A Mental Toughness Guide To Holidaying In Europe
First things first. If you’re holidaying in Europe, life’s pretty grand! You clearly have the funds, the leave, and the capacity to be there. But travel can have its less than ideal moments, I think you’ll agree. So, perhaps one of the most important items to pack is a plan for how to handle the inevitable hiccups, amid the pleasure of cheese, rosé and croissants.
My own European holiday certainly had all the fun, beauty and awe you’d expect. My husband and I went to Provence for my sister’s wedding and had a wonderfully memorable time with family and friends.
Our trip also included a small handful of minor mishaps:
Misdirected luggage (I’m talking a different continent!)
An excruciating three-and-a-half-hour queue just to get to passport control
Staying in an apartment that had, wait for it … 94 steps up to the front door
Driving confusion that led to accidentally entering a supermarket carpark, not once, not twice, but THREE times
These annoyances are blips on the tour of stunning architecture, fascinating history and beautiful museums. But people are people and sometimes things do get the best of us. So, knowing you will be ‘tested’ at times during your fabulous European adventure, here are some approaches to help handle those travel moments.
Realistic expectations
It’s understandable to have high expectations for your trip. You’ve worked hard to accrue leave or allow yourself a break, and have spent significant time, energy and money organising your holiday. Plus, you’ve probably told friends and family all about your itinerary. The pressure to have the perfect holiday can give unavoidable travel moments too much influence over your emotions. It’s helpful to realise that even though it is your precious break, there might be times when you’re tired or stressed, and the trip will probably have many highs and some lows, just like any slice of life.
Challenge
Travel provides opportunities to challenge yourself and build your confidence with activities like driving, navigation, and interacting with locals and tourists. Draw on your previous travel experiences and specific skills and strengths to try new things. Afterwards you’ll feel great about what you’ve attempted, accomplished or learnt. During your trip, if something doesn’t go to plan or a mistake is made, challenge yourself to remain calm and clear so you can swiftly resolve the issue and return to a holiday mindset.
Acceptance
Whether it’s queues, heat, or crowds, try to accept these irritations and manage your emotions so they don’t dampen your, or your companion’s, experience. One strategy could be to acknowledge your comfort level isn’t ideal, then shift your attention to something pleasant ahead, like an afternoon swim or lovely alfresco dinner. Think of all the activities and places you’ve enjoyed so far, and look forward to those still to come. Gratitude can help counter frustrations and put things into perspective: you’re on holiday, with time to fill as you please!
Reframing
As taxing as travel glitches can sometimes be, try to see the light or funny side to better manage the situation for yourself and those around you. Keep in mind these experiences often become the highly entertaining stories you tell friends – becoming funnier over time as you perfect your delivery. And if you do have a travel companion, remember these shared travel moments create shared memories that deepen your connection.