As I start another long summer trip, I’ve been reflecting on a lot of things. One was my recent article on how to travel with confidence – which clearly resonated with people. The other was the process I always go through before preparing for a big trip (or small, for that matter). And something dawned on me: the importance of travel rituals. You probably know exactly what I mean but don’t realise it: those things that you do before every trip. Jetside Johnny told us about the people that visit his bar before every flight, but your travel rituals might be different:
- Your favourite breakfast stop before a long roadtrip…
- Dusting off your favourite travel journal and putting it into your backpack…
- Buying magazines to pass the time on a long flight…
Mine always involve coffee, journals, and good breakfasts. It doesn’t matter what it is, but we all have them. And here’s why I think they’re important.
Ritual Balances Fear
Even regular travellers like me can get slightly worried about new places and new adventures – what if we get lost? what if I lose my passport? What if, what if… you know the drill. As human beings we crave regularity and patterns. Our brains like to be in the groove. Travel rituals help new and scary places feel not so scary. If your flight is a little turbulent – that’s ok, you’ve got your favourite magazine. Have a long drive ahead to somewhere new and foreign? Your classic breakfast place makes it feel like not such a high hill to climb. Worried about bad stuff happening on vacation? Pour that negative energy into your travel journal – it’s no good carrying all that around.
Ritual Brings People Together
Travel rituals are great for families – they are a way to bring a family together and bond over a special moment. Of course, that also means having a travel ritual that everyone likes, which is sometimes easier said than done. The same applies to couples: what better way to build a relationship than to have amazing travel adventures and those little in-between places that nobody will appreciate more than the two of you.
Solo travellers are not exempt here – in fact, solo folks are probably the ones in most need of travel rituals (and likely have them too). When it’s just you, the world and you thoughts, things can feel distinctively cliff-like. But what if you have a few things that come with you on every trip? Things might not feel so rough. We aren’t going to judge you if you save space in your luggage for your favourite teddy bear. 
Ritual Celebrates the Moment
Anxiety is not a way to enjoy a new travel adventure. But travel rituals are a way, I think, to help turn that energy around and make it positive instead of negative. We always celebrate major moments in our lives: marriage, birthdays, career success. Why not celebrate new travel adventures as well? Jump up and down people – something new and exciting is about to happen to you, and chances are you’ll be better for it. So reward that moment. Make peace with your old brain, the part of the body that controls fear and anxiety, by giving it some travel rituals to focus on. You’ll be less fearful, more thankful, and more focused on the journey ahead.
Do you have travel rituals you want to share? Please do – and tell us why they are important to you.
Photo by visualpanic
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not sure you really understand what it’s like to travel with a teddy bear. Teddy bears sit with a person on an airplane, or at least ride in the carry-on bag with a breathing hole. Chances are they would not ride zipped up in checked luggage.
Seriously though, I’m trying to think of some travel rituals I have, and none really come to mind. I also wear yoga pants on airplanes and I never work on the computer, but are those routines … not rituals?
One of my major travel rituals is packing at the last minute, using a packing list. I just love the excitement of it, plus it is a way to use up some of the excess energy generated by the thought of a flight. I also enjoy the tension of wondering if it will all fit and still be under the weight allowance.
If I’m heading out on a road trip, choosing snacks (I always start out being virtuous – fruit, water, etc. but always end up w/ pop, chips, etc.) is a ritual as is picking my music. I’ve got a Top 10 MUST CD list, plus choosing some variety, depending on mood, weather and where I’m heading. Plus I always leave topping up the tank to the last moment before I hit the highway.
These days there’s a lot of hanging out time in airports. My rituals include reading something trashy, running around trying to find FREE wi-fi, and making up stories about fellow travelers. This last one is especially fun if I’m traveling with a companion, but it gratifies me even when I’m on my own.
Great topic, by the way.
Gwen McCauley
So true! Ritual grounds us as we experience exhilarating or disappointing moments during our travels. Great article!
As a very un-ritualed person, I really appreciate this thought. I think that rituals that have lost all meaning end up being just relics that bind us, but rituals that truly resonate with us can be invaluable, especially is a situation like travel where there are so many unknown variables.
Thanks for the reminder (and to NomadicChick for tweeting it)
^_^/
Growing up, we always stopped at McDonald’s on our way to the airport for a breakfast burrito and orange juice. And I always, always packed a Lunchable for the flight. While I’ve since traded McDonald’s for Starbucks and Lunchables for a stack of magazines and a pack of Orbit, I’m still very methodical when it comes to traveling. I think it makes a bit easier to leave home and its familiarity if we have a set routine on the road.
I totally can’t think of any rituals either….now I have to pay attention when I’m getting ready for NYC.
My favourite travel ritual is choosing which books to bring with me. I get very little time to read in the ‘real world’, so picking out several great novels and deciding which will go in my carry-on vice checked baggage is like being able to choose whether I would prefer to take a diamond-encrusted Ferrari or a jet-pack to work in the morning – pure luxury.
One of my faves is the list. Or several lists.
I’m not ordinarily particularly organized, but I like to, a month or two before I leave – before the last-minute excitement muddles my brain — start a Priorities lists. What I want to see, where I want to go. If someone needs to be contacted, I can do that ahead of time.
Then, with about two weeks to go, I start a packing list. I don’t travel with just clothes and books. I have camera(s), the netbook, GPS for the rental car, thank-you gifts, guesses as to climate for clothes and products, admissions cards or tickets, maps, etc.
When I was young, the ritual was to be relatively still before a trip since my brother and I had a tendency of banging our heads into walls or knocking out teeth right before a big trip. These days, I still follow that – don’t plan too much on the day of departure and just try and take it easy and leave early so you’re not rushing to the airport/bus station.
Oh seriously cool. Indeed routine reduces fear. I don’t really have many pre-trip rituals, but during rituals a plenty.
That hint of the teddy bear is cool. Maybe I’ll try flying with one.
Love to hear about these rituals. Sincere apologies to JoAnna’s teddy bear – I didn’t mean to imply any subpar teddy bear travel practices
And Andrew, send us a pic of your new travel companion, would ya? 
Audrey, I am laughing at the image of your parents shrieking for whatever mischief you found yourself in before a big trip. Hysterical.
Rituals … for sure ! I love those travel rituals