I took 36 flights in 4 months, and it was exhausting. These were my 2 biggest mistakes.
- Anu Verma went on a 16-month solo trip before traveling to 36 countries within four months.
- Verma said the experience helped her heal from past trauma, but it also caused burnout.
- She said spending only a few days in each country and lack of forward planning were mistakes.
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Anu Verma, a trauma recovery coach, podcast host, and author of the book “Victim 2 Victor.”
It has been edited for length and clarity.
I always looked at travel as a way to heal.
I had been a victim of childhood abuse and sexual abuse while growing up in Coventry, England. Later in life, I experienced domestic abuse. So, it felt like there was always something I was trying to overcome.
When I went to university, I met one of my best friends, who inspired me to travel. She was eight years older than me and had already gone on a solo trip and had some crazy stories about her time visiting Australia.
I was mesmerized. After completing my final exams, I booked a six-month solo trip to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and India, which I ended up extending to 16 months because I loved it so much.
I found this joy that I’d never really had before. I was on a high in life, and it was blissful.
I can remember crying when I had to come home. I’d already postponed starting my master’s degree for a year, so it was time to complete it.
After getting my master’s in sports science, I booked more solo trips to India, Nepal, Burma, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.
I took 36 flights in four months. Here are some of the biggest travel mistakes I made.
Spending short bursts in multiple countries led to burnout
I was literally spending two days in each of the countries I visited, booking plane after plane ticket to make sure I experienced everything.
I thought it was going to be my last long trip before I settled down and had kids, and I wanted to make the most of it.
But I remember telling everyone when I got home that I was so burned out. I just wanted to be stable and grounded and never get on a flight again.
I would not do that now. I would go somewhere and stay there and then really embrace it.
I failed to plan ahead
I was never forward planning.
I remember going to India and not even knowing where I was going to go next. So it was all very last minute, which is not the kind of way that a lot of people would travel anyway.
During another part of the trip, I was visiting Lombok in Indonesia and trying to get to Komodo. I just showed up at the airport and asked when the next plane was, but it wasn’t until 4 a.m. the next morning.
I had my sleeping bag, so I just camped out in the airport and slept on the floor, waiting for the flight.
It was a very hippie-ish and free-spirited way of traveling.
But if I were to do it again, I would have to plan ahead because I am in a more stable mindset.
Do your research when it comes to airlines
It was very difficult to understand which airlines to take in Asia. Since I was doing a long-term trip, I’d always try to find the cheapest flights.
But the cheapest wasn’t always the best because there were sometimes stop-offs. So, I’d always search for direct flights and those that departed at a decent time. I’d always look at reviews..
I’ve always been one to try out local flights, trains, coaches, and everything else because it gives you a good feel for the culture. But you should definitely do your due diligence.
This article was originally published by Mikhaila Friel at All Content from Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com/tourist-solo-travel-36-flights-mistakes-caused-burnout-2024-9).
General Content Disclaimer
The content on this website, including articles generated by artificial intelligence or syndicated from third-party sources, is provided for informational purposes only. We do not own the rights to all images and have not independently verified the accuracy of all information presented. Opinions expressed are those of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. Reader discretion is advised, as some content may contain sensitive, controversial, or unverified information. We are not responsible for user-generated content, technical issues, or the accuracy of external links. Some content may be sponsored or contain affiliate links, which will be identified accordingly. By using this website, you agree to our privacy policy. For concerns, including copyright infringement (DMCA) notices, contact us at info@texasnews.app.
Add Comment