here are my tips for the best ways to practice self care on any trip, made especially for those who love packed itineraries (like me)

hey hey hey!

so, one thing I’ve recently learned about myself is that I ALWAYS do the most on vacation. I tend to pack every waking moment of my itinerary with something to do, see, or hear, just to feel like I am making the most of my trip. Whether it’s an excursion, cultural immersion activity, or some artsy thing , I always jump at the chance to do something, instead of just resting. Like, you know those people who come back from vacation and need another vacation because they’re so tired from everything they did? I am people! They are me lol.

why am I like this?

After doing some necessary self-reflection, I realized that I tend to overdo it on the activities because I want to get my money’s worth (capitalism has poisoned my mind obviously)! I always feel this pressure to recoup the time, money, and effort that I’ve put into planning a trip. Like, if I put in all of this effort to go across the globe, it needs to be ‘worth it.’ Right, like imagine that you just spent a stack for a “once in a lifetime” trip to Namibia? You’ve done all of the leg work for years to get a passport, a visa, and researched an itinerary that you’re cool with; then, you’ve saved for months to make sure you can afford the flight, and all that the country has to offer; and once your tours and itinerary are set, you spend days actually getting to Windhoek, Namibia to live out this trip that you’ve been dreaming about. After ALLLL of that, you mean to tell me that you’re going to spend this whole trip just relaxing in a hotel room? ABSOLUTELY NOT fam! You BEST believe that I’m going to try and pack the trip with as many things to see and do, because who knows when I’ll ever get to go to Namibia again? Especially after 2020; a pandemic-ridden year that taught us to never take open borders and travel for granted

On top of that, there are so many external constraints that keep us from traveling for as long as we want to. Whether it’s limited time off, family commitments, or just a budget in general, I feel like I can never stay on a trip too long because I always have to get back to something!

But, as I started to unpack and challenge these ideas, I realized that I was doing all of this at the expense of my own #selfcare. Like yes, I may spend a great weekend in Maine jam-packed with walks along the coastline, and eating lobster, but am I really having fun if my feet are so tired from walking 10 miles that I can’t even get out of bed the next day? So, before I get into these tips, I would just urge you, as a traveler, to challenge this idea that you have to try and see everything in one trip! You don’t! Because, once you travel somewhere once, you’ll likely feel empowered to go back because you’re familiar with the surroundings! If you make travel a lifestyle and incorporate it into your routine more often, then it feels a lot easier to take leave, plan trips, and just ignore those external constraints. I’ll get into how to make this a reality in future posts, but I would urge you to try and make travel a lifestyle, instead of a once in a lifetime type of excursion. Maybe that will help your itineraries feel less packed!

anywho, why don’t I think relaxing is an adequate way of spending a vacation? why do I constantly choose to sacrifice my health at the expense of ‘doing things’ on vacation?

I can’t fully answer those questions just yet. But, I can say that I will RESTING on my vacations a lot more! Like, legit planning out time to chill so I can recuperate and enjoy my vacation. I need to remind myself that experiencing things at a slow(er) pace is still a great way to see things and discover myself on vacation!

Because if 2020 and the popularity of the #selfcare movement have taught me anything, it’s the importance of slowing down, and not trying to plan out ever single detail!

As such, here are my the top five ways that you can incorporate a little more #selfcare into your travel routine during your (post-COVID) trips!

my top 5 #selfcare tips for the busy traveler!

🛀🏿 take a bath!

Baths are a great way to relax on a trip. Whether it’s a quick five minute dip to uplift your spirit, or an hour long candle-lit journey at the end of a tough day, baths help rejuvenate your skin and your senses. Bonus points for you if you can put the devices away and opt for some light music or a book instead! Just make sure you take a shower before you bath, that way you’re not swimming in your own filth!

Pro Tip: DON’T, and I mean DO NOT, use hot water for your bath 😅. It may seem cute at first, but sitting in 90 degree water stops feeling relaxing, and actually starts to burn after awhile!

🧊ICE YOUR FEET

Be nice to your body, especially if you’re traveling a lot around a city. I always tend to walk way more on vacation than I do in my normal routine back home. I think it’s because I’m trying to save money on transportation, and because I like the ability of being able to see and access everything I want to do so quickly. Like, why wait for a bus or a train when I can walk and explore at the same time!

Anywho, if you’re anything like me, then certain body parts may be getting more wear and tear because you’re traveling a lot more! So, don’t beat yourself for being sore or out of shape. Instead, stretch (if you can), and ice what hurts for at least 20 minutes a day, just to make sure you don’t strain anything!

💆🏿‍♀️get a massage

Massages are great for getting all those kinks out of your joints and muscles after traveling for long hours. I will admit, I used to be skeptical about massages because I didn’t want people touching me. But, after I got a game changing foot massage in Jordan, I knew that I had to at least get one on every trip, just to treat my body!

If you don’t want to pay for a professional massage, consider buying some massage oils or lotions and massaging your own feet!

Pro Tip: If you’re staying at at hotel, see if they can lend you a bathrobe! Most have them on stock, even if they’re not already in your room! It’s damn near impossible to not relax while wearing a bath robe, so this can be a decent alternative to a massage!

🧘🏿‍♀️practice mindfulness!

practicing mindfulness is a great way to focus on being in the moment! When you’re visiting a new destination, it’s very common to feel inundated by the unfamiliar surroundings. From the new sites, to the new smells, and even the new noises (or lack thereof). It can EASILY feel like sensory overload.

Chances are, you may want to take hella pics to remember everything to show your friends and family later! But, no matter how man pictures you take, you won’t be able to capture it all! So, instead of worrying about trying to remember everything, focus on being in the moment and experiencing all that you can at that time.

Look at the colors that you see. Hear the sounds of the city or nature around you. Try some new cuisines! Whatever you do, just focus on embracing your new surroundings instead of being overwhelmed!

🧍🏿‍♀️Take a stroll!

Whether you’re walking, strolling, or wheeling around, I think it’s worthwhile to explore your surroundings with your own limbs. I like to take a leisurely walk just to reconnect with my thoughts before I get into the hustle and bustle of the day.

I opt to go in the early morning or late afternoon to catch the sunset/sunrise! Bonus points if you can keep track of how many animals and interesting bugs that you can spot along the way too!

you on that #selfcare wave?

Hopefully I’ve convinced you to incorporate some of these simple self-care techniques on your future trips! Let me know which ones are your favorites in the comments below!