I learned that traveling is a skill on a 60-hour train journey to and from Miami — here's how I honed it
- On a recent business trip to Miami, I felt anxious about seeing and doing everything on my schedule.
- But I soon realized that traveling is a skill you can get better at with practice.
I've always had a laid-back, go-with-the-flow approach to travel.
In the past, I often forgot to pack essentials, rarely made plans in advance, and enjoyed the simplicity of having nowhere to be.
But my first business trip as a journalist to Miami, Florida, was different — I had places to see, things to do, and only a week to do it all.
My work trip began with a 30-hour train ride to Miami, and my job was to tour several Miami hotspots, try new experiences, take lots of photos, and observe and report. I then returned home on another 30-hour train ride.
When I was two hours into my journey to Miami, feeling anxious, nauseous, and overwhelmed with the number of new experiences I was about to have, I wrote to myself:
From that point forward, I spent my trip honing the skill of traveling. That meant planning, adapting, and learning from my mistakes.
Make plans and back up plans
Once I was in Miami, I spent an hour planning out the next day each night.
I prepared my clothes and gear, mapped out where I needed to go, and wrote out potential itineraries leaving room for error.
This preparation relieved my anxieties around transportation and timing and helped me feel ready to conquer the next day.
But no matter how many backup itineraries I had, there were always things that didn't work out exactly as planned. I viewed these situations as opportunities to practice adapting.
Stay present in the moment
I made a few mistakes on my trip that could have derailed my plans, like missing a bus and getting lost in Miami's public transit system.
I worried that these mistakes would waste precious time, and I had to think quickly in the moment to get to my next destination on time.
I knew I needed to stay calm and, to do this effectively, I realized that I had to practice some mindfulness and remain present in the moment.
I stopped what I was doing, observed what was happening, and reminded myself that everything was alright and I could figure things out.
It's not easy to stay mindful in stressful situations, but the more you practice it, the less difficult it feels.
Recentering myself after a mishap also made me feel like a more confident traveler, and I started to develop a sense of ease throughout my trip.
Document mistakes to avoid them next time
Each time I made a mistake that made my trip more difficult, I made note of it so I could be more prepared during my next excursion or trip.
During one day of my trip, I had to walk all over Miami to take photos, but I also had to check out of an Airbnb that morning and into a different one later than night.
I didn't realize ahead of time that lugging all my belongings from location to location while taking photos and notes would be a real pain.
So I made a note of it: Next time, I'll either reserve space for my luggage in a storage facility, pack lighter, or plan excursions on a day when I'm not switching accommodations.
On my return train ride home, I also realized that I had forgotten to pack my flip-flops, which I like to use when I shower in public places. So I decided to skip taking a shower. It wasn't a huge deal, but the extra comfort of showering on a 30-hour train journey would have been nice. I made a note to pack flip-flops on my next trip.
The way I see it, if I keep practicing planning, adapting, and writing down my mistakes, I'll become an expert traveler who can get lost somewhere she's never been before without losing her sense of self.