Sometimes, traveling can be difficult. Whether you’re on vacation or traveling for business, it’s no secret that being away from home can be stressful.
You might be staying in the best hotel in the world or, perhaps more likely, somewhere that fits a regular budget. However, even with all the modern amenities that hotels and motels provide, it can be difficult to relax because there’s no place like home.
To help combat the stresses that come with traveling or staying away from home for long periods, why not do something a little different the next time you travel? Try any one of these 9 Easy Hacks to Your Hotel Room into a rejuvenating space while you are traveling, and start to feel less like you’re homesick and more like you’re staying in a home away from home.
1. Easy Hacks to Your Hotel Room: Keep Your Creature Comforts Close
Several things can hinder your ability to relax and get a good night’s sleep when you travel, like unfamiliar surroundings, scratchy sheets, and pillows that are too hard or too soft. We grow accustomed quickly to all the comforts of home, so it becomes difficult to relax and unwind when our environment changes.
Before you leave on your travels, consider what you find the most comforting when relaxing at home. Taking your favorite armchair on your travels is out of the question. Still, something simple like packing your pillows or bedsheets can work wonders, helping you acclimate to your new surroundings much more quickly.
2. Personalize Your Space
It’s been proven that people feel more relaxed and cheerful when surrounded by items of sentimental value. So, why not take advantage of this fantastic piece of science?
Consider packing sentimental items, such as family photos or keepsakes, and position them in your hotel room on the nightstand or dressing table where you can see them easily. You’ll feel much more able to relax and restore your energy if you surround yourself with familiar objects close to your heart.
3. Easy Hacks to Your Hotel Room: Let Music Lift Your Mood
Portable speakers for your phone, iPod, or mp3 player are inexpensive nowadays, so getting your hands on a pair for traveling is a terrific idea. Music plays a massive part in creating ambiance and relaxation in any setting, but it has also been proven to affect our mood positively.
So, before you leave on your travels, why not create a playlist of your favorite music? This could be a soothing playlist to help you relax and unwind or a mixture of your favorite songs to help you feel upbeat.
4. Easy Hacks to Your Hotel Room: Little Decorations Go a Long Way
Sometimes, it’s those little touches that can make all the difference. If you’re staying away or traveling for an extended period, take a little piece of your home with you. If you have a favorite ornament on your dresser, take it. Enjoy snuggling up under that brightly colored blanket at home? Pack that as well.
The key to creating a rejuvenating space within your hotel room while you’re traveling is to try and make the familiar, comforting surroundings of home in any way you can. So, if you have room in your case to pack a few decorative items, then go right ahead.
5. Prepare for a Better Night’s Sleep
Unfamiliar noises are one of the main factors that can interfere with sleep and relaxation when traveling. To combat this, pack a pair of earplugs ― or two, to be safe ― to wear while you sleep.
Thin curtains or city lights outside your window might interfere with your sleep. If you’re used to sleeping in the dark, it’s worth investing in something to shut out the light to ensure you get quality shut-eye. It’s also a good idea to take an eye mask or eye shades if you can sleep comfortably in them.
6. Don’t Forget Your Other Senses
The art of turning your hotel room into a rejuvenating space while you travel doesn’t stop with the things you can see and touch. What about your sense of smell?
To many, a scent isn’t just a fragrance ― it’s a memory. Certain scents can remind us of different times in our life, different people, or different locations. So ask yourself: what smells like home? If you have a particular essential oil, scented candle, or even perfume or aftershave that you use regularly, take that along with you. You’ll be instantly relaxed when you smell the comforting scents of home.
It has been proven that certain smells can also positively affect our moods, so if you want to feel uplifted and rejuvenated. The scent of lavender has a relaxing effect, while citrus scents are purported to elevate your mood. At the same time you travel, consider taking a couple of essential oils with you and sprinkling a couple of drops on your pillow.
7. Set the Mood With Portable Lighting
Another great way to transform your hotel room into a luxury space is by using mood lighting. While candles or any naked flame will be a fire hazard, you could opt for something more hotel-friendly in the form of battery-operated flameless candles.
Flameless candles are often inexpensive and small enough to pack in your suitcase without taking up precious extra room. They can transform a space instantly from unfamiliar and uninviting to relaxed and welcoming.
8. Snuggle Up and Get Cozy
Depending on the destination or the time of year, coziness might not be high on your schedule. But if you’re the sort of person that feels the cold, especially at nighttime, consider packing a couple of extra bits and pieces to keep snug and cozy.
We’ve already suggested bringing a blanket from home, but you could opt for something less bulky like your favorite bed socks or even a small hot water bottle to fill up at night.
9. Remember to Treat Yourself
Traveling can be stressful, dull, and a pain in the backside. However, it doesn’t have to feel this way. Consider packing an extra bag filled with goodies to help brighten up your experience and make you feel like traveling is more of a treat than a time-suck.
Treat your travels as an opportunity for peace, quiet, and relaxation on your terms. Pack your favorite snacks and drinks, a bottle of bubble bath, some essential oils, your favorite book ― anything to brighten the mood and make you feel more comfortable and open to the experience. Do this to change your mindset about staying away from home.
Rick Kaselj, MS
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