At least for me, this is what I've experienced in the past before going on a big trip. In fact, I'm feeling it right now as I'm waiting at the gate to my first flight to Europe. I always experience a lot of anxiety prior to a trip, and I call it the pre-travel jitters. No matter how often I travel, I always find myself dealing with them, and after talking to other friends that travel as well, I've found that I'm not alone. Even the most seasoned of travelers experience a bit of anxiety before a new trip. It's a totally natural response to the unknown. If you are about to travel, and you've been feeling some sort of anxiety about your trip, worry no more! Here's some tips for turning your fear and anxiety into excitement.
1) Don't over think this decision.
You know you want to travel. You know you want to get out there. So, don't think too much about it. Book that flight you've been looking at. If you've already booked your flight, then just roll with what's to come. Try not to have too many expectations; having expectations brings way too many thoughts and feelings. If you've booked your trip, theres really no turning back, and the only thing that is going to stop you is, well, yourself. Keep your mind open and keep your thoughts clear about the journey ahead.
2). Be Prepared: Money, Medication, and Mindset.
There is where things can get confusing. You don't want to over think your trip, but you still want to make sure that you're fully prepared for when things go wrong (and nobody ever has a perfect trip, something always goes wrong). Every trip, or at least the ones I've experienced, has a low point where something does not go according to plan. Maybe you get really sick, or maybe someone has gotten a hold of your bag when you were caught off guard and stole your belongings. Whatever the case may be, you want to make sure that you're in the best position for when shit hits the fan.
Money:
Try to save up enough money so that you're comfortable throughout the trip. You don't want money to be a constant worry. Something like that can get in the way of you enjoying yourself. If you go out to a bar or a club, try not to bring all of your bank cards just in case something gets stolen or misplaced. Always have a bit of cash with you, some places don't always accept foreign bank cards.
Medication:
If you are traveling to, say for example, a country in southeast Asia like Thailand or Vietnam, make sure you visit a travel doctor to get the necessary shots or medications before leaving. Trust me, you don't want to get Typhoid while you're traveling. Or at least just make sure you're up to date on any shots or vaccinations you need. It's good to not have to worry about that stuff. If encountered some travelers who had gotten really sick during their stay, and it's never a good story.
Mindset:
Keep your guard up, use your common sense, and don't leave your things lying around. Don't put yourself in a position to be vulnerable. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and belongings, you will be just fine.
3) Pack Lightly
Even if you are traveling for a couple of months, don't go overboard with the packing. Really, just a couple of shirts and pants are fine. Ideally, its great to just bring a backpack with you, and you definitely want to stuff it with extra pairs of socks and undergarments. The rest of the clothes you think you'll need, you probably don't. And the less shit you bring with you, the less shit you have to worry about. Its very simple. If you run out of clothes, you can always buy more while you're traveling.
4) Enjoy yourself
I know all of the thinking and preparation seems overwhelming, but once you get to your destination, you realize that you really didn't have much to worry about after all. Arranging your trip seems stressful and everything leading up to your departure kind of seems like a crazy whirlwind of frantic nerves and anxiety, but actually arriving and beginning your journey is one of the most rewarding things life has to offer. So go with the flow and have fun. That's the whole point, isn't it?
