I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day! I've just returned from a brief trip to Pittsburgh.
After a 5-hour drive back to Philly, I'm ready to send this message and head straight to bed!
Some refrain from traveling, believing it's not their thing. A primary reason is the frustration that the planning and coordination processes can bring.
But I believe everyone can love traveling.
The primary reason people perceive travel as challenging is the significant initial effort, often
referred to as "activation energy," required to start. Since traveling can demand considerable effort, it can be tempting to procrastinate.
For instance, figuring out a schedule and making arrangements can be overwhelming. Similarly, getting to the airport and boarding the plane can also be stressful
experiences.
Here are some other travel-related tasks with high activation energy:
Packing
Getting to the airport
Trip research
Booking flights and accommodations
Here's
the trick: if you can make the process enjoyable and lower the activation energy, you’ll be more willing to travel.
Here are some tips to lower the activation energy for travel:
Prepare in Advance: Keep your bags and toiletries packed to avoid last-minute hassles.
Streamline Airport Procedures:
Obtain TSA PreCheck to reduce wait times and stress at the airport.
Low Effort Research: Instead of reading guidebooks, watch travel videos on YouTube while eating a meal or during downtime. This makes research more enjoyable and less effort-intensive.
Travel Research is so Hard
These are just a few strategies I use, but feel free to create your own that align with
your lifestyle. By using some of these tips, you can make travel more enjoyable and frequent. Give these suggestions a try and see how they work for you.
Andrew
What tricks do you use to make travel more effortless?
Cocktail of the Week
The Airmail cocktail has its origins in the 1930s and is believed to be named after the airmail postal service, symbolizing the modern and exciting era of air travel. This classic cocktail combines rum, lime juice, honey syrup, and champagne, making it a refreshing and celebratory drink.
Recipe:
- 1 oz white rum
- 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 0.5 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and water, mixed until smooth)
- Champagne or sparkling wine
- Ice
- Lime twist or mint sprig for garnish (optional)
Preparation:
1. Mix Ingredients: In a shaker, combine the white rum, lime juice, and honey syrup.
2. Shake: Add ice and shake well until chilled.
3. Strain: Strain the mixture into a glass.
4. Top: Top off with champagne or sparkling wine.
5. Garnish: Garnish with a lime twist or mint
sprig if desired.
Random Travel Thought
Few will admit that they are bad to travel with.
Follow me on Instagram.
The Plug
Cheap flights:
Going.com: This might be the only discounted flights website you need.It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!!
Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
Skyscanner: An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.
Insurance:
Safety Wing: I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.
Travel Gear
Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep
yourself healthy enough to go on more trips.Link
Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it.Link
Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at
once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling,
it's time to live it up! Link
*Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
