5 Tips to Overcome the Traveling Blues!

I knew this was a lifestyle change, maybe not permanent, but for now, it is a change and how would I deal with it? Well, at first I cried. I mourned the change and had plenty of regrets. But I should not feel this way. This is a dream come true: the ability to travel with my husband across the country! But yet I struggled to accept this new lifestyle while my husband embraced it. I had the traveling blues.

What is the traveling blues?

Another word for the “blues” could be depression. I usually am optimistic, always trying to be positive, but for this new lifestyle change, away from all I knew and loved, I suffered from depression. Has this happened to you while traveling? I did not like feeling this way and I am the type of person that likes to find a solution to a problem.

Then little by little I started to summarize what my life was like before fulltime rving and what it is now. What am I doing differently now than when we had our house? There are some similarities and yet some differences. I would like to share with you tips I am implementing in my life to help me overcome the traveling blues and you could use too!

It is important to take of yourself! A facial, moisturizing or anything that is for you and your body and ideal for positivity into your life!

• Start with a routine. It may be the same one you had before fulltime rving, or maybe you want to change it up a bit. But establishing a daily routine will help you focus on accomplishing simple tasks each day. For example, I like to take a daily shower, wash my face with good cleansers and moisturize. There is something about this procedure that actually brings me joy.

Spending time with God in prayer, journaling, taking walks is important for your mental health!

• Have a time with God. This is very important. There are times I get busy in the mornings (this is the best time for me to spend time with God usually). I would like to encourage you to sit still before God, with or without a Bible, clear your thoughts, breathe in and out slowly, close your eyes and focus on God.

• Accept interruptions that will happen. The water may not be hot for your shower; the gas will not turn on to cook your breakfast because you ran out of propane; you wake up and do not feel good and had fabulous plans to go out that day. Things are going to interrupt you whether you live in a house or in a RV. How will you handle those uneventful moments is the key. Will you let those interruptions define you or accept it and move on?

A hobby is a fun way to express yourself! What is your hobby?

• Take the time to care for yourself. Only you can care for yourself! Whether it is through a cleaning routine, a special bath (lucky you if you have a bathtub!), eat a fun snack (dark chocolate anyone?), stretching, a hobby you will enjoy. Taking these steps will go a long way toward a healthy attitude for travel!

Exercise, including strength training, cardio, specific body areas for training and yoga are also very important for your mental health!

• Exercise. This can go hand-in-hand with the previous suggestion. Here is a link to “Confessions of an Exercise Junkie” with tips to get you started on your own exercise path! get you started! I exercise with a program called Burn Bootcamp, which has its own app for a small annual fee, or you can exercise in person at their many gyms across the U.S. This has helped me so much! Some days it is hard to get up early and exercise as this program starts at eastern time, but for me, I would rather (if I can) exercise “live” with them so as to motivate me to keep going. Exercise brings out the “happy hormones” which I think a lot of us can use. Plus, think of the benefits. You feel better. You look great. And maybe even your clothes are a little looser fitting on you.

I will be honest with you and that is I still struggle and you may struggle as well. Not all days are full of adventure, joy and happiness. But with these tools I am leaving you, it is a start. A start to something wonderful, something powerful in your life that could propel you forward in your traveling journey!

What step can you take today?