10 Tips on How to Mentally Prepare for Solo Travel

Have you thought about traveling solo but not sure you could handle it? I’ve been traveling alone for years now and I constantly hear people say “oh I could never do what you do” but I believe everyone should try solo travel at least once. If it’s not for you that’s fair enough but you’ll never know until you try it.

Humans are social creatures by nature so it’s no surprise that people get anxious about the idea of traveling alone. When people envision solo travel they picture a trip completely isolated but that really is not the case. You make so many friends along the way, especially when you stay in hostels. But there will be a portion of the trip when you will be alone and that’s a tough idea for some people.

Firstly, don’t feel bad! There is no shame in preparing for solo travel in baby steps. Test the water with these tips and see how you get on. You may just discover you do have that inner strength to overcome your fears!

10 Tips to Mentally Prepare For Solo Travel

Go For A Nice Walk

Yes it may sound really simple, but it’s a good way to start to feel comfortable on your own and learn to focus on the beauty around you. Once you get used to that, you can easily start picturing yourself wandering somewhere more exotic. Maybe while you’re taking that walk, imagine walking down the streets of Paris searching for delicious pastries or shopping in Milan or perhaps even hiking to Everest Base Camp.

Try Out A New Class

Ever tried yoga, belly dancing, or even fire breathing? Have a look around your area, find a class you like the sound of and go to it. Don’t worry about finding a friend to come with you, feel comfortable knowing that there will be others there who also came alone. When you go to these sorts of classes most people are really friendly and will never let a new girl (or guy) stand on their own the whole time. You never know, you could make some new friends for life!

Read Also: Sushi and Cocktail Cooking Class in London

Go For A Short Trip To Another Town

So you’re not ready to jump on a plane and take a gap year travelling the world just yet. Why not take a short day trip (or even a long weekend) to another town in your home country? At least this way you can get used to traveling alone in a country you are familiar with, that has currency you understand and a language you can speak. I love exploring England as much as I love exploring the rest of the world.

Learn To Eat By Yourself

Some people believe you should never eat in public by yourself. I’m sorry but these people are just plain wrong, and probably a bit insecure! I’ve been living in London for almost 10 years now and there are so many places I want to try that if I want to go and none of my friends are available I won’t let that stop me. If you’re really worried about it you can take a book or some other distraction. Learn to ignore that voice in your head telling you what you’re doing is wrong and feel empowered knowing that you’re actually doing what most people are afraid to do!

Learn To Drink By Yourself

Now this doesn’t necessarily mean just go to a pub, sit in a bar and strike up a conversation with anyone willing to listen, although this can be quite fun. There are websites around (such as City Socialising and Meetup) where members can create events and anyone interested are welcome to come along. I’ve used both of these sites while I’ve been in London and they have always been safe and welcoming. Why not give it a go yourself?

Practice Sleeping With Others

Why not invite a few friends around and have a giant sleepover in your lounge. It might give you some idea of what it’s like to have several other people sleeping with you in one room. If you can’t deal with the idea of possible snoring or frequent bathroom users then maybe you shouldn’t stay in hostel dorms. Although try and give it a go once as it makes meeting people a lot easier.

Learn Some First Aid

It might make you feel that bit safer knowing that if you do have a little mishap while you’re travelling, that you can take care of the basics yourself. It’s also a good skill in life to have and you never know, you may be able to help out another traveller. It could be another good way of making friends while you’re traveling.

Take A Self Defence Class

Unfortunately, we do live in a world where people expect bad things to happen every time you’re alone in a strange city. Because of this you can’t help but get paranoid about it from time to time. I’ve lived in London for 10 years now and I walk alone a lot, but every now and then I do get that feeling of “oh God what if something bad happens…” So a self defence class will help you feel that little bit safer knowing that if trouble arises you can fight your way out of it. Although most travellers never actually need this skill, it really is just something to make you mentally feel better!

Research Where You’re Going

Knowing about the area and the culture of where you are going is one thing that can make you mentally ready for your trip. You’ll know what to expect so won’t be as nervous. Once you relax you can open up and enjoy your trip.

Don’t Read “Countries Not Safe For Solo Travel” Articles

These articles are just poison as far as I’m concerned. Thankfully I never read one until after I had travelled alone so I can ignore things they say but if I had read one of these articles before my first solo trip it may have put me off and I hate that. The last one I read had both London and Paris on the list. I live in London and travel alone all the time and Paris was my first ever solo trip so I completely disagree they are unsafe. This is why I don’t trust these articles.

I hope these tips help you build the confidence to give solo travel a try. I can’t believe how happy I am that I get to travel where I want, when I want. I’ve met some fantastic people along the way. Most just become friends for the trip, but some can become friends for life.

More Travel Tips

Looking for more travel tips? These may interest you…

• Clever Ways to Hide Money While Traveling
• Tips to Save Money For Travel

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