Category: Travel Tips

It’s the time of the day we all dread – commuting to work. Most of the time we are barely awake, and yet we are expected to navigate through busy travel circumstances before being thrown head first into our work day. Believe it or not, long and stressful commuting have been linked to high anxiety, weight gain and poor sleep, among other negative outcomes. So how we make getting to work easier on ourselves?

Remember this is YOUR time

You chose to go to work, you chose to have this commitment, and you are in control over your decisions and you morning. Reminding yourself of the latter will help keep your anxiety levels low in times when you feel you have no control – heavy traffic, stalled subway cars etc. If you still find yourself getting frustrated, consider another means of transport to work that allows you more flexibility or control, such as biking to work or carpooling with a colleague to keep you company.

Find fun ways to pass the time

Once you have established that this time is ‘your time,’ add elements to your commute that you look forward to experiencing, such as a great book, an innovating podcast or relaxing music. A number of studies have shown relaxing music or classical music can help to decrease anxiety. This is the best ‘you time’ you have, without being burdened by home life or work tasks, so make the most of it!

Meditate 

Meditation is know for its affects on the human nervous system and restorative health benefits. Breathing and meditating in the morning panic (or even prior to leaving home) can have a huge impact on  your ability to cope with your commute. The noises, attitudes and stress levels of others are less likely to affect you when you silence the mind and sounds around you, without judging or trying to “fix” them. Download a handy app like ‘headspace’ to help you get in the zone. You’ll find you’re more productive at work too!

 Unplug

While many commuters swear by the mindlessness of iphone games like ‘candycrush,’ technology tends to raise stress levels rather than subdue them. Spending some time tech-free can benefit our mental and physical health, and it might make your commute more pleasant. It may also be the only part of your day when you don’t have to be glued to a screen or can disconnect. Not to mention, driving or taking public transport whilst being heavily engaged in email, games, twitter or texting is not only irritating but also dangerous. Make it a habit to leave the phone alone between home and work, and just take some time for YOU.

I have recently learnt that traveling with kids, particularly young kids, is never easy. As parents, we need to re-think how we travel, and a lot of it is letting go of our own expectations of ‘the perfect trip.’ Instead of expecting perfection, we should just be as well prepared as possible and know that any hiccups will only add to the stories you will remember at the end of a trip.

So how does travel help our children?

Travel breaks down barriers and enhances connection. Travel also shows your children that though we all look different, we are the same. It is a great opportunity to teach our children about diversity in the world and interact and even make friends with children that come from different cultures, places and experiences. Travel is also an opportunity to leave behind the technology that feeds out childrens’ hands nowadays and reconnect with life, family and the world. If you keep technology and the news of the day to a minimum and enjoy each other’s company and conversation, you can teach your kids that the best things in life are free.

Travel broadens our perspective and enhances developmental milestones. Whether you travel to the next town or around the world, moving out of a comfort zone or everyday routine will enhance your family’s understanding of our world and the lives of our fellow citizens. Travel helps children experience a wide repertoire of sights, smells, sounds, colors, faces and languages from an early age. Travel opens up endless possibilities in their tiny minds and they become open and used to trying new things.

Travel builds character and helps kids become more adaptable and flexible kids. Traveling with young children exposes them to a new ‘normal.’ It allows them to be more adaptable to changing situations and be more flexible in their habits. They are used to sleeping in their beds, sleeping in prams, sleeping on an airplane seat, sleeping in a crowded shopping mall or outside, under a blanket. It also provides an opportunity to model what matters most – delayed flights, weather changes, poor service or a rocky road help all of us learn to live in the moment, share resources, manage unexpected consequences and see the bright side of the occasional travel mishap.

Travel is inspiring and educational. Travel with young kids means exposing them and making them interested in geography, world maps and airplanes early on. They start to form a better understanding of their environment and the knowledge that it’s a big world out there. They are interested in learning capitals of the different countries they visit, and being able to look for it on a map.

Travel helps ignite children’s imagination. Travel encourages children to engage in creative play – skills that they develop during childhood. Feed your children’s natural curiosity through travel. Do they yearn to learn more about art, history or science? Whether you opt for magnificent museums, nature’s classroom or immersive experiences, expand their knowledge (and your own) by exploring new ideas and destinations together.

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL CLIP

ACCOMODATIONS – Hotel vs airbnb during covid-19?Staying overnight in a hotel is actually a relatively low-risk activity for members of the same household, as it seems like the risk of getting infected from touching surfaces is pretty low. The majority of hotels have been going overboard lately with cleaning and disinfecting as well, making the chance of touching a contaminated surface really slim. Having said that, consider a rental house. This is a good option because you can clean the rental  when you arrive and then you have full control. Some rental companies like Airbnb have rolled out stricter cleaning protocols to ensure the safety of both guests and hosts, so be sure to read up on your rental company of choice’s policy. 

ACTIVITIES – Skiing? Beaches? Theme parks? State parks? As some of the nation’s larger theme parks reopen, such as those run by Universal and Disney start to welcome back visitors – the biggest risk may actually come from the travel it takes to reach them. The coronavirus is having a different impact across the country, with some states seeing a decline in infections and others an increase. Theme parks are universally implementing changes that include social distancing, mandatory face masks, the increased availability of hand sanitizer and the increased disinfection of high-contact surfaces. Any activity that is mostly outdoors and is able to limit the number of visitors who can enter –  will be on the safer side, as less people is definitely safer than more people (and that includes less busy beaches too.) Camping in a National Park is probably the safest activity as it’s outdoors, and you’re likely to stay with your own family or social group – but not all are open so check before you go!

GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION –

Drive? It has been predicted that a lot of Americans will choose to drive in the coming months for travel. Driving will give you a greater sense of control over your surroundings, and you can choose who you travel with. If you’re able to keep a safe, six-foot social distance from others in rest areas, wear a mask, and practice good hygiene, there is little risk since the coronavirus is thought to be mainly transmitted directly from person-to-person. When getting gas also use disposable gloves while pumping your gas, rather than trying to wipe it down with a disinfecting wet wipe.

Fly?
Traveling by airplane is arguably a higher risk than traveling by car – but take comfort that air circulation systems on planes are quite good and most if not all airlines have already begun implementing more intense cleaning procedures. Eating and drinking on a plane presents its own challenges of exposure, so limit taking it off. Also keep the recommended six feet of social distance when you can, clean your hands frequently and pack your own food. 

WHAT SHOULD I BRING—driver’s license, registration, insurance—as well as health-insurance cards – as an extra precaution. It’s also wise to bring face coverings, gloves, disinfecting wipes, and – if you are driving – cleaning supplies.

CLICK IMAGE TO SEE FULL CLIP

Driving – is it safer?It has been predicted that a lot of Americans will choose to drive in the coming months for travel. Driving will give you a greater sense of control over your surroundings, and you can choose who you travel with.

If you’re able to keep a safe, six-foot social distance from others in rest areas, wear a mask, and practice good hygiene, there is little risk since the coronavirus is thought to be mainly transmitted directly from person-to-person. In fact, medical experts are now more comfortable saying that the chances of catching the coronavirus from a surface remain quite low among those practicing common precautions.

Try to avoid stopping at a very crowded rest stop, but don’t fear the public restroom. If it’s not too crowded, it shouldn’t impose much risk but I still wouldn’t touch a toilet and then touch my face. Unless these surfaces are recently sneezed on, you should be ok.

At some point, you will either need to fill your gas tank or charge your electric vehicle’s battery, and most gas pump handles or EV public chargers are pretty gross. Health officials recommend using disposable gloves while pumping your gas, rather than trying to wipe it down with a disinfecting wet wipe.

What about flying?

Traveling by airplane is arguably a higher risk than traveling by car with your family. If you do fly, keep in mind that international travel is much riskier this summer than domestic travel (even though some countries like Greece are opening up to American travelers).

At the same time, you can take comfort that air circulation systems on planes are quite good. They have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and high rates of air exchange, but that still doesn’t protect you from what is happening immediately around you. Air carriers are also taking measures to help ensure the safety of passengers and flight crews, and most if not all airlines have already begun implementing more intense safety and cleaning procedures.

But keep in mind that one of the biggest risks of flying is that it’s hard to predict how full a flight might be or how much you’ll be able to socially distance from other passengers and employees, even as airlines make efforts to minimize close contact. Eating and drinking on a plane presents its own challenges – the more you’re around unmasked people with uncovered noses and mouths, the riskier it gets. So maybe you keep your mask on and limit taking it off (obviously you don’t want to get dehydrated)

If you do choose to fly, be mindful of your entire environment. Keep the recommended six feet of social distance whenever possible, wash or sanitize your hands frequently and sanitize surfaces that others may have touched. Using electronic check-in apps and packing your own food will help reduce face-to-face contact. 

Ultimately while it may seem like doing a road trip will inherently keep you safe of exposing yourself to the virus, it really all comes down to what you do while you’re traveling and how consciously you do it.