How to Remain Zen When Traveling Goes Awry
Horrible luck is not uncommon during travel. Your plane could get delayed, you could get sick, or a natural disaster could strike. In turn, this can spiral into a fight with the people you're traveling with. Maintaining your cool when you are so far from home and your natural element may seem impossible. Here are some tips to help you keep a Zen level of calm even under the most extreme travel circumstances.Watch a familiar movie
This is the reason why you should always bring some DVDs with you on your travels. If you have a laptop with a lot of movies or televisions shows on it, all the better. Sometimes the easiest way to regain your proper mental state while in a strange place is simply to focus on something familiar. Take a break, sit back, and just watch. My personal favorite is watching a family movie, something that really gives you the feeling of home.
Eat some comfort food
Taste is a strong sense, good at triggering certain memories. When you are having a bad time in a far away land, tasting a piece of home can make all the difference. Depending on where you are traveling, those favorites might not always be available. Thankfully, fast food places like McDonald's have permeated the globe. Even a soda or candy bar can give you that little taste of the familiar to get you back on track.
Sleep it off
Just as travel can turn bad in a hurry, it can get back on track just as quickly. You can't tell what the next day will bring. As such, sometimes it is best to just cut your losses and call it a day. If insomnia (perhaps from jet lag) is the problem itself, you can try taking a small dose of melatonin, or other sleep aid. Beyond that, the trick is to not try to make yourself relax or sleep. Trying to relax is a paradox. Instead, leaving your mind alone will allow it to settle by itself. Time is all it takes.
Go for a walk
"Walking it off" is one of the most effective ways to let off steam and get your head on straight. Remember that even when travel goes wrong, you are still surrounded by new and unique sights and sounds. Even if it is walking around an airport at 3 a.m., it still probably isn't you usual environment. Study the details, from the crushed plastic bag to the tired clerk who really would rather be somewhere else. Just observe things without making any judgement. Before you know it, you will get everything back into perspective. The whole thing might even seem a bit silly.
Embrace the chaos
Just accept travel for what it is: adventure. Adventures don't always go as planned. View it as an experience. This will be hard to do when you are in the middle of it, but putting in the conscious effort can really help keep you moving forward. Life is a roller coaster, so throw your hands in the air and ride it. You never were in control in the first place, and at least that lesson is a valuable takeaway you can keep.
Christopher Myers recently put these tips to the test during his two-week trip to Japan. Both he and his wife got sick, had to navigate healthcare in another language, and were awoken by an earthquake at 2 a.m. They made it back alive, successfully visiting five different cities, and having a great time.
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