5 Little Habits That Make Any Trip Feel More Relaxed

1. Unpack Just Enough to Feel at Home

It’s tempting to live out of a suitcase, especially on shorter trips, but a few minutes of unpacking can instantly make a room feel more welcoming. Hang up the clothes you know you’ll wear most, stack your T-shirts neatly on a shelf and choose one spot for keys, phone and wallet. Having a mini “home base” inside your room means you’re not hunting for things every time you head out. It also signals to your brain that you’re allowed to settle, not just rush from one activity to the next.

2. Create a Simple Morning and Evening Ritual

Holidays can become strangely hectic when every moment is filled. Adding small rituals at the start and end of each day helps you slow down. Maybe it’s making the first cup of coffee on the balcony while you check the day’s weather, or a short walk before breakfast to pick up fruit and pastries. In the evening it might be a slow stretch on the terrace, a journal entry or ten quiet minutes with a book. These micro-routines give your trip a rhythm and anchor your memories to specific smells, views and sounds.

3. Leave “White Space” in the Itinerary

One of the simplest ways to make any trip feel more relaxing is to deliberately plan less. Choose one main activity per day—a museum, a hike, a neighbourhood to explore—and leave the rest open. That extra space allows you to linger over a good lunch, follow a side street that looks interesting or head back to your room for a mid-afternoon nap without feeling guilty. Some of the best moments happen when there’s nothing specific you have to do.

4. Prioritise Comfort in Your Base

Your accommodation doesn’t have to be ultra-luxury, but it should feel comfortable. That might mean checking reviews for mattress quality, bringing your own small pillow or eye mask, or choosing places with natural light and somewhere to sit other than the bed. When your base feels calm and cosy, you’re more likely to take a breather between outings and actually enjoy time spent “at home” during your stay.

5. Capture Fewer, Better Memories

It’s easy to spend half a trip looking through a phone screen. Instead of taking a hundred photos of everything, aim for a handful of thoughtful shots each day. Put the camera away between them and really look at where you are—the colour of the tiles, the way the air feels, the background sounds. When you get home, those fewer but more intentional images will be stronger triggers for the relaxed, happy moments you experienced.