Day 16 The art of traveling gently
The day this post comes out will be another one of my days on a plane, somewhere between continents and lives. Travel days have become a regular part of my routine: the decluttering and packing, the list of things not to forget, thinking about what clothes I actually wear, and wondering how I somehow ended up with so many tubes of toothpaste. It is inescapable.
Packing for big moves is always a little confronting. I tend to dread it in the weeks leading up to a trip. Why did I buy all this stuff? I thought I didn’t have much makeup, and yet there is a whole bag of it under the sink that I almost forgot about. It’s easy to fall into a bit of a spiral—am I the only person who is this messy and wasteful?
Then I remember that a lot of people have cupboards full of things they don’t use. I once read that European households contain an average of 10,000 items. Isn’t that wild? Americans tend to have about three times as many. Suddenly, this ritual of moving doesn’t feel so bad. If anything, it invites me to ask important questions about what I actually value.
With these moves also comes a second component: the actual day on the road. Over time, I’ve developed a few small systems that help me as a neurodivergent traveler. Maybe you’ll find something here that you want to try for yourself.
I’ve learned that I really don’t do well with rushing or the fear of missing a flight, so I always aim to get to the airport early. Yes, everything there is overpriced, but having the time to sit down, drink a coffee, and eat something familiar makes a huge difference to my emotional state. I’ll often pick up a sandwich for later, just in case I don’t enjoy the food on the plane. Unpredictable food makes me anxious, so this is a small investment in my sanity.
In my backpack, I carry a range of snacks, an empty thermos, and a few tea bags. If I can’t get hot water after security, I’ll ask the flight staff to fill it for me. That way, I’m not stuck waiting for those tiny cups while feeling thirsty.
I also bring a neck pillow that attaches to my backpack (a game changer compared to the ones that don’t close), an eye mask for sleeping, some moisturiser because the air on planes is incredibly drying, and as much music and as many audiobooks downloaded as I could possibly want.
A newer addition to my list is an extra sweater and a pair of socks. Feeling cold is a horrible state to try and rest in, so this small detail makes a big difference.
The specifics may look different for you, but the biggest lesson my travels have taught me is to treat myself the way I would treat a child. I don’t expect myself to just endure whatever happens. Instead, I imagine different scenarios and think about how I might want to be supported in each of them. I am on my own team now.
Whether you have a big trip coming up or simply want to rethink your daily commute, there is something powerful in becoming your own ally. Putting in a bit of care and consideration ahead of time can turn a stressful journey into a much calmer one. It’s a small gift from your past self to your future self.
I hope you are well, wherever you are.
Celine
