Dealing with SAD While Traveling

It’s hard enough dealing with seasonal affective disorder while you’re at home. Dealing with SAD while traveling can be difficult. However, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to make it easier, so you can enjoy your travels more.

Establish a Routine

For those dealing with SAD (or any kind of depression), routines are vital. Unfortunately, travel and routine don’t often mix. Even if it’s just something small, like having a before-bed routine or a first-thing-in-the-morning routine, establishing a series of small actions to practice at some point during the day can help you feel better before going out to face the world.

Make Smart Choices

It’s difficult to eat healthy while traveling, but it can be done, particularly with the wealth of options available now. If you’re in a larger airport, search out healthful meal options instead of chowing down on fast food. Go with nutrient-rich options when you can, particularly if you know you’ll want to try some far-from-healthy local street food later in your trip. Drink less alcohol, and drink more water.

Move About

If you’re traveling particularly for business, it can be easy to spend a good portion of your trip sitting. You sit at the airport, you sit on the airplane, you sit in a conference room all day, you sit at a long business dinner. Get moving, and choose to walk from your hotel to dinner if it’s within a reasonable distance. Walk through the airport terminals instead of slouching against the moving sidewalk. Have a few extra hours? Go exploring, or at least go to the hotel gym rather than flipping through the TV channels. Endorphins make a difference.

Stop Worrying About Social Media

Yes, one of the great things about going on a trip is all the humble bragging you can do on social media, but don’t let your desire to turn your friends green with envy make you more miserable. Stop scrolling through your feed while you’re seeing the sights, and stick to taking photos, but posting them later. It can all wait until you’re back in the hotel room for the night.

Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself

Don’t feel like you have to see everything. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t think you’re having a good enough time. Don’t worry if you paid a little more for a tour that could’ve been better. Stop overthinking and just enjoy the moment. If you don’t, your whole trip will pass you by.