How Becoming a Frequent Traveler Changed My Travel Habits

Going from traveling a few times a year to a few times a month, I’ve had to make significant changes in how I travel. Some things that worked before just no longer cut it. I’m constantly on a mission to make travel as easy and enjoyable as possible, and that means changing things up when necessary. This list is broken down into what was part of my routine before, and what I do now to explain how becoming a frequent traveler changed my travel habits.

Before: Use the mini hotel bottles of shampoo/conditioner or buy travel sizes at the drug store.

Now: Bring only my regular shampoo/conditioner.

Like many women who dye their hair, I use a special shampoo at home to make the color last and keep my hair from drying out. When packing for a trip, I used to pick up whatever little bottles I could find at Target to toss in my toiletry bag. Or even just use what the hotel supplied. After once using random bottles for 2 weeks straight, I found my hair was looking dull and breaking off at the ends. I had damaged my hair by just using any old thing. After that, I vowed never to leave home without my usual shampoo. The bottles are big, so I just pour a little bit into tiny travel bottles.

Before: Bring new skincare samples to try.

Now: Bring my full skincare routine.

I have been a member of BirchBox for years and always find myself with an abundance of beauty samples. I would have fun throwing a bunch of different samples in my makeup bag to use on vacation. Skin care, hair care, make-up… you name it. It made sense at the time because I could use these little bits of things, then toss them in the trash to lighten my load on the way home. Now if I do that, my skin goes haywire. I can hear it screaming at me “Stop putting all these new things on me at once, I can’t take it!” I would be full of mystery rashes and irritated skin. Not a good look.

Instead, I bring my entire skin care routine and use it as I would any other day. No surprises for my skin and I’m getting the benefits I actually want by using my usual products. The only way to see results is repetition, which means you have to be using the same products over and over. Stopping my regular routine every time I left home was not doing me any favors. I do the same thing with skin care as I do with hair care, empty product into small containers so I can still pack light.

Before: Carry a stylish, but completely impractical carry on.

Now: Bringing back the backpack.

My closet is full of cute travel bags in different sizes and colors. Most of them would fall into the “weekender” or “tote” category, and although they are stylish they really aren’t efficient for traveling. Bags with one giant inner compartment do not make great carry-ons. I know this, but I still used them because they matched my outfit.

Now I have 3 carry-ons that I alternate depending on the trip. A hard side roller, a backpack, and a basic bag with lots of organized sections. They are still nice looking bags, just 100 times easier to carry and keep organized.

Before: Bring all the outfits!

Now: Embrace minimalism.

Planning outfits ahead of time used to consist of throwing everything I thought I might possibly want to wear into a suitcase. That strategy never worked well. It took forever to find an outfit, there were clothes everywhere and my suitcase was jam-packed.

These days I am carefully thinking through what I need, and how I can mix and match outfits with just a few pieces. I have built a nice little travel capsule wardrobe, making it easier to grab the basics and go from there.

Before: Eat whatever I want 24/7.

Now: Eat whatever I want….in moderation.

It’s safe to say that just about everyone indulges on vacation. That’s part of the fun! Traveling on an annual summer trip I wouldn’t have thought twice about eating a giant, sugary muffin at the airport Starbucks. It was a vacation! These days, more travel = fewer muffins.

I love food and food culture, in fact, it may be my favorite thing about visiting a new place. Although I will never give up eating at unique places, I do have to make sure what I’m actually eating is worth it. Otherwise, I would be gaining weight like crazy! It’s just about finding a balance. I will happily skip that blueberry muffin (that I can have at home anyway) to eat some local ice cream or pastries.

Before: Pile on the Jewlrey

Now: Dim the Bling

I want to look nice when I travel, and jewelry is always part of my look. The problem is, wearing lots of flashy jewelry can make you an easy target for theft. Some countries are safer than others, but as a general rule, it’s best to leave the good stuff at home and travel with the costume jewelry. I typically pack a few fun and trendy pieces or simple studs. Although they still look good, I don’t think a thief would pay particular attention to me.

Before: Throw whatever book I’m reading into my bag.

Now: E-books.

At home, I always read physical books and I didn’t see any reason not to bring them with me on a trip. Yes, e-readers are cool, but they are just not the same. My husband even bought me a Nook one year for Christmas and I returned it. I liked my real books with real pages.

But after carrying a 1000 page hardcover novel from the US to Paris and back in my carry-on, I finally learned my lesson. My poor shoulder hurt for days after lugging that extra weight around, and I had no intention of doing it again. I started downloading books on my Ipad and never looked back. A few books at a time works best so I always have something to read. At home, I still read actual books. 🙂

Implementing these changes as a frequent traveler has definitely helped me smooth out the kinks in my travel routines. Honestly, I wish I started them sooner. If you find yourself traveling more often than usual, or just want to streamline your regular life vs. travel routines, try making some of the changes I did. The changes may seem small, but they have had a huge impact on my ease of travel. The easier travel is, the better, am I right?