When travelling, I, like many others, can get wrapped up in the moment and feel the need to maximize my time in places. When looking at using this in a classroom, it is important to prompt students to take their mental and physical health under consideration whenever they are planning a trip. This aligns with the PHE curriculum for every grade. In grade 6, one of the big ideas is that healthy choices influence our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. When we push ourselves past our threshold, this can lead to something commonly known as burn out. So how do you minimize this while on a trip? Here are some tips I have found:

1. Take Breaks

When travelling, I prefer a one day break for every 10 days travelling. I know some people need more breaks, and some need less. In their blog, Adventurous Kate highlights some ways they deal with travel burnout. Spending a day at my hostel/in my space is my favourite way to recover. Reading, binge watching a tv series, eating comfort foods, and hydrating are my ideal ways to spend this time.

My hostel rooftop in Medellin, Colombia

2. Find Balance

When you get somewhere, it is so easy to want to dive into the culture, experiences, and activities. I am known for trying to maximize my time when travelling, as the true budget traveller in me wants to get the most bang for my buck. However, this often leads to burnout. Pacing yourself and finding a balance between resting, doing your self-care, and participating in all of the cool activities is important.

3. Use Apps for Mindfulness

Using apps like Headspace allow you access to guided meditations to look after your mental health. These are great for sitting by the beach, on a mountain, or in your hostel bunk. You can also use it for journaling prompts if that is something you enjoy doing while travelling.

4. Stay Active

Prioritizing your mental health is important, but so is your physical health! Making sure you continue stretching, going for walks, or doing workouts if you have the facilities to are important routines to continue even when you are away from home.

5. Stay Connected To Loved Ones

I have been known to get caught up in the moment and let connections from home be pushed to the side. Taking time to text, voice memo, or call friends and family who are at home can help reset your brain and body. It also helps you stay in the know of what is happening at home, and can ease any anxiety about missing people or events while you’re away.

Taking care of yourself while travelling is a very important part of the journey, and can easily be glossed over in exchange for maximizing time spent exploring and adventuring.