Stress Management Tips for Dealing With Holiday Travel

While everyone wishes for a holiday season free of stress, hassle and glitches, we all know this isn’t a perfect world and something is bound to go wrong, especially when our holiday plans involve travel. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for travel and that means plenty of opportunity for something to go awry. How we handle those bumps in the road can make or break us, especially when we are already stretched thin thanks to the hectic holiday season.

Start off by going easy with your schedule. Don’t plan on arriving at your destination with just enough time to spare to drop off your bags before a big holiday party. Assume there might be delays and give your schedule some cushion whenever possible.

Don’t pack important gifts in your checked luggage. If you’re carrying something that absolutely can’t get lost, hand carry it. The busier airlines get, the more likely it is your bag might get lost. Add Murphy’s Law into the mix and that must-have item in your suitcase just may end up on the opposite side of the country from you.

Keep your devices charged and bring along an external power supply to charge them anywhere, anytime, even if you can’t find a free outlet. With fully charged devices you can always pop in your earbuds, play some favorite tunes and decompress. This comes in handy when you just need some time to relax, like when you find yourself seated next to “a talker” who wants to chat during an entire flight.

Most importantly, make time for what matters. No matter what demands we have on our schedules, it’s important to spend time with those we love doing the things we enjoy.