On my recent trip to Egypt, I found myself sitting next to the Nile River–watching, listening, and smelling the city. I felt the warm breeze, listened to the birds, and looked at the beautiful blue sky, despite the chaos of the traffic nearby and the trash in the river.
In my daily life, I try to pay attention to my insights and feelings, and it is the same during my travels, as well. I try to be mindful. I try to be present in the places I visit. This is my understanding of the term, “mindful travel”.
“Mindful travel” has become a new phrase for travel-lovers. Stress and anxiety is out; and calm, more enjoyable travel is in. If you are a seeker of purpose, peace, and rest during your travels, here are nine tips to help make your trips the best they can be.
1) Reduce the stress even before your journey starts.
Before your trip, read what TripAdvisor, bloggers, and Pinterest offer, in terms of comments and recommendations from fellow travelers. Write down the places that seem to be what you are looking for, and mark them in your Google Map or maps.me (offline map) to reduce stress later. On the other hand, be open to getting lost and discovering new things on your journey.
2) Take only what you need.
Prioritize your list of needs. Fewer clothes, fewer cosmetics. Take only things you really need and you won’t worry about losing. Take one or two small things that remind you of something that brings you good feelings.
3) Don’t rush. Satisfy your senses.
Whenever possible, walk around the places you visit. Use your time wisely. Wake up early. Breathe in the city. Touch the walls. Enjoy your senses.
See Look–even stare–at the things that make you happy and feel good. Take notes about your feelings. Enjoy the presence of seeing things, and be grateful.
Smell the markets, spices, weather, nature.
Taste the local food. Try street foods (sometimes, crowded street food vendors can offer the safest meals, as food circulation is faster–it can be fresher and more delicious).
Touch the walls, hug the trees, walk in the sand, touch the breeze.
Listen to nature, go to local gigs and concerts, listen to the silence in nature, listen to the crowds in the middle of a big city.
4) Be kind to yourself and be kind to others.
Try to remove all anxious, fearful, unconfident, angry feelings from your trip. Make a list of the things for which you are thankful, and any time you are struggling, open that list and read it to yourself. Remember the people you newly meet, and be intentional to chat with those who seem welcoming and respectful to you (of course, you’ll need to be discerning to ensure that the people you talk to are not trying to harm or cheat you). Greet locals the way you see them greet each other. Sometimes giving gifts to people I meet makes me feel really good. Try it!
5) Spend time alone.
Try to travel by yourself. You might add songs from that place to your Spotify list to listen to while you are walking (warning: watch out for the traffic though!). But if you are in nature, it’s probably best to just listen to the music of the nature.
6) Keep small notes in a journal.
One of the things I like to do during my trips is to find a spot where nobody will interrupt me. It can be a forest, a park, a coffee shop, or a library. I sit and stare and practice some breathing exercises. Sometimes I sketch. While you are sitting in a quiet place, write down some notes in your journal about:
The people you love, and those who inspire you.
People back home, like your mother, or a close relative or friend.
A childhood memory.
Something you want to change about yourself.
7) Put your phones away.
I am not against technology. However, instead of missing something while you’re travelling (by getting lost in your phone), capture each second for the special moment that it is. Making a schedule to look at your messages or emails, or fasting altogether from technology, reduces the amount of time you stay locked into technology.
8) Don’t waste time on trying to look great.
Pack light and aim to reduce the amount of selfies you take. And don’t worry how your photos will turn out. Save the time and energy you might normally spend selecting the perfect shot.
9) Practice mindfulness regularly in your life.
While you’re on your trip, and after you return, spend time to pray or meditate regularly. Take silence breaks or retreats, and stay away from addicting habits. Be decisive about continuing the good habits that you want to make a part of your life. Also, surrounding your life with mindful people is valuable. There are many retreats and camps offered around the world where you might meet new friends who share similar values.
Try out these tips on your next journey. And you don’t need to go far to practice them, or to find more peace and comfort in your life. You can practice these tips even in your own neighbourhood. Enjoy!
