3 Tips on Avoiding Trip Exhaustion

October 20, 2016

3 Ways to Prevent Trip ExhaustionFrom the moment I book the trip to the moment I depart, I’m often feeling high from all the amazing experiences. My first trip to Japan was over 15 years ago, and I recall being so excited to go. It was the first time I experienced jet lag and tremendous exhaustion. You’d think, as a young teen that it wouldn’t be so rough. I suffered from jet lag when I arrived and exhaustion at the end of my trip. The experience was beautiful, but boy was I tired. Have you heard of anyone say they need a vacation from vacation? I know that feeling.

3-ways-prevent-trip-exhaustionways-to-prevent-trip-exhaustion3-ways-to-prevent-trip-exhaustion3 Ways to Prevent Trip Exhaustion3 Ways to Prevent Trip ExhaustionSince that initial trip to Japan, I’ve had some hefty number of flights. On my first solo trip around Asia, I took 14 flights in 5 weeks. Not so bad, right? I then further increased that and repeated the insanity 3 years ago, taking 14 flights in just 20 days when I went to Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and returned to Thailand for my second time.  Last year, Tom and I spent a month in Europe and the month following, flew out 4 more times around the US. Two months later, we went on a 6 week cross country road trip through the United States. Finally, for my latest trip, I was away from home for 8 weeks.

With my immense love for travel, I quickly learned that you can fly all over the world and travel for really long periods of time without feeling burnt out and exhausted.

Today I am sharing my travel tips on how to avoid trip exhaustion, whether you’re spending 2 weeks or 2 months away.

3 Tips on How to Avoid Trip Exhaustion

1) Be Realistic on How Much You Can Truly Handle

I’m the type of person that used to go-go-go. One summer during university, I held 2 full time jobs for 6 weeks, working 80 hours a week from 8:30AM to midnight. I’d start a shift early in the morning at one job, and as soon as I finished, I’d have half an hour to get to my other job in the evening. For me, this translated to how much I can handle on the go with 15 hours of stimulation, and time and time again when I was working at any 2 jobs, 2 weeks would come around and I’d be spent. So, when it came to planning for vacations, I’d plan to explore cities non-stop for approximately 2 weeks before needing to flying out to a beautiful beach to rest and recover for a few days. After feeling refreshed, I’d jump back into travelling city-to-city for another 2 weeks and repeat. I understand this is extreme for some, but this was my limit and I never pushed myself to the point where I was too tired. Luckily, I don’t have that habit of non-stop walking with no rest during travels anymore. Now, I love to find cafes, admire the view, sit down for a great meal, and stop to take everything in a little bit longer. With age, this has worked out well and my limit happens to still come out to about 2 weeks. What is yours?

2) Choose Activities that Feel Like You’re Resting in Between Busy Days

Regardless of how you travel, making some time to relax during your trip will help you come back refreshed. I don’t mean, stay in your hotel room all day. Tom and I have booked resort spas, joined organized half day tours, taken local city yacht cruises, visited the local beach for the day, sat at cafés with great views for hours, spent extra time sleeping in and have taken advantage of breakfast in bed. Special little splurges like these can help you wind down and relax. Book a full day at a local spa resort, do a city cruise and end up laying down for a picnic at the harbour admiring the skyline or ocean view – whatever it is, organizing a full day of what feels like rest, or extra time to yourself will help you with being refreshed the following few days. The best part? You’ll still be enjoying what the city has to offer, but will get to sit back and relax. And, if none of these are available, visit a local cafe, enjoy their local delicacies, desserts or coffee. The key is to keep it simple for the day, then you can be on the go the following few days feeling refreshed.

3) Review Your Flight Schedule to Manage Jet Lag Before, During and After Your Flight

I can say that I am incredibly lucky that I don’t suffer from jet lag the way I once did. There is something about being a passenger in a moving vehicle that makes me tired, so luckily I often fall asleep on the plane. Before you fly, understand what the time difference is between your destinations and manage your sleep a day in advance so you’re not wasting a day away when you arrive at your destination. I usually consider the departure, arrival time and flight time. If it is difficult for you to get rest on the plane because of a short red eye flight, nap before your flight, or do the all nighter and consider making your first day one that includes rest and relaxation. I rarely like to just sleep too long in the hotel because it feels like I’m losing a day, so if you’re like me, find a local beach with a lounge chair to rest on. You can snap a few pictures for instagram if you must, order a beachside beverage and sleep.  If your destination happens to be experiencing cold weather a spa where you can rest by the pool or in ergonomic beds after a nice massage might do the trick.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated everywhere you go. It helps a lot when you’re trying to fight off some of that exhaustion. I always love a good latte, but remembering to hydrate is often the hardest, especially when you’re travelling.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it helps you with planning your next trip, minus the potential exhaustion that can come along with it! Do you get travel exhaustion? If so, how do you manage yours? I’d love to hear.

For more inspiration on style and travel, follow me on Bloglovin♥, Twitter and Instagram.

Xo,

Miki

Photo credit to my one and only, Rise Again BJJ.

Swimsuit and similar options below:

Tips on Avoiding Trip Exhaustion

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  • Jenn October 20, 2016 at 5:27 am

    These are such great tips! It was my first time to experience jetlag 2 weeks ago when I went to the US. I always felt so tired from late afternoon to evening and be so alive and awake from early morning. My body clock was ruined and I could not concentrate at work! I will keep these in mind next time I do a long haul flight or take a long vacation. 🙂

    Jenn
    The Pink Lemonade Girl
    YouTube
    Bloglovin

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Oh my gosh, sounds awful. I’ve had that happen for work, except luckily that day I didn’t have to do much strategic work. I was just an admin back then entering information into a computer. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks so much Jenn!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Abdelkhalek October 20, 2016 at 7:21 am

    Very interesting post thanks for sharing

    http://www.abdelkhalekleblog.com

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Have a great week!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Annelies October 20, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Great tips, I always want to do too much on a day haha
    xx
    http://www.annelieshellem.com

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Haha. I know what you mean. For those trips, I walked from 8:30am to 10pm with only bathroom breaks. I almost never sat down to eat. I went to sit down once a week at a nice restaurant with a view, but that was it. I couldn’t handle doing that much walking non stop now. I’d be exhausted. Have a great week Annelies!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Настя October 20, 2016 at 8:33 am

    Wonderful and perfect! I follow you blog, please follow me too.
    http://alamodenatine.blogspot.com

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Thanks!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • maray October 20, 2016 at 9:08 am

    Beautiful place! 🙂
    Kisses!!

    http://www.alasdeangel.net

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      Thanks Maray!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Mariann October 20, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Thanks for sharing! I’m going to Prague and Budapest in November so I will definitely keep your tips in mind 🙂

    http://WWW.MARIANNYC.COM

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Mariann.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Sharon Wu October 20, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Omg I wish this post existed this time last year LOL. I went on this month long road trip which caused me so much exhaustion! LOL! Will definitely have to keep it in mind for next time for sure! Loving your pics girl! xo, sharon

    http://www.stylelullaby.com/lifestyle/why-its-important-to-dream-big/

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:22 pm

      Thanks Sharon! Glad you enjoyed this post. 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Jalisa October 20, 2016 at 11:53 am

    These are beautiful, dreamy photos, girlie and I love the tips you’ve shared here. When my hubby and I vacation, he loves to do all…I mean ALL the excursions, haha. I, on the other hand, much rather relax, but I like to compromise so I tough it out. I’m not the best swimmer and of course he LOVES to swim, so he always chooses the excursions have to do with diving and water sports and I’m just there watching frantically hoping there’s no sharks in the water while he’s there, haha. He’s promised the next time, we’ll just relax and enjoy the island we’re at without any water sports and I’m definitely holding him to that, lol. Thanks for sharing, beauty, and I hope you’re having the best week so far!

    XO,

    Jalisa
    http://www.thestylecontour.com

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:23 pm

      That’s so funny. Tom loves to swim and I just love to be on the beach. It’s the main time I choose to relax and take it in. Make sure to have some down time on that next trip so you’re not burnt out when you return! 🙂 Thanks so much Jalisa!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Dominique October 20, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    Great tips doll! I use to be a pro at travelling and handling jet lag/exhaustion but the older it gets, the harder it is! Haha! Also, loving your luggage! xx

    http://www.thatnewdress.com

    • miki October 24, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Dominique, I feel the same. I used to walk around 8:30am to 10pm non stop. I wouldn’t even sit to eat. I would just keep going and want to see everything. I don’t know how i ever had that energy lol Thanks Dominique!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Jo October 20, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    Great tips! Jet lag is something I definitely always suffer from. A nice rest on the beach sounds like the perfect solution!

    xo, Jo
    http://www.cutandchic.com

  • Ines October 20, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    Great shot babe and super rad tips! I definitely suffer from the same thing and need to work on it. Esp when I get back home from my trip! Xx

    http://www.inesinla.com

  • Stephanie October 20, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    These are such fantastic tips. I haven’t traveled much at all, but I know when I do I’ll be coming back to this post for help!

    Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com

  • Christine Kong October 20, 2016 at 3:42 pm

    What an amazing trip and I love all these tips. I recently went on a three week trip with the family and used almost all these tips and it was such an enjoyable vacation. I love your black suit it is so chic! xoxo, Christine
    http://dailykongfidence.com/

  • Jenn Hanft October 20, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    Ah these are photos are so beautiful! I really want to hit a vacation soon. I can totally relate to biting a huge load of work. At some point I was a full time student taking on 5 classes (15 credits) and I worked 3 jobs spread out all 7 days. Sometimes work days were stacked back to back. It’s so important to learn to take a rest on vacation by relaxing on a beach and such! I’m so jealous of all your travels! I really want to travel to so many places, but I don’t have the right opportunity yet. But from when I did travel, I would push in a few places in one trip to explore the world. Thanks for sharing these tips!!

    XO Jenn
    http://www.jennsemble.com

  • Jo October 20, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Omg great tips!! I always feel tired after each vacation! We always try to squeeze as many things as possible to our daily agenda everyday so pretty much little rest every night!! Thanks for sharing all this, great post!!

  • Atsuna Matsui October 20, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    These are wonderful tips babe. People always talk about the excitement of trips, but in all honestly, they can often time be more exhausting than fun when not planned properly. I’ll definitely take these tips into consideration the next time I plan a trip.

    xoxo
    http://www.atsunamatsui.com

  • Katrina Fernandez October 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    This is interesting, thanks for sharing! By the way, love your swimsuit and you look so good on it. So sexy!

    xoxo, Katrina | Instagram: @katrinaisha
    https://katrinaisha.wordpress.com/2016/10/15/denim-jumpsuit/

  • Camila October 20, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    Miki, you look so gorgeous. I love the tips. I get sometimes tired when I go on trips to a point were I do not want to do anything and this is just the best tips ever!

    Camila,
    My Vogue Style | http://www.myvoguestyle.com

  • Maryam October 20, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    These pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing babe!

    xo, Maryam
    http://www.glamandposh.com

  • emily October 20, 2016 at 11:54 pm

    Some great tips! I have definitely learnt over time not to extend myself too far on a holiday! So I always schedule in days to do nothing but relax!
    x Emily
    http://shedoes.com.au

  • Elisa October 21, 2016 at 1:54 am

    I will go in Japan next february babe! thanks for the advices i m so excited!
    http://www.theladycracy.it

  • Josipa October 21, 2016 at 2:09 am

    Great tips! thanks!

    http://curlyjosephine.blogspot.ba/

  • Georgia October 21, 2016 at 2:19 am

    14 flights in 20 days! That sounds like the most tiring thing ever! Loving these tips though, I’ll definitely have to try them out next time I fly anywhere far! x

    |Georgia Megan|

  • claudia October 21, 2016 at 3:13 am

    Ohh girl, i’m so jealous!♥


    Claudia, xx
    http://www.thewhiteprint.blogspot.com

  • Thomas October 21, 2016 at 4:21 am

    I love reading these tips and agree I was just like you were when we (both) were younger. Now I’m somewhat like you and the best part of all is that I rarely suffer from jet lag as I basically fall asleep even before takeoff and then I sleep most of the trip, haha.
    Have a great weekend sweetie! 🙂
    xoxo
    Thomas

  • Mansi October 21, 2016 at 5:10 am

    Such lovely pictures dear. You look fab in the swimsuit and the ambiance of the pictures is mesmerizing. I am sure you must have had a wonderful time and thanks for sharing such good tips too…:)

    http://www.colossalcloset.in/diwali-celebration-light-darkness/

  • Susanne - Bag at you October 21, 2016 at 6:49 am

    You look stunning and I really hope you had an amazing vacation!! Thank you for your recommendations, very helpful as I’m flying back to Amsterdam in less than 2 months!! Xx Susanne – http://bagatyou.com

  • Samantha Mariko October 21, 2016 at 8:19 am

    Great travel tips! It’s so hard for me to prepare for jet lag since my schedule is so crazy, but getting rest during the trip is so important!

  • Aria Di Bari October 21, 2016 at 10:08 am

    This post is so interesting, thank you for sharing!

    http://ariadibari.com

  • Gina Diaz October 21, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    Wonderful pictures sweetie. Thank you for such a great post!

    much love, Gina

    http://www.artsyrunway.com

  • The Sunday Mode October 22, 2016 at 2:49 am

    This really resonated with me and I agree with a lot of what you said. I recently came back from an overseas trip and my intention was to enjoy and soak up every minute of it which I did, but then I came home absolutely exhausted and that’s something people don’t really understand! It often sounds off when you’re trying to explain how your holiday made you tired.

    http://www.thesundaymode.com

  • Diana October 22, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    I always need a vacation days from vacation haha. Great tips, babe

    http://www.queenhorsfall.com

  • Darlene October 23, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    Can I just say I’m major envy with all your travels! So lucky! Tho thank you for these tips because it does make sense to do this and don’t feel exhausted when travelling.
    http://www.thenewgirl.me/koh-tai-azul-fives-riviera-maya/

  • Vet Leow October 24, 2016 at 8:05 pm

    I love to travel and these are all great travel tips! I love the photos too…make me want to book the next flight out asap…

  • Francesca October 25, 2016 at 11:11 pm

    Dying to go to Japan! So jelly!
    francesca
    Frank Vinyl : A California Fashion Blog