myself and how I address them.
Feeding giant koi fish in Tirta Gangga, Bali, October 2024
Long Flights
This year I have been on my longest flight from Toronto to Bali (with a stop in Amsterdam). In the past, I learned a few tricks to make this experience less uncomfortable (without investing in business class or a private jet).
Here are a few tips (some are super basic but just in case you have never traveled by air before I will put them here):
- Bring your favorite water bottle and fill it up before boarding. You can’t bring drinks through security, and the amount of water they give you on the flight is tiny, in tiny cups. I also often buy a protein drink or a bottled smoothie after security to treat myself on the flight (because most airlines serve pretty non-palatable foods these days, sorry).
- Invest in a decent sleep mask. It was my game-changer! I got one from Amazon that seals well and has a regulating strap on the back. I was able to sleep well despite the light and neighbors watching TV.
- Compression stockings. I made a huge mistake of not putting them on for my flight to Bali and then was horrified to see my legs were so swollen, that I was embarrassed at the pool the next day. However, a reasonably quick solution is to put your feet up against the wall for at least 10 minutes (I did it during my morning and evening meditation) and the swelling will resolve. It went away within 24 hours for me but lasted a few days for the other girls who didn’t do it in our trip group. I put compression stockings on for my flight back and had no swelling at all!
- A good neck pillow is a must. Some airlines have reasonable chairs, but some are not so comfortable. So I always bring a pillow so I can have a comfortable sleep.
- You will be sitting for a long time. Bring a lumbar roll or roll a scarf or other piece of clothing or towel to prevent back pain from long sitting.
- I always bring a warm scarf that becomes my blanket for the flight. Some airlines will give you one, but many won’t.
- Cord for USB phone changing and ear pods. Oftentimes there is no entertainment on the flight, so you might want to put some (previously downloaded) soothing playlist, audiobook, or a podcast.
- Eye lubricating drops and nasal saline/nasal allergy spray. I find the air on flights is very dry and I wear contacts, so my eyes feel very dry. I also often get a blocked nose from allergies to make the flight even more fun 🙂
- I often would pack a small container with favorite snacks like jerky, washed and cut fruits, a few slices of cheese, and some crackers and nuts into my carry-on knowing that most of the time there would be limited food options on the flight.
Admiring the jungles in Bali, near Tukad Chepung Waterfall, October 2024
Diet Change
This one is a bit challenging to address. When I was planning my trip to Thailand I did not anticipate I would get tired of eating the same food over and over again after two or three days because I love Thai food. So I had to search for international restaurants in the area to satisfy my cravings for something more Western.
I do find it’s hard to have balanced nutrition during travel because when you are on the tour you don’t really have much choice of restaurants, and when you are traveling on your own… Well, you don’t always get time to plan the trip in so much detail.
Even though I found my gut didn’t feel great during travel, I accepted it as part of the experience. I tried to get as much fruit as possible (because it’s hard to get a good portion of salad in many places of the world and the meals are very carb heavy, and very protein and fibre-poor). When I could I would try and get more eggs in to meet the protein requirements or some protein bars/drinks which were not always super tasty. But in my mind, I decided I won’t let it hold me back, because once I am home I will be eating back to normal and everything will get better again.
Tasting coffee and chocolate at the Balinese coffee plantation, October 2024
Sleep deprivation
This one is tough. Pick your group tours carefully and see how realistic their travel itineraries are. If they have 2-3 activities per day you might get exhausted and behind on your stuff, running into a risk of revenge sleep procrastination. That can lead to a vicious cycle of sleep deprivation when travelinging and reduce the joy of it. Pick tours or plan your trips with some wiggle room for opting out from activities if you get exhausted or overstimulated from all the new sensory experiences, or even build in some guilt-free resting days in a hotel.
Lack of Control
This one is also a tough one to address. You are going to a new place and are relying on a guide or your research, and sometimes things don’t go as planned or not your way. It’s a balance of course. Again, my approach is usually acceptance that it may not be perfect, but it will be good enough, and that’s what matters to me.
Gut Disturbance
This issue relates to dietary changes and stress. Many people develop gas, bloating, worsening GERD, constipation, or loose stools in travel. Just do your best to prepare for it, talk to your doctor, and follow the advice on what to pack and what to try and eat/drink.
Balinese coffee plantation, October 2024
Fear of Injury or Illness
Travel insurance is a must! Just get it. And don’t do risky things (use your judgment).
Dreading Coming Back Home
Many people dread coming back from vacation because there are loads of work or even house chores. My way of dealing with it is I use a few more days of vacation (I am self-employed so it’s somewhat easy you would think, but not really) to readjust and “pick up the slack” at home. I make sure I clean the house, do all the laundry before leaving, and put in new bedsheets for when I come back. I also freeze one or two days’ worth of home-cooked meals because I know I will crave homemade food and will have no energy to make it after the flights. The fresh linen and home foods make me look forward to coming back.
I also clean up work emails on those reserved “wiggle” days before coming back to clinical work. Don’t forget to set up auto-reply with an absence alert!
Adjusting to the New Climate
Not much you can do about it, especially if you have never been in that climate before. I always thought I would want to live in Bali or Costa Rica, but turned out I am not made for hot climates! I feel lethargic, hot, sweaty, and sticky, my skin gets oily and every day is a bad hair day in those countries. I had no idea until I went. But it’s a learning experience and I am glad I visited before deciding to downshift and immigrate there (just kidding).
Social Anxiety in Group Tours
I think we all have a degree of social anxiety, and probably other group members are going through the same thing. It’s easier if you have a buddy, but even if you are traveling solo – it’s often much less awkward than you would expect. I actually had a lot of fun when I traveled solo with a group and was sharing a hotel room with a stranger roommate, who then became a friend. But we are all different. It takes knowing yourself and knowing your boundaries: are you open to the uncertainty of sharing your trip with strangers, or is this a non-negotiable no? If so, why? Something to reflect on.
On the other hand, traveling often becomes a real test of friendship or relationships, which I have seen on many occasions personally. On some trips, you leave as best friends, and after some – you never want to talk to that person again. So I often find it easier to travel with strangers and “preserve” the good relationships I have with my friends at home.
Cost and Lost Income
This is another hard issue, especially for entrepreneurs and self-employed. I don’t get any paid vacation and I simply don’t make income if I take time off. This used to stop me from traveling in my first years of practice but over time I realized that we only have a short window of about 40 years of good health and vitality between our 20s and 60s to complete our travel plans (read “Die With Zero”), and tomorrow is not guaranteed. Of course, if I am lucky and take care of my body well, I might have the longevity and travel the world into my late 70s and 80s, but there is no guarantee. Since travel is on a very high life priority list for me, I am willing to take the pay cut and perhaps retire later (instead of joining the FIRE group in my forties or early fifties by being super frugal) but enjoy my career years with balanced small and big breaks of leisure. At the end of the day, I think it makes me a better member of the workforce if I have enriching life experiences and rest. Here one also can be reminded about “put the mask on yourself first” or “the heart pumps the blood to itself first”.
Lempuyang Temple, Bali, October 2024
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s all about perspective. A lot of atrocious things happen even if we stay home, unfortunately, and it’s a personal choice and consideration of values that determine the risk-benefit analysis of travel. For some, travel is not a priority at all and that’s completely okay. Just because others are traveling and social media is so saturated with travel bloggers (think how many businesses in the travel industry profit from this and benefit from you and me deciding to spend money on another trip) doesn’t mean that’s something for everybody. But if you always wanted to travel the world, but the worries are holding you back, or you think something is wrong with you because you have so many concerns – I hope this post gave you some validation and reassurance.
Homework:
Reflect on your personal travel bucket list. On a sheet of paper or in a Word document, make four columns. Write down at least 10 places you want to visit, or 50 if you dare in the first one.
Now write down your estimated amount of time you need there. In the third column, write your potential fears about visiting it/barriers to travel. Do you see any common themes? Examine how true are your estimations about duration and potential issues.
In the fourth column, write a potential solution to your concern about this country of interest, as if written by a wiser version of yourself. Many people find it helpful to refer to their imaginary “wiser persona” when puzzled by a challenge. Give it a try!
Example:
Country | Estimated Duration | Anticipated Issues | Potential Solution Statements |
Bali | 2 weeks |
| I may lose some income and incur some expenses on this trip, but I have accounted for it in my guilt free travel saving account for the last year and it is designated for my rest and recovery. If I get a Bali belly, I will allow myself to rest, because it is usually short-lasting, and if I am not improving, I will use travel insurance to cover my medical costs and trip interruption. I will follow the advice and precautions on prevention and bring over-the-counter remedies after discussing these and appropriate vaccinations with my doctor. I could potentially come two days early for my trip and allow myself a couple of days off before returning to work to adjust to time zone changes. I will inform my tour guide about my diet restrictions and will do everything in my power to keep my diet sustainable, but if it doesn’t always work, I can manage a couple of weeks’ deviation from my normal and I know I will; be back on track once I get home. |
Hope this helps and please let me know if I missed any other potential issues or solutions!
