7 TIPS TO BECOME

TIPS TO BECOME A MINDFUL TRAVELER

Can you practice mindful travel? My answer is yes. Have you

EMBRACE NEW CULTURES

This is a tip that many often forever sat in front of an ocean and been in awe of its beauty? Have you ever breathed the air on top of a mountain and felt a true breath of fresh air? Traveling has become my favorite hobby, not because it is an escape from day-to-day life, but because it allows me to live in the moment. Being in a different environment and surrounded by different cultures can give you an alternate perspective on so many things. You can be present by not worrying about the past and focus only on what is happening around you. Follow these seven tips to help practice mindful travelling and give your vacation a whole new meaning.

MEDITATE

Meditation is the key to channeling inner peace. Find a serene spot away from any distractions to begin meditation. You can either choose to meditate indoors or outdoors, whichever is most comfortable to you. Bring yourself to a very calm state and breathe in and out to bring your awareness to your body of where you are. This doesn’t need to be a long activity but doing a couple meditation techniques for a few minutes at the start of each day will give you a clear perspective from there on out.

EXPLORE

It is important to step outside your comfort zone to travel mindfully. Be curious, go on an adventure, or try something new. These types of activities immerse you into new experiences that you would not otherwise do. You may discover a new hobby, new outlook, or even simply a new food that you love. You will be surprised at how much you learn about yourself just by taking a new leap. get, but do some research on cultural norms before traveling. To fully embrace a culture, you must be respectful of their values. Using the correct greeting or wearing the appropriate clothing can go a long way when you are interacting with people during your travels. As foreigners, it can provide understanding and deeper learning for a productive cultural exchange. This interaction can make the trip more positive by not offending the locals.

REST

Often people think that you need to be on the go for the entire vacation, a trip, usually you are experiencing jet lag and exhaustion from your journey. How can you truly be present if you are half asleep? Take time to reset and get a nap in to allow you to be alert for all the wonderful experiences during your vacation.

PACK LIGHT

Are you the person who brings three checked bags and two carry-ons for a trip? Try packing light next time. It may sound cliché but just bring the necessities. Think about how much time you can save choosing outfits if you bring fewer choices. This simple tip will save you energy from lugging around all your belongings and money for paying all the baggage fees. By only bringing the necessities, you can devote more time each day to all the other mindful travel tips!

GO WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE

Being in accord when traveling can be difficult when traveling in groups. However, if everyone has the same goals or “traveling style” then it creates less chaos. If you

7like to go with the flow and you are traveling with someone who likes to have a list of plans, then this By Autumn Vassell will not be cohesive. This is when determining travel styles is key to planning a group trip. Realistically, even those with the same traveling styles may not want to do all of the same activities together. But if you can agree on a few big group activities before the trip, it will bring a sense of togetherness. Those group activities after time apart doing your own thing will be much more rewarding.

DISCONNECT

This is probably the hardest tip I’ll give because, as we all know, disconnecting is easier said than done. We live our entire lives on our cell phones these days. However, for mindful travel, we must remember to maximize our experience by being aware of our surroundings. It is nearly impossible to be completely aware if we are constantly posting on social media or facetiming family and friends back home. Feel free to take pictures to commemorate the special moments but save the sharing until the trip is over. You’ll have a lot more stories to tell because you wouldn’t have missed a beat. So go ahead and put up that out-of-office notification; your brain will be grateful for the break. Use these mindful travel tools to enrich your travel experience. By devoting your full attention to your surroundings while traveling, you will enjoy more of the trip. Thus, instead of feeling the anxiety of coming back to reality, you can leave your vacation feeling recharged. Remember that being on vacation is an experience everyone should be grateful for anyway, so let’s make sure to make the most of it during your time there!

Courageous Conversations

Life Coach, Facilitator & Counselor

Dr. Michelle Mitcham, LMHC-QS, NCC, CCMHC, CFM

DRMICHELLEMITCHAM.COM

CALL FOR FREE PHONE CONSULTATION (850) 296-8801

Dr. Michelle A. Mitcham is thrilled to empower women, teams and individuals with strategies for success in both the workplace and relationships. As CEO of Courageous Conversations, a counseling, coaching, and consulting practice, Dr, Mitcham coaches on leadership, workplace resilience, emotional intelligence, imposter syndrome, relationship building, women’s empowerment, diversity, equity and inclusion, conflict resolution, mindfulness, and team building.