Travel is a way to broaden the mind, full of adventure, intrigue and excitement. Here’s something the guidebooks don’t tell you, though; travel, at times, can get a bit boring. There’s downtime in droves, with dead hours spent sitting on a bus or at the airport, as well as bureaucracy, queues, killing time and more, and more, killing time.
Nope, it can’t be all beach sunsets, cuddling koalas and scoffing local delicacies. Face up to the fact that at times you’ll need to entertain yourself, and you’ll be fine. With this in mind, here’s 5 IDEAL tips to pass the time while travelling.
WRITE A TRAVEL JOURNAL
Travel throws so much at you; a near constant kaleidoscope of colour, curiosity and sometimes moments which are a little uncomfortable. A space where you can reflect on your innermost thoughts and feelings is a must. A bonus is that this reflection can be the perfect way to fill the time.
So, keep a travel journal, both as a space to vent and document, as well as a keepsake with huge sentimental value in years to come. Aim to document daily, or even several times a day for the best results.
BE INQUISITIVE & TALK TO PEOPLE…
…even to strangers. ‘Travel’, rather than simply going on holiday, is all about broadening the mind and enriching your pool of experience. Travelling can be a socially nourishing experience and a wonderful way to meet people and learn about new cultures. If you keep yourself to yourself and ask no questions, then you may as well have stayed home.
Take every opportunity to strike up conversation with a taxi driver, hotel receptionist, adjacent drinker or shopkeeper to ask for the best insider insight. Share stories in return. At the very least, you’ll unearth somewhere perhaps not in the guidebooks. At best, new friendships will be forged. Lovely stuff.
EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN
There’s no denying that travelling is good for improving your brain and its cognitive abilities. According to research, the complexities of getting out there and seeing the world can sharpen your mind; to get all scientific(ish), travel has the ability to ‘light up’ a whole range of neural pathways you don’t always use, leading to cognitive benefits.
However, the ‘’use it or lose it rule” is something which the brain adheres to devotedly. In other words, those neural pathways can also get weaker when neglected. And although we hate to admit it, lying on a beach doesn’t exactly oil the mind’s cogs too thoroughly.
It’s important to give your brain a little work out from time to time to keep things functioning to their full potential. This could be in the form of a daily sudoku or crossword, or something more interactive like chess (online or IRL).
Whilst you shouldn’t expect to become Einstein overnight, they certainly won’t do your cognitive function any harm and time will be passed seamlessly.
BE MINDFUL
When there’s so much out there to see and do, and so many new experiences to enjoy, it can seem somewhat counterintuitive to ‘take a moment’ and be still. But being mindful can bring great benefits when travelling, allowing you to process and reflect on what everything you’ve been through. This could take the form of meditation, yoga or by simply sitting in a quiet room and thinking for a few minutes each day. Even by simply being appreciative of the innocuous incidents of each day, you can harness the power of mindfulness while on the move. If you’d like to delve a little deeper, check out our 5 IDEAL tips for living mindfully and in the moment over here.
FIND COMPANY IN PODCASTS
You might think travel is a never ending party of new friends and frivolity. But there are moments of solitude, introspection and sometimes, we’re afraid to say, loneliness. The warm embrace of the human voice can fill these darker hours.
Indeed, ‘The Podcast Hug’ is a term coined by one of our favourites in the field. It refers to that warm, introspective, undisturbed space created by listening to a good podcast and doing little else. When you’re sitting on an overnight bus or taking a rest in your hostel room, then you have the perfect excuse to get immersed.
Some of favourites in the soothing yet informative field? The aforementioned Blindboy, simply the best out there, as well as the Adam Buxton podcast, Guardian Long Reads and the excellent Dissect Podcast, which dives deep into some of the best recent, contemporary albums with a fine comb.
With a range of ways to keep busy during the inevitable free time you’ll have while travelling, there’s no excuse not to make the most of every moment!