Though we, as humans, have different opinions on many things in life, there’s one thing that most of us can agree on – once the travel bug bites, your love for travel will never fade. There’s something about travel that’s exciting, and almost addicting in a way. The anticipation of an upcoming trip is a feeling like no other, and the experiences and memories you make while away from home are engraved in your mind forever.
Thousands of people had trips planned for the year 2020, and unfortunately, a majority of them had to be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19. This has led to many people feeling down, and unsure of when they’ll be able to explore the world once again, and has left us wondering what are some of the effects of travel withdrawal and what steps can we take to overcome those effects? Let’s take a closer look:
What is Travel Withdrawal?
Travel withdrawal happens when people aren’t able to freely travel and/or make travel plans for the near future. When someone is going through travel withdrawal, they may start to be affected mentally, emotionally, and possibly even physically. This can be seen in a survey conducted by American Express that found that 48% of their respondents felt stressed and anxious from not being able to travel, while 78% of people said that traveling is one of the activities that they miss most right now.
If you’re going through travel withdrawal, some of the side effects you may endure, include:
- Feeling stressed
- Feeling unmotivated
- Feeling sad
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling unsure
- Having a lack of energy
What Can I Do to Overcome the Effects of Travel Withdrawal?
If you’re feeling the effects of travel withdrawal, there are some things that you can do to overcome some of those effects (even if it’s just for a little while):
- Plan your dream trip: Even if you won’t be able to take your dream trip for a few months or years down the road, it will still be fun to plan and will give you something to look forward to.
- Have a staycation: If you can’t go out and travel, bring travel home to you by having a staycation. Go hiking, have an at-home spa day, order out from your favorite restaurant, and do whatever else reminds you of being on vacation.
- Relive travel memories: Take a look at old photos and mementos from past trips to remind yourself of all of the wonderful memories that you’ve made while traveling.
- Take care of your mind, body, and soul: One of the best things that you can do to reverse the effects of travel withdrawal is to take care of yourself. If you aren’t sure where to begin, take a look at this blog that discusses about 10 travel-inspired ways to take care of your mind, body, and soul while at home.
When Can I Expect Travel to Return to Normal?
Unfortunately, there’s no telling exactly when travel will return to normal. Though we’re just as eager as you are to explore the world once again, it’s best that we all be patient and most importantly, safe, at this time. Know that we have all of the same information that you do, and we will continue to keep you updated in our newsletter, on our website, and in future blogs. As for now, please be safe, stay healthy, and take care of yourself – we’re all in this together!
