Spirituality I Travel

Spiritual Practice While Traveling: How to Stay Mindful on the Go

Simple Mindfulness Tips for the Airport and Your Destination: It’s Easier Than You Think

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

When we travel, our routines are turned upside down, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do spiritual practice. It’s just going to look different than what you would do at home.

Traveling is hectic at times and slow at others. We have to push ourselves physically. Add to this the disruption of our normal sleep and eating habits, which is stressful on the body.

While you are traveling

There’s no way around it; the street-side experience in an airport is a big push. Time considerations, determining where to go in strange airports, can be taxing. TSA/security with their long lines and the hurried process doesn’t help.

But then, you are airside, and this is a moment to breathe and regroup.

Check the departure board: Even though your app says where your gate is, just take a moment to orient yourself with the space you are in, and take a moment to pause.

Notice the shops: If you have the time, explore shops. You don’t need to buy anything; just look. Taking your mind off the flight and travel in general can help you develop a calm approach, which can help your body readjust.

Get something to eat: Most domestic flights (in economy) aren’t going to have much food, so eating ahead of time can help. Airport food is expensive, but some of it is very good.

International flights usually give you a meal early in the flight, but grab some snacks if you are flying a long-haul flight; they will come in handy mid-flight.

Walk slowly to your gate: Notice as you pass by other gates where flights are going. I like to look at the people and see if they match the destination. Passengers flying to LAX are often wearing warm-weather clothes, for example.

Once you get to your gate, or near it, find a quiet corner: I love to sit near the windows at airports and watch the planes. Just resting your mind and body and letting yourself be in the moment.

While these things may not seem like spiritual practice, they embody some of its most important components: peace, calm, mindfulness, and presence. Bringing you to a state of balance, and that’s what you’re aiming for.

While you are at your destination

Eat at a cafe: Weather permitting, outside, to soak up the local ambiance. Feel yourself attuning to the vibe of the place you are in, if that feels right. Relax into it.

If your room or vacation home has a kitchen/kitchenette, enjoy your breakfast sitting by a window or on the balcony if you have one. It’s a leisurely way to get your day started; you're on vacation after all.

Be realistic about what you can do in your time: You don’t need to see everything; spread out your itinerary. When you are at a location, try to be present and notice the details. By all means, take some pictures, but then appreciate what you are viewing.

Maybe it's a UNESCO heritage site. Imagine all of the people who stood in this very spot where you are now and what their experience might have been like.

Take a break from the tourist sights: Take a walk on the beach or in a park. Notice the wildlife in your destination. How do the birds sound? Are they different than what you are used to? What about the plants, flowers, seashells, and weather? This brings you into the present moment and allows for mindfulness.

Practice self-care: Sleep is vital, especially if you traveled far and are in a different time zone.

Drink water (make sure it's safe to do so, if not, drink bottled water) to help your body rehydrate after flying.

Incorporate rest periods in your itinerary: Depending on how long your trip is, this might look like staying in to sleep one or two days or getting back early in the evening and watching a movie at your accommodations.

If you are staying for a week or more, plan to have a rest day every few days. I like to use rest days to do laundry, go grocery shopping, and research places to go next. Ask your guides to inspire you!

If you are solo traveling, kick back and enjoy the peace; soak it in. Rest in the awareness that no one needs anything from you, and you are free to do whatever you want in this moment.

These techniques are not something you have to labor over; they are natural to the process of traveling. It’s more about slowing down and enjoying the moment and staying mindful. Which is what travel is all about!

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