In some ways, I feel I’ve been training for life as a Life-Experienced Adult my whole life. In my late teens, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. Now in the latter half of my 60’s, I’ve had four decades of managing my body and the disease. For those unfamiliar with the disease, Lupus triggers your antibodies to attack the body itself. Fatigue, joint pain, organ failure, and neurological malfunction are just some of the symptoms. I was lucky — my disease only affected my joints and brain.
The same fatigue, joint pain, and need for body awareness is common with nearly everyone as we age. I just happen to have more practice at it than most. Following are some things I’ve learned that will help you continue to enjoy the magical experience of travel.
1. REST
Not surprisingly, this first rule is to put rest above all else. Be fiercely protective of your rest. I currently live in the Midwest of the United States and travel to Japan at least once a year. Traveling to what is literally the far side of the world means there will be jet lag issues. As one ages, those issues only increase.
If possible, I try to manage my flight, so I arrive in Tokyo between the hours of 2 and 6 pm. This ensures I have time to clear customs and eat a meal before I need to go to bed. Since the hotel I stay in is on the airport grounds, I avoid hotel transport time. Since sleep on the plane is not good rest, know you will be very tired and will likely need sleep by 7 pm or so. I suggest trying to push yourself to stay up until at least 8 or 9 pm if possible. This short-term pain will pay big dividends as you continue your trip. This is the ONLY time I will suggest pushing yourself to avoid rest. Traveling from East to West is much easier on the jet lag front.
Protecting and managing your rest is foundational and will largely determine the joy you will get from your travel experience. One of the best ways to ensure you maintain a good energy level and maximize your experience is by investing the time and effort into researching your trip and putting together a realistic plan. Remember, you will likely have two or three days where jet lag will be an issue, so plan accordingly. It’s not a contest.
2. BE FLEXIBLE
Be flexible in every sense of the word. When you are traveling, you will likely be walking further than usual and in general spending more time on your feet. It’s a good idea to add a bit of gentle stretching to your morning routine. This lets you gauge how your body feels and decide what you’re ready for that day. I learned this on a trip to Osaka when we rented an apartment. The unit had futons to sleep on instead of a Western-style bed. I was still having some hip pain as I hadn’t fully recovered from hip replacement surgery. I was concerned about spending 10 days sleeping on the floor. As it turns out, it was a blessing. When I awoke in the morning, it seemed natural to stretch a bit before climbing up from the floor. I am convinced those few minutes made a difference. Focus on stretching once in the morning and once at night.
Sometimes the best adventure is the one never planned. Several years ago, I was traveling in New Zealand. The plan was to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, billed as one of the great one-day hikes in the world, climbing a volcano and descending into a lush tropical forest. The day after we landed, the volcano erupted, ending those plans. Our Plan B was to climb the Pinnacles — a long climb up an old logging path. The Pinnacles trek was the most difficult and most rewarding trek I have ever done. It was exciting, beautiful, mysterious, and very challenging, with countless steps worn into the path. The summit was earned only after using ladder rungs and a scramble. The payoff view was incredible. It remains one of my favorite travel memories. Again, this was never in our plan. Flexibility is your best friend.
3. HAVE A PLAN B AND A PLAN C
Consider this flexibility, part two. Twenty years ago, I would go to a destination with many more things planned than there was realistically time to do. I would pick and choose depending upon time. Today, although time can be a factor, fatigue is the real enemy. There will be days when you just don’t have it in you to do everything your pre-trip itinerary called for.
These days I center each day around a key activity. From there I have two or three paths I can take depending upon how I’m doing for time and energy. Pre-trip, I will have identified the key activity or two for each day. At the end of each day, I look at the key activity for the next day, then prioritize each possible activity to follow. If, for example, I have a really great meal planned for an evening, I may cut my afternoon short by an hour or two for rest and planning the next day.
If you begin your day with a “B” and “C” activity planned, you have so much more flexibility and won’t feel you wasted the day. It’s much more important to do fewer things with a higher level of enjoyment than to cross items from a guidebook off your list. So many things can keep you from enjoying the days. In addition to fatigue, weather can impact your day, as can strikes, protests, and even earthquakes. Remember, you are there to enjoy the trip, not win a prize.
When in Japan, I purposely “under-schedule,” as I have enjoyed wandering around so much. I can’t tell you the number of sights, foods, and conversations I’ve had that were unscheduled. In the end, those are the things I remember. Sure, the temple or the museum was great, but the woman selling slices of candied sweet potatoes is what made my day. Chatting in extremely limited Japanese, bits of English, and travelers’ pantomime while eating those warm, delicious slices could not have been planned. As translation apps and devices have gotten better, this type of experience is much more accessible.
4. BE PROACTIVE
Take time to learn about your destination. It sounds ridiculous, but I’ve traveled with people who have absolutely no background on the destination. In addition to showing poor judgment, it can also be dangerous. Learn about local customs. Being culturally literate is more important than being language literate. Locals will appreciate your effort and respond with incredible kindness.
In today’s world, there is so much information available that there is no excuse not to do your research. YouTube is your best friend in this. I spend much more time on YouTube than I would like to admit. However, I learned the true value of this on my first trip to Japan. I was doing a couple of days of work about an hour south of Yokohama, and once the job was completed, I planned to spend one night in Tokyo before heading to Osaka. I researched Tokyo, specifically the activities I wanted to be sure I had a chance to enjoy. I managed to get to Shinjuku Station. This station serves 3.6 million passengers daily, with some 200 exits. Prior to the trip, I watched three or four videos people had uploaded showing their walk from the train platform to the hotel I had booked. Why these people felt compelled to do this, I don’t know. What I do know is that I was extremely grateful they did, as I was able to find the correct exit and walk right to the hotel.
Research also helps you put together your Plan B and Plan C.
5. ENJOY THE MOMENT
It’s not a race. There are no prizes for the number of things you cross off a list. I continue to be baffled at museums when I see people rushing to a painting, shooting a selfie, and rushing away. They never stopped to really look at the painting!
It happens to everyone at some point. We feel the pressure of not wanting to “waste” time and to get value from the travel investment. In doing so, the trip often loses value, as the pleasure-to-activity ratio becomes out of balance. Take an afternoon or evening and slow down. Set aside the itinerary and simply be in the location. Walk that side street, step into a bistro, and sip a drink while simply experiencing where you are.
One of the great things about visiting Japan is that the entire country seems to be built to encourage you to get lost and slow down. It is extremely safe. Some of my most enjoyable evenings have been spent walking side streets and dropping into an interesting shop or café. I have found myself in a lively izakaya one night and strolling along a wonderful riverfront walk on another. It’s not just the sights, sounds, and tastes, but the fantastic people you meet once you slow down enough to notice — those are what you remember.
Slow down, be open to engaging with others, and simply be there.
There are many tips and tricks that make traveling as a Life-Experienced Adult easier, but these five suggestions are a good place to start. See you on the road.
