How to (Safely) Kick Your Cabin Fever to the Curb

Cabin fever is alive and well in many of us. Places are starting to slowly open back up, the weather is getting nicer, grills are in frequent use, and the itch to get away (even for the day) is intensifying. There are some important factors to consider when you start to plan your upcoming travels - more than just “should I pack a mask?” 

Budget First, Book Second

True story: my husband and I had two trips planned for 2020 and both were cancelled (not by choice) due to COVID-19. Cabin fever hit me hard. I started looking around for places to escape to. I found the cutest Airbnb and started the booking process. With my debit card in hand, reality hit me. Within a matter of 15 minutes, I was ready to book this vacation for my husband and I. This vacation would have cost us more than our original two trips’ expenses combined! Cabin fever and my emotions got the best of me - almost. I immediately put a halt to the booking process and came back down to earth. 

What I’m saying is you need to have a set budget BEFORE you start your travel planning. Being stuck inside for months has the power to make your common sense be a thing of the past. Sit down with your spouse, yourself, or your family and decide what is a realistic budget for your trip. Once this is accomplished, book away. Trust me, you don’t want to let your emotions get the best of you and be stressed from a trip you couldn’t afford in the first place. 

Flexibility is Key

I think we all would like to mute the words “corona virus/COVID-19/pandemic/etc.”. Everywhere we turn, it's in our face. The reality is, it’s still a concern and we still have to be informed. As places start to open up and new rules are in place, we need to make sure our plans can be flexible. Not only our plans, but our mindset needs to be open and flexible as well. As you go through your travel planning process, remember that the places you visit might change their guidelines, be at their full limited capacity, stop allowing out of state residents, and more. States are still trying to figure out how to navigate these unknown waters and we need to be open to that.

The best way we can be flexible is to have a backup plan or two. If you have your go-to restaurant every time you visit Traverse City, be willing to try a new place if they are at full capacity. Hey, who knows? You may even find your new go-to restaurant this way. 

Do Your Research

I’m not a scientist, I don’t work in healthcare, I have not experienced the corona virus first hand. The good news? Trusted resources have shared their wisdom with us. Research, people! See what the professionals have to say about flying versus driving. Should you stay in a hotel? What will be open and what activities are safe to do? All of these are important questions and thank goodness there are people out there who have a lot more knowledge in this area. 

If you are traveling out of state, make sure to research if they have different rules or guidelines. Visiting a famous monument? Research to see if they will actually be open. Staying in an Airbnb? Reach out to the host and see how they are personally taking precautions. 

I know research is not the exciting part of planning your next vacation, but this time around research is a high priority that must be done to have a stress-free trip. 

Don’t try to ignore your cabin fever because I can promise you, it will get worse. Be smart and don’t forget your common sense. Making a trip budget before checking out travel ideas will save you a lot of stress. When the time comes to get out of your town, be flexible with new guidelines and a potential change in plans. Just as importantly, research and make the best decisions for your family based on your findings. Your 2020 trip may look a little different than what you originally had planned, but carry on and keep in mind these factors as you plan your new trip. Your cabin fever will be behind you in no time.