Travel tips for HSPs and high empathy humans
I love travelling. And yet, I find the process of travel – the flights, the trains, the buses, and so on – an often overstimulating experience that leaves me anxious and snappy.
This is a common phenomenon for highly sensitive people and empaths, who tend to be more porous when it comes to the feelings of others, and to external (and internal) stimulation such as noise, busy spaces, smells, and so on.
To learn more about experiencing life with high sensitivity and even high empathy, read my blog on this here.
Regardless of whether you relate to any of these labels – whether you see yourself as an empath, HSP, anxious person or have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and even if you think you’re neurotypical – you can be adversely affected by travel.
How to know if you’re adversely impacted by travelling
1. Any little thing can trigger disproportionate levels of worry
2. You find bright lights, loud noises and certain smells overwhelming. This is sensory overload
3. You get bloated or suffer from digestive issues
4. You feel lightheaded
5. You get headaches after travelling
6. You struggle to focus
This is not an exhaustive list, by the way. There may be other symptoms – these are just some of the key ones to look out for.
In-the-moment solutions to overstimulation
Outside of travel, a simple solution is to remove yourself from the overstimulating circumstances and spend time alone in a quiet, private space.
But privacy isn’t exactly an option when you’re stuck in Economy class for 12 hours, surrounded by total strangers who may be snoring, watching movies with the sound on full blast, having loud conversations, or if babies are crying around you.
Here are some simple tips to help you ease the overwhelm until you reach your destination:
1. Turn off your TV. Turn on gentle music or listen to a meditation or audiobook instead.
2. Bring an eye mask with you and put ear plugs in so you can block out sound and light. Loop does great ear plugs. Find Loop’s earplugs here.
3. Create your own safe space.
It can be helpful to imagine a bubble of light around you; one that will stay in place until you get to your destination. What colour shows up? How big is it? Where are its edges? This, BTW, is your personal space, and you get to decide what comes in, and what doesn’t.
Need help?
If you’re struggling with overstimulation or you need more support to navigate travel and busy environments, I’m your girl.
I’m a trained life and somatic coach, and I’m also trained in emotional intelligence testing and coaching. And I’m a lifetime member of the HSP + Empath Club, so I know exactly what you’re going through. I’ve been researching it for years in a bid to understand my own experience.
Plus I’ve spent years building my own toolbox of meditations, mantras, rituals, mindset tools, journaling prompts and so much more, all of which help me navigate life as an HSP and empath.
It is my life’s greatest pleasure (alongside raising two beautiful humans) to share these tools with my clients so that they can build their own toolboxes. I’m here to lift you up, so that you can feel empowered as the driver of your life, knowing that you have everything you need to shape an extraordinary life, and to feel centered, calm and clear while you’re doing it.
How to get started
Fill out this form to book a free, 20-minute Clarity Call with me.
Or book a 90-minute Catalyst session and ignite your own transformation! Book your session here.
Happy travels, my love.