25 Tips to Ease Your Holiday Travel Anxiety

As if traveling isn't stressful enough, let's add in the extra chaos of the holidays. Did I bring this? Oh no, I forgot that. Did I lock the doors? What will I do when I get there? Will the flight be a smooth ride? Will I be able to escape my family at all? How cramped will the airport actually be? Stop asking yourself these questions and combat your holiday travel anxiety with these 25 tips.

Stop wondering what you have left to do before you leave or worrying you'll forget something you need. Make a list in advance of what you need to buy, what you need to pack and what final arrangements you need to make before your big trip. It's a simple task that'll put your mind at ease when you're scrambling around those last few days.

Take a minute and think about your everyday life. Do you take medication? Ensure you have enough to last through your trip. What day do you pay the water and electricity? Check your bills and pay vital ones that are due while you're gone. Need a pet sitter? Whether your furry friend is staying at a 'pet inn' or with friends, make arrangements in advance so you know it's taken care of.

Nothing could possibly be worse than getting where you're going and realizing you have nowhere to stay. If you're staying at a hotel, book early and keep your confirmation number handy in case anything happens. Don't just assume your family will let you stay with them when you show up unannounced-talk to them ahead of time so you'll know it's okay.

Home security systems are perfect for checking on your home while you're away, but they're often too expensive for the average homeowner. There's a cheaper solution out there that may sound silly, but it's a super easy task that will help you more than you know. Take pictures of the knobs on your stove, the lock on your door and the switch on your coffee maker. At some point, you'll start to wonder if you covered the basics to ensure you don't come home to a burned down or vandalized house. Pull out those pics at any time and put your mind at ease.

If you're traveling by car for the holidays, make sure it's ready for the long journey ahead. Get an inspection by someone you trust, ensure your tire tread is good-and that you have a spare in the trunk-and make sure the oil is changed. If you want to be extra careful, check to make sure your windshield wipers work well, your headlights aren't too dim and your battery is good to go with plenty of juice left inside.

Absolutely anything can happen when you travel. If you're road-tripping it for the holidays, especially somewhere cold, don't forget to prepare a winter survival kit. Pack a flashlight with extra batteries, water, snacks, hats, gloves, a first aid kit, blankets, jumper cables and a car charger for your phone, in case you need to call someone for help.

If you're flying, the sooner you book your flight, the sooner you'll know your travel itinerary. Booking early, not factoring in cancellations or delays, allows you to plan, hour-by-hour, where you'll be, what to expect, and when to expect it. Bonus, it's also cheaper!

The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for airports. Weekends are generally the busiest days, so take a flight during a weekday if you can. Also, try for an early flight. Airports are less crowded in the early hours, and making changes to your flight itinerary may also be easier.

During the holiday season, getting where you need to go, and on time, is more important than ever. Pick an airline with minimal delays, or opt for a longer layover and stop worrying about missing your connecting flight. Better yet, choose a direct flight and don't stress at all!

While you can mentally prepare yourself for smooth-sailing, there are some things that just cannot be planned. Put your mind at ease and purchase travel insurance-useful for delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage, and even unexpected weather-related issues. Bonus, it can also help cover any injuries you may succumb to during your trip.

If you're worried about not making your flight in time, the general rule of thumb is to arrive at the airport two hours prior to your departure. Try not to arrive much before that if possible-once you're through security, you're stuck wondering around the terminals with not much else to do, leaving your mind plenty of time to wander.

If you're traveling with small children, pack their own little carry-on, full of all their favorite goodies. Allow them to entertain themselves with their favorite movie on their tablet, a coloring book and crayons, snacks, or whatever else their little hearts desire-per TSA guidelines, of course. This will allow you to relax without having to worry about your little ones running amuck.

If you're stressing about taking your delicious holiday meal contribution through security, wondering if it's allowed, ease your worries and just check the TSA website. You'll get the 411 on personal hygiene product regulations, allowed snacks, allowed electronics and anything else you're not sure about.

Checking in online-generally 24-hours prior to your flight departing-ensures your flight is booked and ready to go while also saving you time at the airport. Want to avoid those long airport kiosk lines? Print your boarding passes when you check in, or just scan them directly from your phone. You can also add the number of bags you'll be checking and even pick your seat.

Whether you prefer the window seat, the middle seat or the aisle seat, pick your seat during online check-in. If you go to the bathroom a lot, pick an aisle seat. If looking out of the window helps reduce your stress, pick a window seat. If you feel safer surrounded with people on both sides of you, pick a middle seat. You'll be on that plane for awhile-make sure you're as comfortable as you can be.

In addition to the window, middle and aisle seats, it's also important to pick which area of the plane you'd feel more comfortable in. If the noise is what peaks your anxiety, sit in the front where noise levels are the lowest.

I'm pretty sure turbulence frightens even the most seasoned traveler, so you're definitely not alone. If rough air and a choppy flight are what you fear most, choose a seat over the wing. Here, you're closer to the plane's center of mass and less likely to feel the additional movement.

Spend some time before you travel and figure out what helps you relax. Focus on something calm, visualize what you'll do when you finally land, take deep breaths through your nose, or tense and relax each part of your body for 5-10 seconds.

While traveling alone can often be the refreshing break you long for, it also leaves you vulnerable to all the worries scrambling around in your head. Travel with friends or family and engage in conversation to pass the time and keep your mind stress-free.

Whether you're traveling by car or by plane, it's always important to keep your essentials at arm's length. If you have medication to curb your anxiety, keep it close and watch for triggers to stop a panic attack before it happens. Carry your needed toiletries and valuables in your carry-on bag so you don't have to worry about whether they'll arrive at your final destination or not.

Sitting there in silence, counting down the minutes until you arrive, can cause unpleasant thoughts to creep into your mind. Keep yourself busy: bring snacks, read a book, download an audiobook or listen to your favorite playlist. Lots of airplanes these days are equipped to offer in-flight entertainment including free movies, tv shows and even games to play.

Foods that are high in sugar, along with caffeine, are known to worsen anxiety. Try to indulge in healthy foods with complex carbohydrates and hydrate hydrate hydrate-with water, of course. You'll surprisingly feel less hungry and have more energy than you expected.

Congrats-you've finally arrived where you're going, and hopefully with ease. Now what? Take. A. Seat. You've spent the entire day in airports, on airplanes, and surrounded by the constant flow of people. Find a seat away from the hustle and bustle and just breathe for a few peaceful moments.

While you're standing at the baggage claim waiting for your luggage, pull up your phone's map app and figure out how to get where you need to go before you hit the road. If you're traveling overseas, you may not have an international phone plan. More than likely the airport has free WiFi, so use it to map out your directions before you leave.

Let's face it, no family gathering goes off without a hitch. Sometimes it's in the best interest of your sanity to escape for awhile. Before you even leave home, look for local attractions you can check out on your own. After a long day of being surrounded by people and noise, some peace and calm go a long way at reducing your anxiety.