The Art of Balancing Travel and Mental Wellness

Paid partnership with Pavaruni*

Travel isn't all fun and games. If you travel often for work, have a career on an airline or for a transportation service you know what I mean. The activity of traveling can become very daunting over time and the magic of taking a trip slowly fades away.

I love a good trip, but if I'm traveling for too long my mood changes and it is not a good time. Getting to see new places and a temporary release from an every day routine is nice. However, I also really crave a routine, slowing down and having intentional moments that feel calming for the soul. I like a bit of both worlds, what can I say.

That's why whenever I'm home I like to create a cozy space where I can unwind, relax and calm my nervous system. I recently found Pavaruni's 100% natural plant-based essential oils and I'm obsessed. Before I even unpacked the products I knew it was a good fit. They deliver the products in these high-quality, wooden packaging that feel perfect for gifting, but also very luxurious. I'm a huge anti-plastic advocate and this feels like they understood the assignment.

Now, my favorite time of the day has become the evenings because as soon as the sun starts going down I get cozy and do my night time routine (does that make me sound old?). Since nobody asked, my nightly routine is a series of gentle yoga, journaling, face care, reading and meditation. Having natural scents like chamomile fill the air and let my body know it's time to unwind is essential. These oils are very concentrated. Filling the air quickly, which I like. They're not watered down, but be mindful to dilute it with a carrier oil before using any on your skin.

To me this is the art of balancing travel (or a busy schedule) and mental health. Finding pockets in the day to pour into yourself that are all yours to keep. No matter your pleasure, taking time for yourself is important.

Tip: having a different scent depending on the time of day or room in the house is also a good way to program your body to be productive or unwind.

The great thing about essential oils is that they're great for travel too as they're small and easy to carry around. You don't have to compromise a routine entirely while you're on an adventure. Mindfully sticking to a goal or routine while not in your personal environment is hard, but not impossible. Let me show you.

Tips for unwinding while traveling

• Utilize Natural Scents Throughout The Trip Essential oils, like the many natural plant oils by Pavaruni, are a great way to calm the nervous system and relax you. Try scents like chamomile, eucalyptus, jasmine or lavender that interact with the nervous system to signal safety and give a sense of calm throughout your body.

• Designate One Day or a Few Hours to Slowing Down If you're taking a long trip, consider having one day to do nothing. Well not nothing, but relaxing on a beach, enjoying your hotel, doing a wellness class etc. that doesn't require a lot of your energy. If it's a short trip, slow moments throughout the day are best like going to a cafe, carving out time to sit and eat at a restaurant, but be completely present.

• Journaling to Unpack The Day Physically writing the events of the day down, with pen and paper, will get it out of your head and stop you from overthinking or stressing. It gives you a release.

• Doing Meditative Breathwork There are plenty guided options online, but try breathing in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 6. Do this six times to slow your heart rate and calm the body down.

Now more than ever I think it's important to prioritize mental wellness. I don't need to tell you that there are way too many unsettling things going on in the world. So with that and as someone who travels a lot and has a busy schedule being intentional about my personal time is very important to me. That's why I'm glad to have found a high-quality product that can help to keep me grounded.

*I must note that while this is a paid partnership with Pavaruni, I will only ever talk about products honestly or that I genuinely love and use personally.