Do you get nervous leading up to travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do! I'm always able to relax and enjoy myself after a day or so, but leading up to it, I just worry about everything. Will we get sick, do I have everything set up at home, will weather affect our flights, did I do a good job with the trip planning details, etc. It's probably natural, but I wonder if others are able to take it more in stride than I do. Part of it is that travel has become so expensive that it feels high stakes!

This is me. I overpack, I worry incessantly that we will get sick before we leave (when in reality it's like... even if we do, that's not the end of the world??), I worry that our flight will crash, I worry about all of it. Once the plane touches down at our destination, I feel elated, and my worries are gone. But I'm a real PITA leading up to that moment.

[Anonymous]

Once TSA opened my carry on to check something or other, and it was so full of medical supplies for my kids just in case anyone got sick or injured that they asked conversationally if I was going on a medical mission. "Nope... I just pack my stethoscope, otoscope, suturing kit, and the entire pharmacy when we go out of town with the kids". It was embarrassing, lol, but I still do it! (I'm a doctor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do! I'm always able to relax and enjoy myself after a day or so, but leading up to it, I just worry about everything. Will we get sick, do I have everything set up at home, will weather affect our flights, did I do a good job with the trip planning details, etc. It's probably natural, but I wonder if others are able to take it more in stride than I do. Part of it is that travel has become so expensive that it feels high stakes!

I only worry when I travel with family. Everything is my fault when things go wrong, so I don't plan anything exciting anymore. DD forget to pack her favorite boots on our last ski trip and had to wear a different pair. There was drama for the fu 2 weeks and guess who that fell on. This is also to our second home. The kids ask why we don't do Disney again....it was so much fun.... yeah, for them! I planned meticulously every detail so it was perfect and it was. It took me 6 months to plan it with VIP tickets and an excel schedule so everyone got what they wanted.... everyone except me. I also have a FT job, so these "perfect" trips just don't happen anymore. I tell the kids and DH if they want them to happen, I'm happy to pay and tag along. Dh planned a vacation last summer and it was a total disaster for everyone, even him.

[Anonymous]

I get anxious, not necessarily a bad anxious… but I get a little spastic about getting things done. It’s mostly about work though. I have a job that’s really hard to step away from.

[Anonymous]

The older I get, the more I worry

I wonder if that is less common for the people who don’t plan the trip. They don’t feel responsible for the many moving parts that can go wrong.

The important thing, in my opinion, is that my worries don’t prevent me from traveling. Then I gave a great time, and am motivated to plan future travel in the future.

[Anonymous]

I do tend to get anxious before a trip - what if I get lost, what if I lose my phone etc. I travel enough to know that in the moment when something happens you will find your way through it. I also think it helps if you travel regularly you have a standard of what you know you like/need, and you can use that to go into travel packing autopilot. Once I actually start my trip - its rare that I get worked up. Knowing that helps to - I can see my anxiety building and I find - reviewing my itinerary, checking the weather - help me to relax.

[Anonymous]

My DH gets really anxious leading up to travel. He can't articulate what exactly makes him nervous - it's not the flying itself, he's actually fine once we're on the airplane. But for the day leading up to our departure, he's a high-strung wreck, pacing around and snapping at everyone, freaking out if anything minor goes not according to plan.

He seems to have an inordinate fear of missing a flight - he's only happy if we are through security and sitting at our gate a full 90 minutes before the flight. Then he kicks back and relaxes. I don't think that's the only thing he stresses about, but it's part of it.

I don't get nervous about traveling, but I am starting to dread traveling together. He's totally fine once we're on our way, it's just getting started that's hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I get nervous and honestly, truly dread traveling up until I actually get to the airport. Then it's like a switch goes off and I'm just fine.

Same. About a week before I want to cancel. I happen to love airports so I’m happy once I get there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I get nervous and honestly, truly dread traveling up until I actually get to the airport. Then it's like a switch goes off and I'm just fine.

Same. About a week before I want to cancel. I happen to love airports so I’m happy once I get there

Me too!! And I thought I was the only weirdo who genuinely loves an airport!

[Anonymous]

DH is anxious. I plan it all and he doesn't wish to think of any of the details. Until the very last minute. Once the morning of, he wanted to drive. "Why are we flying.? We should drive." He'll become strongly opinionated. No, this was arranged weeks ago.

I have to be calm and non confrontational, "I'm going to do this. You don't have to." I always consider that he might back-out at the last minute, especially international trips. So far it hasn't been any big trip that has caused me resentment.

[Anonymous]

he's only happy if we are through security and sitting at our gate a full 90 minutes before the flight.

My friend likes to be early or at least on-time and not running to the gate. She claims her husband considers it a personal triumph to cut-it as close as possible. She now drives herself. They pay double to park two cars. "I'll meet you at the gate." Hey, whatever saves a marriage.

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

I get anxious because it's me that has to place mail holds, find a pet sitter, secure the house etc. I used to have to pack for the kids as well. I used to be exhausted by the time we got to the airport then started second guessing myself as to whether I'd turned off the stove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I get nervous and honestly, truly dread traveling up until I actually get to the airport. Then it's like a switch goes off and I'm just fine.

Same. About a week before I want to cancel. I happen to love airports so I’m happy once I get there

Me too!! And I thought I was the only weirdo who genuinely loves an airport!

It's a giant gift shop with excellent people watching, my dream.

[Anonymous]

second guessing myself as to whether I'd turned off the stove.

Get into the habit of snapping a picture on your phone. A picture of the turned-off stove.