How Mindfulness Can Help You Make the Most of Your Travels
Travel is one of the few things in life we must pay for that makes us a more prosperous, and contented people. As our digital world becomes smaller and less satisfying, travel opens us up to life-changing experiences that fulfill us as human beings living in a physical world.
However, the depth and quality of your travel experiences are limited to the state of mind you bring with you. Many travelers can't seem to leave the stresses and anxiety of their ordinary life behind them, failing to be genuinely "in-the-moment."
Mindfulness in its many forms can help you to elevate your travel from a rushed, itinerary-driven, jam-packed race to see and experience everything, to an experience that will leave you with detailed memories, and a deep sense of relaxation and satisfaction. Here are three mindful ways to make the most of your precious time off.
1. Get to the source of your problem
Do you ever feel anxious, nervous, or a sense of panic while traveling? Well, you're not alone. A recent study by Tourism Analysis reported that the most stressful parts of traveling were interactions with travel companions, transportation within the destination, food-related issues, and weather concerns.
Whatever the cause of your travel anxiety, don't let your emotions rule over your desire to enjoy the experience. Start by finding out what is causing your stress before you begin your trip. The Director of Movement and Sport at Headspace, Kelton Wright, explains that she tried to cope with her fear of flying through drugs that made her feel overwhelmed and extremely sleepy.
Fast-forward to 2015 when Wright joined Headspace and learned that frequent practice of meditating for three minutes every time someone mentioned a trip prevented her brain from triggering the symptoms of anxiety. She would find a quiet place and begin to regulate her breathing while listening to a guided meditation. Today, Kelton no longer suffers from the fear of flying because her subconscious mind automatically deals with it.
2. Meditate During Your Trip
Have you ever come home from vacation and thought the whole experience was a blur? That it seemed as though you had never even been there? It may be that you rushed around trying to fit too much into a short space of time, a common mistake made by many travelers. Slow down and smell the roses. I recommend taking the time during your trip to sit quietly at the end of each day and contemplate your memories and share them with a traveling partner if you have one. Taking even ten minutes to sit quietly before sleep to breathe deeply and appreciate your experience will work wonders for both the quality of your trip and your physical well being during it.
My traveling experiences changed when I extended my meditation practice to mindful street photography. Wherever I travel, I always bring my camera and spend a couple of hours at each location in one place studying the people, and their way of life. I take the time to absorb each street scene: the light and shadows, the architecture and the expressions on the faces of the local people as they interact with each other, carrying out the business of the day. I don't rush anywhere but stroll, and often stand still for fifteen or twenty minutes watching life in another world.
My memories of my time in these places and the people I saw in them are as vivid as the photographs that I made (check out my street photos on IG @cuchulain62). And if you don't take pictures, a journal is an excellent way to reinforce the memories of your trip.
3. Make Time for Rest and Contemplation Post-trip
How many times have you returned from a trip on a Sunday night only to have to be back to work on Monday morning? Your body and mind need time to readjust and reset.
Try to plan your time off so that you get home with at least a full day to readjust. Meditation is an excellent way to settle back into your home environment and to contemplate your experiences from the trip. Spend some quiet time recalling the high points of your trip, reviewing your photographs and reading your journal entries if you keep one.
In Conclusion
Don't just take my word for the essential benefits of mindful travel. Listen to the testament of Mark Baker, an avid traveler with his website documenting his experiences.
Ever since Baker was a child, he has struggled with anxiety and panic attacks. For many years, he was full of dread during long road trips or overseas trips. That is until he began practicing mindfulness meditation.
Even though his meditation sessions are relatively short, Baker says that the state of "stillness or hyper-awareness, where the mind is no longer preoccupied with its wall of thoughts and can focus," has made his life easier on many levels. He now sleeps better, can handle his anxiety more efficiently, and travels without fear.
I'm not claiming that meditation can solve all of your problems. What I am saying is that mindful living, both at home and on the road, can help you experience life more fully. If you want to feel happier, healthier, and truly embrace every moment of your travel, then meditation and mindful practices are a great place to start.
