5 Tips to Ease the Anxious Adventurer

Before we left in January I was a nervous wreck. I was leaving everything I knew behind and other than my amazing boyfriend, I was leaving everyone I knew behind too. I was leaving all those who had shown me support, had laughed with me and cried with me. To combat my worries I channelled my energy into trying to plan for every eventuality, which only fuelled the fire. This got me thinking about what I could share to make this transition period for other anxious adventurers a little easier. I have thought long and hard about what worried me most before I left. Below, I have shared why you shouldn’t waste your time worrying about them.

What do you do when you get sick at home? Wait it out, or if it isn’t a passing sickness, you go to a doctor. Same same here folks. I can’t even begin to tell you how many pharmacies there are dotted about all over the place. Not to mention that a lot of prescription drugs in the UK are sold over the counter here. Before I left I was desperately trying to get a backlog of my pill ‘Yasmin’. After numerous trips to the doctor, I eventually managed to get about 9 months’ worth. Only to arrive in Thailand and find it propped up on almost every pharmacy counter I visited. Big waste of time, big waste of energy worrying about it.

If you think you have a stomach bug my recommendation is to check into a nice hotel with an en-suite and wait it out in (relative) comfort. If you’re travelling solo, ask someone you’ve met or the hotel staff to check up on you once in a while. People are generally happy to oblige and will bring you water, Gatorade and meds if you require them. No one wants to see anyone suffer.

If you think it’s something more serious, you can get yourself to a doctor or hospital just like you would at home. A bit of research and you should be able to locate an English-speaking doctor in your area. You wouldn’t be the first traveller to fall seriously ill, and you wouldn’t be the last.

You should ensure that you have taken preventative measures to keep any serious illnesses at bay. Research online the required vaccinations for the countries you’re visiting and leave yourself plenty of time to finish the courses. Your government website or doctor can recommend these to you.

It sounds silly saying it, but they have shops here too…Seriously relax. I was crazy prepared and as we were leaving after Christmas I asked all my family for items I might need whilst I was away. I was armed with dry bags, a waterproof case for my phone, a power bank, charging cables, a speaker, etc. Again, we landed in Thailand and I could have attained every single item there – probably for half the price.

The markets are tailored for tourists and depending on what the main local activities are, you’re bound to find what you need here. For example, we flew straight to Phuket to explore the east coast islands where boat trips are a daily occurrence. Dry bags galore everywhere. I’m not saying don’t come prepared, I’m just saying if you forget something you’ll be able to find what you need. As a rule of thumb, pack only the items you’ll be devastated if you can’t find whilst travelling.

Lucky you, you get to go shopping! Every place we have visited has sold clothes at the night markets. In some cities (like HCMC) you’ll even be able to find your home favourites, such as H&M and Topshop. The price is still the same don’t get too excited. The market clothes are fitting for the location. For example, when we got up to Pai in the North of Thailand, it was freezing! Immediately, I bought a pair of leggings and a poncho to keep me warm.

I also quickly discovered that dresses were my favourite thing to wear when walking about – especially in cities. Initially, I had only packed one, but now I have four to my repertoire. One from Laos, one from Cambodia and one even handmade by a tailor in Hoi An. We have both picked up items along the way and ditched things we weren’t wearing and were sick of carrying around. In fact, my wardrobe is almost completely different from when we left 4 months ago. So, with that in mind, don’t bring any clothes you think you’ll be sad to see the back of. Just in case it gets lost or destroyed during laundry or you just don’t want to carry it anymore.

I had a plan for Thailand. I knew I was starting in Phuket, visiting the islands and then venturing to Bangkok. But I didn’t know how I was going to get from one place to the next. I trusted that it would be clear when we got there and I was right to trust that instinct but I have to share just how easy it is to move around. There are so many people travelling all the time and tourist agencies are writhe. Most of the tourist agencies will have boards outside with a list of the most popular ‘next’ destinations with different transport types and prices. It’s super easy to organise – even on the day before you leave. Further to this, most hotels and hostels will sell bus tickets too.

Finally, let’s not forget the internet. That’s probably how you would book your travel back home right? Well, there are plenty of bus companies you can buy tickets from online. In Cambodia, we swore by Giant Ibis. You can pick your own seats. Plus, if your hotel is on the pick-up list, you don’t even have to worry about getting to a station.

OK, so maybe all of the above has put your mind at ease a little. But, there are so many other things to worry about! (I mean that in the most light-hearted way possible). You’re going to be meeting so many new people. You may even decide to do completely different things to what you originally planned. You’ll likely be trying new foods. Sometimes, you might miss home comforts – I know I certainly do!

Personally, I think what causes pre-travelling anxiety is the lack of knowing what to expect. If we can’t imagine what it’s going to be like, we snowball thoughts – usually in a catastrophic manner. Remember that pushing yourself through and learning how to cope will result in you growing as a person. You’re on a personal journey as well as a physical one. Sure, you might end up eating some food you wish you hadn’t, you might have to pee in the world’s most disgusting toilet, you might even come into close proximity with a cockroach (or two) (hundred). It’s all part of the adventure.

It took me two weeks of travelling before my nerves settled down. I felt sick a lot, I didn’t have much of an appetite and then I felt worse for not eating. Gradually, I got into the swing of things. I slowly accepted that I wasn’t coming down with a bout of malaria. I learnt how easy it is to find all the best places to go to, just by talking to others. How easy it was to book onward travel. How fun the entire thing was – even when things weren’t going right.

Life continues and you will adapt – if you allow yourself to. My advice is don’t beat yourself up or berate yourself for feeling this way. It is a big step and not one that everyone will endeavour to take. Be proud of yourself for fulfilling your dream of travelling. Don’t compare yourself to others. There will be plenty of people who jumped on a plane without looking back. They may never have felt even an ounce of anxiety. But you’re not wrong to feel anxious. I think if you can accept this then it will pass in time and you will begin to love every second of your adventure.

Have you been travelling or are planning to go travelling? Did you (or have you) felt any anxiety leading up to your trip? I’d love to hear how you coped or are trying to cope with such a big change.