traveling | Caught Read Handed

I’ve felt super overwhelmed lately. To the point of almost having a panic attack the other day. I have this problem where I take on way too many things for a few reasons – 1. I have a problem saying no. 2. I like to be busy. 3. I like having a lot of projects to distract me. 4. I really don’t know how to say no.

BUT it’s okay. I’ve got an awesome mini-road trip coming up this weekend with a friend (including some live music!) and I’ve decided to take a break from technology and the internet for the whole weekend – NO Twitter, NO Facebook, NO blog (sorry, guys!), NO Instagram (Okay, maybe one or two pictures), etc. I need the break for a lot of reasons and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m bringing at least two books with me, ones that I want to read FOR ME and not ARCs, no books I should read by a certain date, just ones I’ve been looking forward to for a while.

The whole point of telling you all this is to start a conversation with you. I know I’m not the only one who gets overwhelmed; this post isn’t a pity party. This point is meant to see what you do to deal with feelings of anxiety or your to do list that feels like it’s going to smother you and give you a few examples for how I deal. What do you do to calm yourself down, to focus on what you have to do and get it done?

Here are a few things that I like to do that (sometimes) help me stop overthinking, freaking out, panicking, giving up:

Read. This is a given. But I mean read FOR ME. Like a lot of bloggers, I have a list of ARCs that I’ve requested/been given and sometimes I just want to NOT read them. So I pick up a book I want to read and read it. I try not to think about how I’m going to review it (which has become a problem for me recently – WHY do I do this??). I lose myself in this new world and take a mental road trip, if you will. Sorry that was cheesy.
Listen to music. This is another given for me. However, I have to fit the music I’m listening to to the mood I’m in. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of pop stuff because anything dark or with lyrics that hit too close to home (read: twenty one pilots – one of my two favorite bands but not something I’ve been able to listen to for about two weeks). I’ve been listening to Vinyl Theatre’s Electrogram a lot. I’ve also created a playlist on my computer called “Get out of your f*cking funk” that has some Eric Hutchinson, Fall Out Boy, Uptown Funk, One Direction (I don’t even care if you judge me), Bleachers, and a bunch of other peppy songs. Any recommendations?
TRAVEL. I know a lot of wanderers will be able to get this: I feel a constant restlessness when I’m not going places. Traveling – driving, experiencing new places, seeing amazing sights, meeting fun new people, all of it – is something that settles me. It calms me on the inside and centers me. Some people won’t understand this at all and that’s okay. But for me, travel is a necessity. I’ve just downloaded and printed Sarah Shott’s Adventure Generator to take with me on my trip – a choose your own adventure type thing for the real world! I’m so excited to use it. I think I’ll probably share where the Adventure Generator takes me.
Sleep. I tend to not sleep a lot when I have too many things going on. I stay up way too late working on whatever it is and then, because I’m a morning person/I’ve got an internal alarm clock that wakes me up around 6 a.m. every day, I wake up without being fully rested. Sometimes I just have to tell myself that I need sleep and the project will wait until tomorrow.
Source
Breathe some fresh air. I work inside at the library and since I have an online job, I spend most of my time inside. This is really horrible for me but I somehow forget that all the time. Then one day I’ll realize I can barely breathe because it feels so stuffy wherever I am, and I’ll do #1 outside. It’s amazing how much better I feel immediately when I go outside and breathe some fresh air. I’ll sit on my porch and read – even if it’s only for thirty minutes. I feel so much better.

So now I want to hear from you – How do you combat the stress? What do you do that helps you breathe better and not panic? Or if your one of the lucky ones who doesn’t freak out or knows how to say no when you have too many projects already, how do you keep track of what you have to do? Let’s talk for real in the comments!

As you may or may not know, I am a big fan of traveling. I have been to about ¾ of the States and five countries (including living in Scotland for a year). I am obsessed with traveling and seeing new places and meeting new people. So when I was contacted by Emma from RelayRides (a super cool – and cheap! – peer-to-peer car rental service) to create a post with some of my travel essentials, I thought it’d be fun and figured some of my fellow travel-lovers might appreciate it! First, let me tell you how cool RelayRides is. Not only can you pick the car that fits your price range and taste (which the owner will bring to you at the airport to look over and get the keys), but you can also rent out your car to travelers so you can make a little money as well. Sounds like a pretty great idea. Unfortunately, they don’t do these airport rentals in Mississippi, but maybe they’ll have rentals at your airport!

Road Trip [Source]

I take a lot of road trips and I’ve been on a lot of flights (over 25!), so it was kind of hard to decide if I should do a road trip essentials post or a carry on essentials post. As I’ve most recently been on a road trip (and I know a lot of you drive to see family during the holidays), I figured I’d better go with a road trip post.

Here are some of my absolutely-gotta-have on a road trip essentials:

Several audiobooks or lots of CDs to choose from – I despise the radio. My car only has a CD player (no aux port. Sad day) so I have to lots of CDs and several audiobooks to choose from. I’m apparently very finicky and indecisive when it comes to what to listen to in the car. Audiobooks really help to pass the time and make the drive feel less short and less boring. And I’m sure you were all surprised that BOOKS were the first thing on my list. They are always the first thing I pack. 🙂

Hand sanitizer – Gas stations are nasty, you guys.

Comfy pants – I cannot drive longer than 2 hours in jeans without being uncomfortable. I mean, I have done it, but I’d rather not. I wear pajamas or stretchy pants or shorts or something (anything) other than jeans. Please.

Starbucks Doubleshot(s) – I am not a fan of normal energy drinks, like Redbull or Monster, but I love coffee. I usually buy at least two Doublshots (Vanilla, Mocha, or White Chocolate) before I head out, which increases as I go.

Water – I’ve also got to have a couple of bottles of water. Make sure you stay hydrated. No, you aren’t doing anything super physical, but anyone who’s gone on a long road trip will know just how exhausting it can be.

Cash – I have stopped at a gas station in the middle of nowhere to buy some gas or snacks and been told there was no card machine. That sucks, you guys.

Snacks – Road trips will make you hungry. Some of my favorite snacks for the road: pretzels, peanut m&ms, string cheese (best to eat these early in the trip), ranch Corn Nuts (whatever, they’re delicious), Kashi Crunchy Granola and Seed bars. I also usually pack a sandwich – cheaper than getting fast food.

Burt’s Bees – The definition of essential.Meds – If you take any daily meds, make sure you pack it, plus a few extras just in case.

PRINTED directions – You never know when you’re phone will die, you won’t have service, or any other number of problems with technology. Having printed directions or an actual map is definitely essential.

Tissues/napkins – Spills SUCK when you’re driving.

Phone chargers (wall AND car) – Again, technology problems. If you’re like me, you use your phone to take a billion pictures and that drains the battery. You can plug your phone up at Dunkin Donuts while you get some coffee and be good to go.

Okay, so I could probably list at least ten more things I like to have in my car on a road trip, but I’ll stop there. What do you guys HAVE to have with you on a road trip?

Also, make sure you go check out RelayRides! They have an amazing service with some really great prices – I saw some cars on there for like $25. Dang.