How to De-Stress on a Long Trip

De-Stressing from a long trip starts before you start. What is considered to be a long trip will be different for each person, persons or family or groups. Planning and preparation is a valuable step. It also may depend if you are traveling alone or with others and whether they are adults or children.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Take the time to prepare in advance if possible

1. Take the time to prepare in advance for your trip. Start out relaxed by knowing if your traveling by car you have your self or had sometime check it out for a long trip. Make sure all fluid levels are where they belong, tire pressures are where they belong. The windows are clean and lights and signals work.
2. Make sure you have given your self ample time for the distance your traveling. Add extra time so you can make needed stops to get out walk around unfold your body, breath some fresh air. Also, consider adding a little additional time if you want to stop and check out a landmark, or shopping area if you are headed to a location you have never been to before. This way you are not stewing the rest of the trip because you didn't have the time to stop and check it out
3. Choose comfortable traveling clothes. Nothing tight that restricts circulation or movement.
4. The environment you travel in plays a big part on the stress you experience as well. Consider having your favorite beverage along. Check and make sure your mirrors are set and in place for you and don't become a struggle or annoyance to use. If you enjoy a certain type of music have a selection you enjoy with you incase local radios don't play your style.
5. Should you find yourself in a long term traffic situation, consider pulling off and taking a break if possible or make that your meal time.
   Sitting there fussing and stewing helps no ones stress level.
6. When you arrive and if you have planned ahead, you will be able to take the time to check out your surroundings, walk around the area, the circulation and oxygen will due your sedintary body good, have a beverage, take the time to refresh yourself, freshen up, nice hot shower, take a nap if need be.

Tips & Warnings

• Giving and judging the time needed for you trip is extremely important. Trying to put 2 hours of traveling in 1 hours of time only adds to the stress at the end of a long trip.
• If you have a cell phone make sure it is charged upon departure and you have a way to charge in your vehicle while traveling.
• Try and keep in touch with someone while on the road this is for safety reasons.
• When making stops to stretch your legs and get fresh air,make sure they are well lite and in family friendly areas.
• Always lock you vehicle when leaving it.
• If traveling alone, that is information you should not be disclosing to strangers.