No matter how great your destination, it will take some time to get there. You can fill your time meeting people, making plans for your destination, reading a book, or playing on your iPhone if you have coverage while in transit.
But after the first couple of hours, you may start to get bored, antsy, or just plain frustrated, especially with travel delays, long layovers, or missed connections.
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”
~ Greg Anderson
We just went on a trip to Victoria, British Columbia (more on that in a later post). We were sitting in a crowded ferry terminal on the way back to Seattle with grumpy travelers and crying babies and wondered how we would react to a longer, more miserable waiting time in a foreign country.
We’ve read stories from other travelers about broken-down cars, 24-hour bus trips, missed connections, wrong directions, and even getting sick in transit.
Yes, part of this trip is about learning to appreciate it all. But I’m sure there will be times when we are all “appreciated out” about a particular trip. We’re only human.
What do savvy long-term travelers do when they get bored or frustrated while traveling from place to place?
About Betsy
We’ve run into our share of problems while traveling. No instance is the same, so there doesn’t really seem to be a formula to follow when boredom, anger or frustration set in - determined to ruin your travels.
In the past eight months, we’ve had 23 planes, 68 buses, 5 trains and a whole bunch of luck.
We have some of the basic defenses: cribbage, personal reading, travel reading, iPod, laptops and sometimes just staring out a window.
On a bus or minivan, talking to other travelers is a good way to pass the time. Throughout SE Asia we’ve found there is a common route (the banana pancake trail) and we’ve continually met up w/ other travelers that offer great advice and have some great stories to tell to keep us from feeling like we’re doing it all alone.
Sometimes, there isn’t much you can do other than sit back, close your eyes, breathe deeply and dream of strangling those responsible for what ever is going wrong!
Thats why I could never travel long term, travel is exhausting, I’d rather do extended stays than be on the go all the time. I do wonder why people bunch all their travelling together in one long trip, ie several months and years. I get the idea of living abroad, I really do, but moving around all the time just to see places doesnt sound like much fun.
No surprise that I’m all about comfort and fun.
1. something soft and soothing to calm me down when there are delays - could be an article of clothing, part of a blanket, a toy of some sort.
2. iPod with podcasts and meditations that will soothe the anxious and pissed off beast.
3. books sometimes work, but when I’m stuck somewhere, my attention span is next to nil so unless it’s a really good book, I’m distracted. I notice that magazines with not much depth help pass the time without requiring much brain power.
4. I used to bring coloring books and nice pens on the plane when I had a couple years of flying phobia. I think doing something with your hands is a great way to pass time - something crafty.
5. I also brought crossword puzzle and word game books. 1/2 challenging and fun, and 1/2 easy and fun.
6. food.
And breathe!
Paul, I think we’re going to have to get a lot better at striking up conversations with strangers. It seems harder when everyone is a little grumpy, but that might actually make it better for everyone. You guys are certainly the experts with all that travel under your belt!
Claire, I’m pretty sure we are the exact opposites of each other!
Margit, you always have such good advice. Learning to knit or crochet is on my list anyway, and it would be a productive way to spend time. As I meet other travelers I can give away all my creations (though scarves and hats might go over better in Europe than in South America…)
I’ve found that the #1 cause of stress while traveling is needing to be or expecting to be in a particular place at a particular time. Flexibility allows for a much more rewarding experience. With that attitude, I have weathered cancelled flights, strikes in Italy, and nights spent in airports.
One example: my husband and I travelled via Amtrak from Los Angeles to Alabama and back more than ten years ago. Each way was supposed to be approximately 48 hours, but on the trip back there were a number of problems that caused the train to run behind by several hours: weather, worker walkouts, etc. Since we didn’t have a definite date we needed to be back, we were able to weather the change with good humor and make new friends, have more conversations, etc. People brought out guitars and we started singing together, watching movies, etc. But about half the train couldn’t stop being angry and complaining no matter how obvious it was that the situation wasn’t ideal, but there was nothing we could do except roll with it. For us it was a great experience, for many others (I suspect with tight schedules) it was a nightmare.
Oh, and I second Margit’s #1! And an absolutely indispensible, must-have item for your trip that takes up no room at all- a small scarf that you can infuse with a calming scent. It will be a lifesaver for bus rides and other crowded areas where the odors are less than pleasant.
Also I always enjoy writing in a journal. I love having it afterward as well. I suppose that will be the blog for you.
oh yeah, good point, Angela - infuse something with a natural blended oil. mmmmmmmm
In my post-college stint in Europe, I made sure to have the following with me at all times whilst in-transit: my journal (great for journaling, doodling, jotting down things you’ve found you want to do, etc.), my ipod (need i say more?) and a book. I’ll be honest though-I spent a lot of my time in-transit ASLEEP!! Being a vagabond is hard, tiring work, for sure!!