Have you ever felt tired after traveling for a long time? Does it sound too privileged to say that we do get tired of jumping from one plane to another, seeing and experiencing different cultures, people, and food? You won’t often hear the words burnout and exhaustion as they relate to travel. Most people will scoff at you for saying that you’re too tired from all the travel you’ve been doing. A lot of people dream about seeing the world while you complain about the long hours on the plane.
But it is true. Travel fatigue exists. How do you know you’re experiencing burnout from traveling? It’s when you don’t get excited about the day ahead. It’s when you wake up feeling dejected and uninspired; that even if you’re seeing the Eiffel Tower from your hotel window, all you want to do is lie on the bed and do nothing.
So yes, it does exist even in the context of traveling. Yes, that thing people do to relieve stress and escape from the realities of life. It gets tiring to hit the road, too, whether you’re doing a long drive or hopping from one flight to the next.
Why Can Traveling Be Exhausting?
You can pinpoint three reasons why traveling can be a bit exhausting. The first one is when traveling is work like if you’re a driver for heavy haul trucking companies. It means you’re always on the road anyway, so traveling to another country or city is already mentally and physically exhausting for you. After all, you’ve already seen a lot of things during your work on the road. When you go home for a vacation, all you want to do is spend time with your family and for a time, not have to leave the comforts of your home.
The second reason is when you do not mentally escape the stresses of life back home. So, you have taken a trip to one of the countries on your bucket list. But why do you still feel stressed? It’s because you left physically, but your mind is still on your family problems and work. It’s still processing the same things you are trying to run away from.
And the third reason is you might be traveling too fast. This is a problem when you join travel groups. A lot of travel companies want to cram eight or more cities into a week. Can you imagine traveling through Europe in just 10 days? How can you even stop, breathe the Parisian air, and marvel at Mona Lisa? Sure, traveling with a group can be beneficial if you want to meet other people, but it’s a bit stressful to run after a tour bus that left because you were taking too long in the restroom.
How Can You Avoid Travel Fatigue?
The key to enjoying traveling is to focus on what makes you happy on the trip. Forget about what you read on the internet about the places you should visit or the food that you should eat. What do you want to see, eat, and experience? You are making memories for yourself and not for anyone else.
Sleep
Sleep on the plane. Lie down on the bed as soon as you get to the hotel. This is a vacation. You should get as much sleep as you can. Even if you have to sleep while the rest of your family or friends see Michelangelo’s works, go ahead and do your thing. Make time to see Michelangelo’s works on your own sweet time.
Schedule
That’s why you shouldn’t pack your schedule. Leave room for getting lost in the streets. Give yourself eight to 10 hours of sleep. Savor the buffet breakfast at this expensive five-star hotel you’re in. If you have to follow a schedule that runs from five in the morning until 10 in the evening, you won’t have time to unwind. That will leave you feeling exhausted and even lethargic.
Exercise
Squeeze in a bit of exercise. Why do you think there’s a full gym in your hotel? Make use of the facilities. A quick run on the treadmill will be great to get your adrenaline pumping for the day. Instead of taking the bus or train, walk to where you are going. You’ll see a lot more places, save on gas or taxi fare, and pump up your energy.
Just like in many things, you have to learn to slow down to appreciate all the travel you are doing. After all, traveling isn’t about what you see or what you eat or even who you meet. It’s about how it impacted you, what you remembered most about it, and how it made you feel.
