You might read this title and think, “Wow, how entitled is she? How can you feel burnt out while living a life so many only dream about?” And I completely agree. I’m not working a hectic job right now, or paying bills, or looking after children. I’m lucky enough to have saved money to be able to travel and feel very blessed, but the truth is, you really can feel burnt out anywhere in the world.
Sleeping on airport floors to save a bit of money, living in a hammock for weeks, cramming onto chicken buses with no food stops and too much noise to rest, or sharing a dorm with a dedicated snorer—those things add up. And sometimes it isn’t even the sleep. Maybe your diet has changed, and you’re not really nourishing your body or mind, living instead on bread, meat, and happy-hour cocktails. It happens sometimes without even realising it, it’s so hard to stick to a routine while you’re travelling. All of these things affect your body and mind.
After five full years of travelling, you might think I’ve mastered the art of avoiding burnout—but I haven’t yet. I usually only realise I feel awful once it’s already hit me, instead of adapting to wherever I am and making sure I feel good simply because I’m in a beautiful place. Particularly when I was younger, these things didn’t bother me as much. But now, on my fourth backpacking trip, I’m starting to recognise what I actually need to feel good to enjoy my trip to the fullest.
Right now, I’m in Lima, Peru. We arrived with the intention of saving money by volunteering. But the place we ended up in was somewhere most travellers would never go, and the vibe was just… off. We felt uncomfortable, and I realised that on my first trip years ago, this probably wouldn’t have bothered me, but as my frontal lobe developed and I gained a wider perspective of the world, I knew it wasn’t right to stay somewhere I didn’t feel comfortable. We stayed for 12 hours before quietly disappearing in an Uber into the city. We booked a fancy Airbnb with a washing machine and a kitchen, the necessities to feel like you are living a normal life and felt absolutely no shame. We decided to spend the week relaxing and doing absolutely nothing. We got into a routine of healthy meals, going to the gym and catching up on life admin. On big trips, this is so worth it: a reset and a rest.
Here are some of the things that help me stay grounded—or find my way back when I’ve drifted off track:
• Eat something fresh. My body feels the food I eat very sensitively, so eating a salad can make a huge difference for me. When I’m feeling low, I might crave pizza, but I try to give my body something nourishing first because I feel food so intensely.
• Prioritise sleep. If it means going £5 over budget for a private room now and again, I don’t hesitate. Rest is worth it.
• Move your body. A yoga or Pilates class, or visit a local gym, or just a run on the beach if you can!
• Write it out. I journal about how I feel rather than the sights I’ve seen sometimes and feel much better.
• Stay connected to home. I’m terrible at keeping up with friends while travelling, but a call with my mum or a close friend always shifts my perspective.
• Do something that feels like “you.” Whether it’s hiking, cycling, painting, anything—make time for it. Recently, I bought a small block of clay and started creating while watching TV with a cup of tea because it felt comforting and familiar. I love candles too, so I’ll sometimes buy a tiny one for my bedside table (with precaution and preferably not in a hostel bunk bed).
• Take a break. Skip the two-day tour. Don’t force yourself to explore the whole city. Give yourself permission to rest and not socialise if you don’t want to. I met a girl in Paracas recently who told me she didn’t visit any of the sights and I admired that, not doing something just because it’s what backpackers are supposed to do.
Do what you want to do. And enjoy the trip in your own way!
Bevs Backpacking📍 