Traveling is one of the most exciting things we can do in our lives. But it also can be overwhelming and easy to get swept up in. Leading to us not being fully present and enjoying the experiences around us. As well as the risk of forgetting so much of what we are seeing and experiencing! So how can we combat that? Travel journals!!
Today we are going to chat all about why travel journals are so helpful and why you really should be using one. And then I share my favorite ones that you can grab before heading out on your next adventure.
So my friends, let’s get into it and start chatting about travel journals-
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Travel Journals: Why They are Great and The Best Ones!
Why travel journals are so wonderful:
It helps you remember the little details:
Traveling can quickly feel like a blur.
You are experiencing so many new things. Taking in all the sites, the tastes, heck the smells! It can be overwhelming and after multiple days in a row of new memory forming you will inevitably start to forget elements of your travel. And that is where a travel journal is so helpful.
Whether you are taking it out for little breaks during your trip days, taking it out when something you definitely want to remember happens- or the most realistic tbh, recapping your day at the end of the night before getting some much deserved sleep. No matter- you are making an effort to remember everything you are experiencing and that is worth the time because those little bits and notes you take are what you’ll be so thankful to look back on after the trip is finished.
Helps you be present:
When so many things are happening at once and lets be real… travel can be stressful. It can be easy to disassociate and not truly be present in the moment. And that is another way that travel journaling can help you.
Pulling your travel journal out of your bag and jotting down little bits of what is happening forces you to get out of your mind and be present in the reality that is happening around you.
Personally I find this to be my favorite element of travel journaling as someone who often focuses too heavily on logistics and gets caught up in the next step of travel rather than being present in what is happening at the moment. Even if what is happening at the moment isn’t the most exciting part of the day it’s still a part of your trip and worth remembering!
Can help calm travel anxiety:
Travel anxiety is real and nothing to be ashamed of.
Most of us (even the ones who travel a lot) suffer from anxiety related to travel- especially the actual days of travel. They can be stressful, actually let’s be real, they usually are stressful.
So taking time to take a breath and jot down some positives and funny moments in your travel journal can help your brain relax and settle from the travel anxiety.
Writing down emotions also helps us process them so they don’t build up and have a negative impact on our trips- especially if they are not emotions that we can actually do anything about.
Is the ultimate souvenir:
Ornaments and shot glasses are fun and all but a travel journal filled with memories and little stories from your trip really is the ultimate souvenir. It’s not just something that gets hung up during the holidays- it’s something you can cherish and look back at.
Something real and tangible that you can share with future kids or just yourself in the future when you want to look down vacation memory lane. PLUS a travel journal is way less expensive than most of the overpriced souvenirs you will see at shops.
Helps you plan trips in the future:
Taking note of what works, what doesn’t, what you enjoyed etc. is so helpful for planning your next trips.
A year later will you remember everything that went right and wrong? Probably not and that’s where you can pull out your travel journal and see how you really felt about things in the moment. For example- me and ferries are NOT friends. But without me ranting about it in my travel journal I probably (okay definitely) wouldn’t remember just how bad the nausea and experience were. So I know without a doubt that for future trips we will be avoiding ferries whenever possible and brining sea sickness medicine with if we have to use one.
Knowing what works and doesn’t for you personally can be life changing for ensuring that every trip is better than the last!!
My favorite travel journals:
Now that we have covered all about why you should use a travel journal for your next trip of course we need to go over my favorite options for travel journals. Let’s get into them-
Option 1: Travel journal and photo album from Duncan and Stone
Shop the travel journal above here!
Option 2: Color your travels! Travel journal by Transient Books
Shop the travel journal above here!
Option 3: 3 in 1 travel journal: journal, travel planner and bucket list!
Shop the travel journal above here!
Option 4: Luxury style travel journal by Trip Map
Shop the travel journal above here!
Option 5: Personalized travel journal by Blue Jane Gifts
Shop the travel journal above here!
Option 6: Travel journal and planner by Lamare
Shop the travel journal above here!
And that is all for now! I hope this inspired you to consider grabbing a travel journal for your next trip. And encourage you to be present and make the most of your adventures and remembering and embracing all that travel has to offer 🙂
Korra-Shay
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