Ditch Stress

The holiday season is often a time filled with joy, but let’s face it—it can also bring a lot of stress. From long travel delays to juggling family gatherings and work deadlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But holiday travel doesn’t have to feel like a test of patience—there are ways to keep your cool even during the busiest travel season!

As someone who has traveled extensively to visit family during the holidays, I know just how stressful this can be! The roads can be crazy, and the airports even worse. Bad weather can be just around the corner to derail your plans. In fact, I recall like it was just yesterday, sitting on the airport floor next to a man in a Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man onesie, waiting for our flight that was at that point, already 6 hours delayed. I also once got trapped in the airport for 5 hours, and boy was that a test is managing stress!

Here we want to discuss two different ways you can handle the holiday stress monster: Ways you can be prepared, and ways you can manage the stress once it’s already in your lap. Let’s start with the more proactive side of holiday travel stress management, with some practical tips and stress-relief techniques to make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.

Navigating Crowded Airports Like a Pro

Traveling through airports during the holidays can be chaotic, but with a little preparation, you can navigate the crowds like a seasoned pro. Planning ahead, packing smartly, and staying calm at security are simple ways to reduce stress and ensure a smooth journey. When you arrive early, avoid rushing, and make use of lounges or quiet areas, you’ll find yourself more relaxed and in control, even in the busiest terminals.

Plan Ahead

• Book Flights Strategically: Choose off-peak times, such as early mornings or midweek departures, to avoid the busiest travel periods.
• Track Deals & Schedules: Use apps like Hopper or Skyscanner to find the best flight deals and receive alerts for any schedule changes.
• Pre-Book Parking & Services: Reserve airport parking or services like luggage assistance to save time and reduce stress.

Pack Smartly

• Pack Light: Opt for carry-on luggage to skip the baggage claim wait and avoid potential lost luggage headaches.
• Organize Essentials: Keep travel documents, snacks, medications, and chargers in an easily accessible carry-on pouch.
• Prep for Security: Ensure liquids follow TSA guidelines (3.4 oz containers in a quart-sized bag) and have electronics ready to remove for screening.

Stay Calm at Security

• Dress for Speed: Wear slip-on shoes, avoid heavy jewelry, and pack your belt in your bag to simplify the screening process.
• Organize Electronics: Place laptops and tablets in an easy-to-access area to quickly remove them at the checkpoint.
• Sign Up for TSA PreCheck, NEXUS or CLEAR: These programs can help you bypass long security lines and streamline the experience.

Beat the Crowds

• Arrive Early: Avoid last-minute stress by arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international ones.
• Find Calm Spaces: Use airport lounges or designated quiet areas for a pre-flight moment of relaxation. Many lounges accept day passes for non-members.

Surviving Long Road Trips

Holiday road trips can be full of excitement but also frustration. To keep stress low and spirits high, plan ahead, stay flexible, and keep your vehicle and passengers comfortable. Whether it’s a quick pit stop or making the best of traffic delays, these strategies will help you stay calm and keep the journey fun, no matter how long the drive.

Prepare Your Vehicle

• Maintenance Check: Schedule an oil change, check tire pressure, and ensure your windshield wipers and brakes are in good working condition before hitting the road.
• Pack an Emergency Kit: Include essentials like jumper cables, a first-aid kit, blankets, a flashlight, and non-perishable snacks.

Plan Your Route

• Real-Time Traffic Updates: Use apps like Waze or Google Maps for live traffic data and alternate routes.
• Scheduled Breaks: Stop every 2-3 hours for bathroom breaks, stretching, and snacks to keep energy levels up.

Keep Passengers Happy

• Entertainment Galore: Download audiobooks, podcasts, or playlists for adults and pack travel games or coloring books for kids.
• Snack Attack: Bring a variety of snacks and drinks to avoid unnecessary (and expensive) stops at gas stations. Plus this way you can ensure you have access to nutrient packed snacks that support your health and fight stress.

Embrace Flexibility

• Expect the Unexpected: Build extra time into your schedule for traffic, weather, or detours.
• Make Delays Fun: Use unplanned stops to explore a local diner, park, or roadside attraction. This has happened to me many times, and can be the most memorable part of the trip if you can make it more fun!

Handling Unexpected Travel Delays

Delays are a common part of travel, especially around the holidays. While frustrating, there are simple ways to stay prepared and minimize stress. By staying informed, packing a survival kit, and maintaining a positive attitude, you can turn any delay into an opportunity to relax, recharge, or even discover something new.

Stay Informed

• Flight Updates: Sign up for real-time alerts from your airline or apps like FlightAware to stay on top of schedule changes.
• Monitor Weather: Check the forecast in advance to anticipate any potential disruptions.

Pack a Travel Survival Kit

• Must-Haves: Include a portable phone charger, healthy snacks, a refillable water bottle, and travel-sized toiletries for freshening up.
• Comfort Items: Pack a travel pillow, eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones to make delays more bearable.

Make the Most of the Delay

• Entertainment Options: Use downtime to watch downloaded movies, catch up on reading, or play games on your phone. You can see this as precious me time!
• Relax & Recharge: Practice breathing exercises, find a massage chair in the terminal, or enjoy a meal at a nearby restaurant.

Stay Positive

• Focus on What You Can Control: Use this time as an opportunity to relax and reset.
• Reframe the Experience: View delays as a chance to slow down and savor unexpected moments.

Quick Stress-Relief Techniques for Traveling

Traveling can be stressful, but having a few go-to techniques to help you relax can make a huge difference. These simple, quick practices can help you feel more grounded, calm, and in control, whether you’re at the airport, on a long flight, or stuck in traffic.

Breathing Exercises

• 4-7-8 Method: Inhale deeply for 4 counts, hold your breath for 7 counts, and exhale slowly for 8 counts. Repeat 3-4 times for instant relaxation.
• Box Breathing: Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold again for 4 counts to reduce tension.

Grounding Techniques

• 5-4-3-2-1 Exercise: This simple exercise is a key grounding technique, using your senses to anchor you in the present moment. Take a deep breath and engage your senses: name five things you can see, four things you can feel, three sounds you can hear, two smells, and one taste.
• Visualization: Visualization can transport you to a calm space, offering a mental break. Close your eyes and imagine a peaceful place, engaging your senses to make it vivid, or recall a happy memory. The more detailed your visualization, the more it helps you relax and ease stress.

Stretching on the Go

• Neck Rolls: When stress hits, it often settles in your neck and shoulders, creating tension that’s hard to shake. Neck rolls are a quick and effective way to ease this tightness. Slowly roll your head in a circle to relieve tension.
• Seated Stretches: Being confined to a seat for hours can leave you feeling both restless and tense. Seated stretches are an excellent way to counteract this, promoting relaxation and reducing the physical discomfort that often fuels stress. Stretch your legs and arms while seated on a plane, car, or airport chair to boost circulation.

Mindful Apps

• Calm or Headspace: Calm and Headspace are two of the most popular mindfulness apps, each offering a range of tools designed to help reduce stress and enhance relaxation. Listen to guided meditations, nature sounds, or short mindfulness sessions during your journey. 
• Breathwork: Breathwork is another powerful tool for managing travel stress, and several apps offer guided breathing exercises specifically designed to address the unique challenges of being on the move. 

Each of these strategies helps you build resilience, turning stressful situations into opportunities to strengthen your ability to adapt and stay calm. The more you practice these techniques, the easier it becomes to handle the chaos of holiday travel—and life in general!

Holiday Stress: Your Opportunity to Build Resilience

But here’s the thing: stressful moments like these are actually opportunities in disguise. They offer a chance to build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back stronger after challenges. Instead of seeing stress as something to avoid, we can embrace it as a tool for personal growth. 

The more we face stressful situations, the better we get at managing our reactions and staying grounded. And the holidays, with all their hustle and bustle, are the perfect time to practice. By building resilience now, you’ll not only navigate this holiday season with more ease but also be better prepared for whatever life throws your way in the future.

Building resilience isn’t about avoiding stress but learning to adapt to it. Shifting from “This is so frustrating” to “I can handle this” allows you to feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the situation. Think of resilience like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. The more you work on shifting your perspective, even when things get uncomfortable or uncertain, the better you will be at handling those situations in the future. 

The Usual Suspects
The holidays are a great time to try out stress-management tools like mindfulness, deep breathing, or positive reframing. These can help you stay calm in the face of unexpected travel stress, and over time, they can help you build stronger coping mechanisms. And the bonus is that you can then use those for the whole rest of the year!

The Power of Flexibility
Resilience is about being flexible when things don’t go as planned. Emphasize how adjusting your expectations and staying flexible with your travel plans can turn a stressful moment into an opportunity for personal growth.

Setting Intentions for Self-Care
Building resilience is about both handling stress and taking care of yourself, especially during busy times. It’s easy for self-care to slip during the holidays, but small actions—like taking short breaks or staying hydrated—can make a big difference. Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s essential, especially when things feel overwhelming.

Travel-Ready Takeaways

Holiday travel doesn’t have to feel like an obstacle course of stress. It’s also an opportunity to strengthen your resilience and grow through challenges. By planning ahead, packing smartly, and equipping yourself with quick stress-relief tools, you’ll not only navigate this season more calmly but also develop the adaptability to handle life’s unexpected twists. With resilience as your travel companion, you can focus on what matters most—getting to your destination and celebrating with loved ones.