Routines Are More Importance When Travelling
Travel can be thrilling but also disorienting: new beds, strange sounds and unfamiliar streets all add up. I used to believe routines would hinder the adventure but found they provided my nervous system something familiar – making new places less daunting!
Start and End Each Day the Same Way
No matter where I am, I try to start and end each day in similar ways: taking slow morning breaths before checking my phone; at nighttime winding down without screens for several minutes of quiet; these small rituals provide continuity even as life changes around me.
Unpack Instantaneously
Although this may sound simple, unpacking immediately makes a tremendous difference to how I experience any space I enter. Hanging clothing, setting out toiletries, and creating order makes the room my own and helps my mind settle quickly into my surroundings. When my environment feels settled, so does my mind often follow.
Walk Without an Agenda in Mind
One of my go-to grounding practices is taking an unplanned walk – without map, landmarks or expectations in mind – just moving, observing and experiencing what unfolds before me. Such walks help me connect to cities beyond tourist highlights.
Keep a Recurring Routine
No matter where I go, at least one daily habit stays the same – whether that is morning coffee, journal writing, stretching before bed, reading a book before sleep… Whatever it may be for me it serves as my anchor when everything around is new or constantly shifting.
Eat Regular and Simple Meals Travel can often make meal times unpredictable; I try my best to maintain consistent meal times by selecting nutritious but simple fare when possible – having physical stability helps the emotional grounding process considerably!
Limit Repetitive Stimulation (RLS)
Travel can quickly overstimulate our senses. I try to intentionally create quiet moments – taking off headphones and phone from ears; sitting without taking in content from devices – so my experiences don’t pass me by too quickly. These quiet pauses help me process experiences instead of racing through them too quickly.
Create Your “Home Base” Spot I love finding one cafe, park bench or street that I frequent during a trip as my “home base”. Doing this instantly brings comfort and creates a feeling of belongingness quickly in unfamiliar locales.
Grounded Travel Feels Deeper
Routines don’t make travel tedious – they make it sustainable. Feeling grounded allows for greater engagement in each place you visit; when your feet remain steady on the ground, everything opens up more fully around you.
