Pre-Travel Rituals
Before I travel (usually a few days ahead of time) I have some pre-travel rituals. No homemade altars required, and nothing very complex, just a few things I do in the hopes of a smoother, less stressful trip.
- Take extra care of myself. This means healthy meals, lots of water, and extra attention paid to hydrating my skin and eyes, as air-travel in particular tends to dry me out and wreak havoc on my eating schedules.
- Make sure my important relationships are on good terms. I’m just not gung-ho on rushing off to somewhere new with a disagreement or argument with a loved one weighing me down. The stress of preparing for a trip, especially if your friends or family don’t agree with your travel habit can cause conflicts. Trust me when I say you’re better off resolving any conflicts in person before you leave, as opposed to long distance at destination or after you get back.
- Download new reading materials to my iphone and kindle.
- Backup my devices to my cloud and hard drive.
- Choose a comfortable and flattering outfit. I want to look presentable and feel like I’m in lounge clothes. For me this usually means loose slacks, a top and a jacket with wooden jewelry (I don’t have to remove it to go through security) but it definitely doesn’t mean pyjamas, or on the other end of the spectrum, stilettos and sheer stockings.
- Pack my bag a few days ahead of time, making a list of its contents as I go. Then I look at the list again before I leave, and sometimes notice, oops, I forgot dental floss, socks, or whatever. I also weigh my bag. I don’t like surprise fees at the airport.
