Plan Travel with Wellness in Mind

Keep Wellness in Mind

I posted about the five Ws of vacation planning a few years ago. The ideas in the post helped many people think about specific ideas and plans for their trips. Since then, I have evolved and learned more about my health and wellness. Now, I want to give you more to think about by suggesting that you plan with your wellness in mind. 

Vacation planning can be impromptu or well thought out for some. Spontaneity is in some people’s DNA, but others want to plan to the minute details. Which of these persons fit your description? Either one must do some planning, even if it’s last minute. So, let’s explore how to plan a vacation with wellness in mind. 

Eight Dimensions of Wellness

First, here’s a reminder of the eight dimensions of wellness and what they represent. They are:

• Physical – Body, Eat healthy food, Sleep, Exercise
• Emotional – Mind, Feelings, Attitude, Support
• Spiritual – Soul, Faith, Meditation
• Social – Relationships
• Financial – Income, Savings
• Occupational – Career, Profession
• Environmental- Earth, Living Conditions, Chemical, and Toxins
• Intellectual – Brain, Learning

Relax and Destress

There’s a bit in there for every type of traveler. Most of the time, we plan vacations to help us relax, destress, and enjoy ourselves. When I travel, I want to enjoy, learn, and relax. What are your expectations when you plan your trips?  

While I want to relax and destress, I also want to learn new things about the places I visit. In our everyday lives, the dimensions of wellness somehow touch how we live. Without noticing, they touch us during our vacation, too. So, it’s a great time to learn and be aware of how planning your travel with wellness in mind is beneficial. 

Where are you going?

One of the five Ws is where. Where am I going? Look at a world map or a U.S. or state map. A spontaneous person may point to a place on the globe and decide that’s it. A detailed person probably has a place in mind. People choose a specific location for a variety of reasons. The area may be on your bucket list, or a great airfare and hotel deal may exist. You can visit friends or family that live there. Or a museum or point of interest is located in that city or country that caught your attention. You can spend time with the locals to explore their lives, successes, and struggles.   Already, we touched on fulfilling your social, financial, and intellectual wellness. 

When are you leaving?

When are you going and how do you get there? You set a departure and return date. How many days will you be away? One thing to consider is how many vacation days you have banked. If you work, you must be sure you get the vacation time approved by your boss. Perhaps you have a spouse, significant other, and children. What dates are they available to travel? Or can your bae or favorite travel buddy get time off, too? No worries for those who go solo because you’re on your own. Two wellness dimensions come into play here: social and occupational. Add financial, too, because having enough PTO (personal time off) affects your decisions and money. 

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What’s Your Why?

Why do I want to travel to this place? Next, what makes you want to visit that specific country, city, or state? For example, do you want to visit China and climb the Great Wall or Egypt to see the Giza Pyramids? You may be a foodie, and New Orleans is on your bucket list. Are you interested in sustainable travel? Do you want to hike through the Amazon, relax on a beach, or visit the cathedrals of Europe? Why is your destination a place of interest? Is it the culture, the food, or the people? Then ask yourself, is there more to see than one landmark? How physical are the activities? What’s your stamina level? We touch on physical, emotional,  environmental, and spiritual wellness here. 

Do you see how quickly the dimensions of wellness become a part of your vacation? Initially, you may not have yet to think about having wellness in mind when planning a trip. Now you look at your travels with a different perspective. 

Who’s Going with You?

Another W to ponder is who you want to travel with you. This is a crucial question because whoever it is will be with you for the trip. The wrong choice can ruin your entire vacation. Both of you need to be simpatico! Do your personalities mesh? Are you total opposites? What if you like budget hotels and they like 5-star hotels? Be careful when choosing your travel buddy because it can make or break a vacation. This covers the social dimensions of wellness. It’s about relationships with family, friends, and others. It’s also about environmental wellness. It’ll be a bad environment if you stay in a room or ride on a tourism bus with someone who’s not simpatico.

I’ve been on trips with the wrong person or the Negative Nelly or Ned. During the journey, everyone avoided them like the plague. Soon, tempers flare up, and you’re trying to keep the peace. It’s not a good situation, nor is it good for your wellness.

Travel with Wellness in Mind

Hopefully, this post gives you something to reflect on as you plan your next adventure. Plan travel with wellness in mind henceforth! I want you to return from your vacations fulfilled, not perplexed and stressed more than before you left. Bon Voyage!

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