Step 9: The Journey

The journey is the start of your holiday and you should enjoy it if you can. You are much more likely to do so if you have followed the plan so far. You are going to be less anxious if you have planned properly, to reduced the chances of having problems.

The top tips to avoid holiday stress, and enjoy your journey, according to The Stress Management Society, are:

• Get enough sleep
• Manage your time and allow for unforeseen events or delays
• Use technologies wisely
• Keep active
• Keep hydrated & limit your intake of stimulants
• Remain calm
• Spot the early signs of tension and reduce it

These techniques may help reduce your levels of tension and stress:

• Sit with your feet on the ground, back supported against your chair, hands and arms open and relaxed. Take a deep breath, raise your shoulders towards your ears and hold them for a few seconds. Then slowly breathe out and drop the shoulders. Repeat several times.
• Place your left hand on your right shoulder and squeeze gently. Repeat down the right arm to the elbow. Repeat several times. Place your right hand on your left shoulder and repeat the exercise.
• Place the fingers of both hands at the base of your skull. Apply slow circular pressures down from there to the base of the neck.
• Listen to relaxing music
• Control your breathing and use meditation practices if you know some.
• Sit with your feet on the ground, back supported against your chair and hands and arms open and relaxed. Take a deep breath, raise your shoulders towards your ears and hold them for a few seconds. Then slowly breathe out and drop the shoulders. Repeat several times.

Continue to Step 10