7 Hacks That Lower My Travel Stress

We need to lighten things up a bit around here! I went to Denver this weekend so it feels like a good time to tell you about a few of the travel hacks I use every trip.Writer’s note: I’m still in Denver after having my flight cancelled yesterday morning. These tips are more applicable than ever!

1. Find Your Airport Uniform

I wear the same thing on all my travel days and have been for the last several years. Cut out the mental bandwidth required to choose what to wear. Be comfy (planes get cold sometimes).

2. Make A Packing Checklist

I use Notion now. I used to use Apple Reminders. I know my mom uses a pad of paper and a pen. Stop worrying you forgot something and stressing out while you’re in the airport packing lot.

3. Get Your NEXUS or Global Entry

This will save you hours on every trip to the airport. You automatically receive TSA Precheck to skip the security lines and any time you need to pass through customs it will take you less than 5 minutes.

The last 3 times I’ve been to Pearson International (Toronto) — one of the worst processing airports in the world in 2022 — it took me less than 10 minutes to get from the terminal door to my gate.

Well worth a couple hundred dollars even if you’re only travelling once a year.

4. Get A Book or Kindle

It is the year 2023 and for some unknown reason we still have airplane internet that feels like it’s from the 90s. And they charge you $25 for a 3 hour flight. Robbery.

Grab a book or a Kindle (I use my iPad) and relax for a few hours and don’t think about the outside world. A couple more good alternatives are pre-downloaded podcasts or a Nintendo Switch. I beat Immortals: Fenyx Rising almost exclusively during flights last year.

5. Use The Parking Garage

It’s usually about 30% cheaper to park in the economy lot. It’s also 300% more stressful.

What time is our flight again?Did we go to the right lot?Is the shuttle coming?Did we miss it?Did it miss us?

Travel days are often stressful enough. Don’t add to it unnecessarily.

6. Don’t Take The Red Eye (If You Can Help It)

If you thought jet lag was bad? Let me introduce you to jet lag on steroids.

Did you want a surefire way to wreck your first few days of vacation or be totally worthless your first week back at work? Do I have the flight schedule for you. Not only are you guaranteed to have the worst sleep of your life, it will almost surely be shorter than you need!

7. Have A Routine

Create some airport habits so that when you arrive early you don’t sit on your phone for 2 hours.

Here’s mine:

1. Arrive

2. Grab A Meal

   1. Or Coffee/Booster Juice depending on the time of day

3. Grab any snacks for the flight (Beef jerky, Protein bar, Vitamin Water)

4. Make all items I need on the flight quickly accessible

5. Final social media checks/download podcasts

6. Don’t stand up immediately when they start pre-boarding like everyone else 😂