Nothing beats the feeling of being in a new place where everything around you is interesting and exciting, from incredible architecture of a centuries old church you never knew existed till right then to taking a chance on the random street food you’ll crave for years to come to finding an incredible view only for it to be outdone by group of pigeons fighting over a piece of baguette. It all brings me so much joy. When I’m not travelling, I’m dreaming of the next destination until the glorious day when I can actually book flights and the fun of planning can begin.
But that which can bring you the most joy can also bring you the most pain.
As someone who has had a few too many public & private meltdowns over unexpected closures, lost tickets, and good-old-fashioned jet-lag fueled exhaustion, I can also be my most miserable when travelling. It’s not easy and it has forced me to learn a lot about myself. For example….
The anxious, thoughtful Type A side of me
- wants to make long lists & detailed plans
- craves physical comfort & mental preparation
- tends to hyperfocus & over-research the smallest things
- fears missing out because of bad planning
- isn’t good at relaxing & enjoying vacations
- could burn out spending all day every day out crossing things off my list until my body has to force me to stop
- prone to breakdowns when careful planning don’t go exactly as planned & who doesn’t make a detailed plan B just in case??
The restless, spontaneous Type B side of me
- wants freedom to explore & go off the beaten path
- craves new things, new places, new all the time
- tends lose interest in a few years, weeks, or minutes
- fears missing out on what might be around the corner
- isn’t good at sticking to budgets & managing time
- could waste an entire day in a comfy hotel bed if I’m jetlagged & don’t have a schedule
- prone to breakdowns when there’s only so much time & I can’t decide what to do next & where did all the money go??
Over time I’ve learned to take advantage of my strengths, work around my weaknesses, & get the best of both worlds: intentional yet relaxed travel.
Once flights are book, Type A has her time to shine with the fun of planning. Bring on the hyperfocus!
I stay up late pouring through forums of advice, collect travel guides and books, make lists on lists on lists of where to go and what to do, and save every destination, restaurant, shop, or site I hear good things about to my map. I set one priority for each day and book the important reservations and can handle the less fun planning like packing and checking I have my passport for the millionth time knowing once I’m on that flight, my mind can rest easy.
Once the trip starts, Type B can take the reins and run free with the confidence that there’s plenty of great options to choose from and the important stuff is already taken care of.
After the priority museum visit in the morning, I can wander in any direction and have plenty of shops, sites, and eateries pre-saved on my map in the off chance I don’t stumble upon gems my research didn’t uncover. I can take a bus across town on a whim or spend the entire afternoon seeing everything there is to see in that same neighborhood I started in. Either way, I can take my time to appreciate this wonderful place in the world I’m privileged enough to visit.