“That desire to get away is stronger than we have seen in a very long time,” Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA, told The Associated Press. “People are willing to adjust their budgets in other areas of their life, but they want to keep traveling.”
Since the height of the pandemic, people have been eager to spend the holidays with far-away family and friends or even take solo travel during their time off. However, for many, long delays, lost luggage, unruly passengers, and the fear of contracting COVID-19 or the flu in transit make holiday travel far from glamorous. “One of these scenarios alone is enough to raise anxiety. The combination of them all could lead to debilitating levels of anxiety and panic,” Julia Baird, a psychologist and the director of clinical at Lightfully Behavioral Health, tells Fortune.
We know all too well that flight schedules and weather patterns pay no attention to the white elephant exchange promptly beginning at 6 p.m. at your childhood home. “From the ride to the airport to the hustle and bustle of security and boarding, travel can be stressful,” Dr. Jason Wersland, a chiropractor and founder of Therabody, tells Fortune.
Luckily, there are ways to minimize travel anxiety over the holiday season, prepare for the controllable, and stay mindful on the go.”
HOW TO AVOID HOLIDAY TRAVEL STRESS THIS SEASON
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By Mix 98.1Dec 18, 2023Dec 18, 2023 05:14 PM
