How To Practice Self-Care While Traveling, According to Viator Writers

While travel often causes me decision fatigue, I maintain a couple of rinse-and-repeat routines that I associate with home, wherever I am. Not only do they reward me with one less decision to make, but my habits are one small thing I can keep consistent as I split my time between the UK and Australia.

It can be as simple as listening to my favorite podcast while I eat, or keeping a set-in-stone wind-down routine (think: aromatherapy oil and low-stakes TV shows). I even go so far as to pack the exact herbal tea bags I use at home, which act as a cue to my body and mind that it's safe to relax.

Rosie Stagg is a freelance editor at Viator. A lifelong traveler raised on National Geographic and a Youth Hostel membership, she now organizes trips around weekend escapes from the city; slow, unplanned days; and the nearest ocean pool.

On the road, the last thing I want to do is be on my phone—one of my favorite parts of traveling is actually being pulled off my screens and into the world around me. But phone access is also necessary to get around and stay safe in a new place. It’s a bit of a catch-22.

To balance this, I always plan a day during which I can turn my phone off and give myself a mental break for at least an afternoon. For me, it’s usually on a hiking trail with a baked good in my bag—then, when I find that magical scenic view, I stop and take in a slow, sweet moment, nothing buzzing but my nature rush.

Jacqueline Kehoe is a freelance writer currently based in Wisconsin. She’s called multiple parts of the globe home—from California to Vietnam—but she feels most at home when she’s in nature.

Plenty of travelers like to power through their first days of vacation, pounding back coffee in hopes of conquering jet lag. I take a different approach to resetting my circadian rhythm by always scheduling a dedicated sleep day (or two).

This means I don’t book tickets or experiences for arrival day or the day after. Instead, I give my body the grace it needs to ease into a new time zone after a long series of flights. Adequate rest is a non-negotiable for me, and I enjoy trips so much more when I take the time to recharge.

Margot Bigg is a multilingual travel journalist and guidebook author who frequently travels between the West Coast of the US and faraway time zones in India, Europe, and Africa.

Once our pup crossed the rainbow bridge and the kids flew the nest, I fully embraced my travel-friendly remote career. I realized, however, that I need some tiny anchors to ground me wherever I set up my laptop. My first ritual in a new base is to light a scented candle, put on my favorite playlist, and set up a few family photos around my temporary workspace to create a sense of home.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a full-on digital nomad, moving from place to place can be both liberating and unsettling, but setting up a bit of a home base can help ease that untethered feeling.

Rebecca Winke is an Italy travel expert who spent decades getting to know Il Bel Paese before jetting off to see the rest of the world. Her favorite temporary homes have included Chicago and Marrakech.

As a chronically ill traveler, I know how intimately intertwined physical and mental health can be. That’s why my go-to practice when easing into a new destination is to take a relaxed stroll to get my bearings. This benefits my physical health by helping me get gentle exercise and sun exposure to combat fatigue, while also benefiting my mental health by helping me understand the lay of the land and feel more comfortable in my destination.

Arriving in a new place can be overwhelming, so I rely on this practice as a transition for both body and mind. Physical and mental self-care complement one another, and I love that this ritual combines them!

Zanny Merullo is a disabled travel journalist who manages multiple chronic illnesses during her travels. Despite her love of walking around new destinations, her terrible sense of direction means she usually gets lost.

When I’m not traveling, yoga and meditation are anchors of my daily life, but they also center me when I am on the road. Finding 10 minutes to sit and breathe helps me find calm—even on those days when the bus rides are hellish, the guesthouse lost my reservation, and the stars seem aligned against me.

Signing up for a class at a local shala or studio is a great way to discover a new place (language barrier dependent, of course). Whether you choose hot yoga in the city, aerial yoga on the beach, stand-up paddleboard yoga on the water, or even a couple of moments on your hotel floor, there’s always a way to find zen.

Theodora Sutcliffe is a freelance travel writer and qualified yoga teacher. She spent four years traveling nomadically with her then-small son and a decade exploring Indonesia from a base in Bali.

As travel usually means a break from ordinary life, it’s easy to slip into drinking too much—that free aperitif on the flight can quickly turn into lunchtime wine pours and evening pub crawls. But if you’re traveling sober, it’s easy to have a good time without a tipple.

I try to avoid temptation by opting for natural destinations—mountains, beaches, national parks—where I can shift my focus to the scenery around me. But I also often travel to New Zealand’s top wine-producing region, Marlborough. There, I focus on food rather than drink: I skip the cellar doors and try to only visit winery restaurants around lunchtime. If I must go out at night, I research places with good non-alcoholic menus, from mocktails to zero-proof wines, beers, and even spirits.

Elen Turner is a New Zealand–based travel writer and editor. Alcohol isn’t part of her life anymore, which leaves more energy for hiking in the South Island or sightseeing in Sydney or Singapore.

Traveling with children can be both incredible and exhausting, so I always make sure to set aside time for myself to do something that makes me feel calm and happy. This can be anything from an hour in the hotel gym, a solo stroll or hike, a couple of minutes meditating in the sun, or even a long, leisurely shower after a day of sightseeing.

Organizing this time with my partner, using the hotel's kids’ club, or catching a moment when my son falls asleep are the best ways to ensure I get my daily restful moment, which helps me stay present and be a better mom during our adventures.

Lori Zaino is a freelance writer for Viator. She traveled to more than 60 countries before having kids, and now she roams with her 5-year-old, who’s been to nearly a dozen countries (so far).

The key to a fulfilling trip is being honest with yourself about the type of person you are. Does every minute in your itinerary need to be accounted for, or do you crave opportunities for spontaneity and downtime?

I’ve lived on three continents and have traveled a lot—and I’ve learned that I function best when I research and plan at least one activity each day of a trip. That loose structure helps me manage stress and avoid overwhelm when I’m in a new place. Even if you’re not a natural planner, I recommend organizing at least one activity that really excites you, whether that’s seeing a sports match or visiting a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, to take off some of the in-the-moment pressure.

Sanam Yar is a London-based culture and lifestyle journalist. She’s written for the New York Times, Architectural Digest, New York Magazine, and more.

Long travel days can easily upend healthy routines: Between cramped seats and high-calorie airport snacks, it’s normal to arrive at your destination feeling crummy. To counter this, I prioritize movement and fueling my body to make me feel my best. I briskly circle the concourse to get some energy out before boarding, and I often bring my own healthy meals to have in-flight.

My body confidence and how I support it comes from what my body can do, not just the reflection in the mirror. Pregnancy and aging have changed how I look, but my focus on movement means I can arrive at my destination ready to swim in the ocean and hike old-growth forests. Staying active on travel days ensures I’m always ready for the adventure.

Fiona Tapp is a UK–born, Canada-based travel writer and editor. From rappelling down waterfalls in Peru to sleeping in igloos in the Arctic Circle, she loves pushing her physical limits to find joy in movement.

Long gone are the days when I raced across a city to see every highlight in one trip, leaving me not only burned out, but also feeling like I hardly experienced the place at all. Now, instead of checklist travel, I pick a handful of personal must-sees and pace them out. Yes, that means I won't do everything. But if the destination really speaks to me, I'll return to do more.

While that means I won't check off every country in the world, it does mean I spend quality time in places that I love. Taking it slower allows me to travel more mindfully, put the camera down, and really feel my destination, without the stress of a time-crunched itinerary.

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance writer who contributes to National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and Space.com, among other publications. She most enjoys spending time in nature, whether stargazing in Namibia, meditating on Zodiacs in Antarctica, or chasing tornadoes across the Great Plains.

When you imagine jetting off to the destination of your dreams, it’s easy to envision leaving everything behind—including any difficult emotions. However, being free from your daily routines and responsibilities can cause them to rise to the surface. This is especially true if you’re traveling solo and spending more time on your own (and in your head) than you do at home.

Even though I expect to feel carefree on a Caribbean beach, I try to accept any anxiety, sadness, or other emotions that arise, and I keep in mind that it can take a few days to relax into a trip after last-minute packing and long-haul flights. However they manifest, I keep in mind that some stress or higher emotions can still be part of a wonderful trip.

Jade Harvey is a London-based freelance travel writer and psychotherapist-in-training. She spent her 20s on solo backpacking adventures around South America and Asia, where she realised the importance of paying extra attention to mental health on the road.