So you finally made it to that city you’ve been dreaming about for months. You’ve got a list of sights to see, food to try, and pictures to take. But when the alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. and your body feels like it got hit by a moving train, all you want is another hour of sleep. Maybe two. Cue the guilt.

Okay, yeah, now you already know how important it is to work on your mental health during your travels (as you don’t want this to get in the way of your experience), but at the same time, it’s hard not to feel guilty, right?

Basically, travel guilt is sneaky like that. No, really, it’s like super sneaky! Pretty much, it whispers things like, “You didn’t fly all this way to lie in bed,” or “You’re wasting precious time.” Suddenly, resting feels like a mistake, even though you’ve been dragging a suitcase through airports, running on airplane snacks, and pretending to understand maps upside down.

Tired People Don’t Make Good Memories

Okay, so for starters, nobody enjoys anything when they’re running on fumes. Yep, seriously, jet lag doesn’t care that your museum ticket was non-refundable. Your brain can’t appreciate ancient ruins if it’s just trying to stay upright. And the truth is, those magical travel moments everyone talks about? They usually don’t happen when you’re overtired, cranky, and in desperate need of a nap.

Actually, sleep isn’t stealing from your trip, rather, it’s fuelling it. You probably know that in day-to-day life, but it’s not different when you’re sleeping in another bed! So, those extra hours under fluffy hotel sheets aren’t lazy, they’re smart. But the rested you have more patience for crowds, more curiosity for hidden gems, and more energy to actually have fun. It’s the version of you that remembers the day for more than just how loud your feet were screaming.

Take the Pressure Off

If your brain is still buzzing with “shoulds,” try giving it a nudge in the right direction. Sometimes you might need a big, hard whack; it just really depends. So, some travellers swear by CBD gummies for helping them ease into sleep without feeling groggy the next day. This isn’t the only method, of course; even chamomile tea or lavender oil can help, especially useful when your body’s tired but your thoughts are still spinning about the itinerary. Again, it’s those soft nudges (or hard whacks, it’s your choice).

But it’s not about knocking yourself out. It’s about softening the edges enough to let your nervous system chill out. Travel is exciting, yes. But it’s also overstimulating, and your body’s allowed to ask for a timeout.

Forget the Itinerary Police

Okay, so there’s this myth that every trip needs to be a productivity marathon. Like so many people know this song and dance. Basically, you wake up at dawn, cram in five attractions before lunch, squeeze in a hike, then dinner, then nightlife, then maybe another museum. But who made those rules? And have they ever actually done that without needing a week to recover?

But really, the best trips have room to breathe. They’re not colour-coded spreadsheets. They have space for sleeping in, wandering aimlessly, and changing your mind. The quiet moments often become the most vivid memories. The nap that turned into three hours? Maybe that’s what gave you the energy to stay out later and stumble upon a live band on a random corner. Yeah, it all counts.