1 . Things To Remember On Your First Solo Travel Adventure

If you’ve ever thought about just taking a trip yourself instead of waiting for someone to join you, you’re not alone.     1     However, do you count yourself among the many who have tried it? If you’re planning your own solo trip, here are four important things to keep in mind.

    2     Since you’re traveling solo, how you choose to explore it is entirely up to you. This is your chance to do whatever you want whenever you want because this time, you’re running the show.

Don’t be afraid to talk to random people. Though there is someone who poses a threat, it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you.     3    That’s because you’re a novelty, a person from another country who is visiting theirs. Therefore, instead of putting on your headphones or instantly seeing them as weirdos, use this spontaneous chat as a chance to meet the locals or get recommendations for things to do during your trip.

It’s okay to have bad days.     4     It happens and it’s completely okay to take some time to process whatever it is you’re feeling. Take yourself to a movie or spend the day dong something relaxing like writing in your journal or reading on the beach.

It’s okay to start small.     5     Start by doing a staycation in another part of town, spending a few days in a new locale a bus or train ride away. Just do whatever you’re comfortable with and see how it all feels for you.

2 . How many times have you checked your tickets, money and passport before you set off? Well, maybe add a note about food hygiene (卫生), too, as there are lots of food-borne hazards (危害) to be mindful of when you travel.

Taking precautions doesn’t mean ignoring local food, culture and customs.     1     Food- and water-related illnesses can vary from a touch of mild traveller’s stomach to more serious infections.    2     You need to check up on the destinations to see if there are any common food-related issues you need to know about.

In countries with doubtful water quality, avoid ice and — if you have no other option—drink only unopened bottled water. Better still, take a reusable filtered (过滤) water bottle so that you can drink the local water safely and not add to the mountain of single-use plastic waste.     3     Avoid any raw meat, fish, shellfish or eggs if you have any doubts, including under-cooked foods or rare-cooked meats. When eating fruits and vegetables, they need to be thoroughly cooked, and avoid salads that may be washed with polluted water.     4    

If you’re being offered buffet food or shared plates, think about how long that food has been sitting in the heat. It doesn’t take long at all for bacteria to multiply at alarming rates on food, so where possible, choose refrigerated dishes or food that is piping hot.

    5     If the thought crosses your mind about whether something is safe to consume, it’s wise to assume it isn’t.

3 . We love our pets. In fact, for most people they are more than me re pets and become more like family members. It is likely then that their owners, at some point, are going to want photographs of their furry friends. However, pet photography presents its own special problems.     1     If you’re thinking of trying pet photography, here are a few pointers to get you started.

Find out about your subject’s personality and habits. Where does it nod off if the sun is out? What is its favourite toy?     2     It’s also worth spending a little time getting to know the animal yourself. Cats, dogs, horses, they all have personality, and you need to ensure they are comfortable being around you, and you around them.

    3     If the pet is comfortable with you, and if it isn’t too nervous, fill the frame with the pet’s face. Get the eyes nice and sharp. Just like humans, this is a natural point of focus, although focusing on the nose or mouth of a dog or cat can also make for an interesting image in its own right.

See the world from pets’ perspective. If you photograph a pet while you’re standing up, all you’re going to see is the top of their head and their backs, not what you want for a portrait. Get down to their eye level. Try pre-focusing your camera and just holding it at ground level so you can look up at the pet.     4    .

Bring a flash with the owner’s permission. While greeting or playing with a new pet, fire a couple of test flashes away from them to see their reaction. In daylight particularly, they never seem to mind the flash at all.     5    .

5 . The solution to any despair might be hope, experts say. It’s believing in a brighter future and acting towards it.     1     Here are strategies that can help cultivate hope. As Hellman, an assistant professor of psychology at Suffolk University in Boston, points out, “Hope begets hope, and it has such a significant protective factor.”

    2     Make it a point to always be working toward at least one goal that’s meaningful, Hellman advises. In other words, it shouldn’t be something you have to do but something you want to do. “Goals can be anything that’s important to us,” he says.

Brainstorm solutions. If you’ve set a goal that’s meaningful to you, but you can’t figure out a way to achieve it, you’ll probably feel pretty hopeless. People who are high in hope, meanwhile, tend to generate lots of ways.     3     If you’re struggling to make a plan, Hellman suggests sitting down with a pen and paper and giving yourself an hour to brainstorm solutions.

Seek out success stories. It’s said that people cultivate hope by seeking support from their parents and specific teachers. But they also got a lot out of learning about other people who have done well for themselves. Hellman says, “    4    ”

Tap into your imagination. Hellman thinks of imagination as “the instrument of hope”. Let’s say you set a goal for the week. Spend a few minutes reflecting on or talking about what would happen if you achieved it. “How does it impact you, or how would it benefit others?” he says. “    5     And when you can see yourself in the future, that is the very essence of hope.”

9 . We’ve all experienced the sense of unease that the end of a holiday weekend often brings.     1     Monday morning after a holiday weekend represents a psychological shift from freedom and relaxation to pressure and obligations. Our minds and bodies, accustomed to the rhythm of the holiday, resist the sudden change.     2    

Schedule your Monday morning so that you’ve got some uninterrupted time to concentrate. Researchers found that people lost significant time when they switched from one task to another.     3     Give yourself an hour or more of time to concentrate and either accomplish one of your most important tasks or take the time to plan the rest of your week.

Where possible, focus your uninterrupted Monday morning time on a task or activity you genuinely enjoy.     4     Giving yourself even a slight amount of positive anticipation can make a difference.

    5     This could be a workout, meditation, or a walk during lunch. Going from that level of physical activity to sitting at a desk can be mentally taxing, so do something during the day that breaks up the physical boredom.

The Monday after a holiday weekend won’t feel like a party. But with a few simple steps, you can reduce a good bit of the dread that typically accompanies the first day back at work.

10 . How to overcome travel anxiety

Stress and anxiety around documents and procedures of travel is common. Here are some tips from experts on how to overcome travel anxiety and enjoy your holiday or trip.

    1     To be able to best cope with your travel anxiety, you need to have a good understanding of the things that actually cause it. Once you understand what triggers your anxiety, you can plan ahead for the best ways to handle it.

Plan out your trip details. One of the reasons for your travel anxiety is that you’re being taken out of your comfort zone and won’t have full control over everything.     2     That will give you a sense of control. However, it’s equally important to think of alternative plans for anything that could potentially not go as planned.

Make use of different relaxation techniques.     3     Another useful way to calm your mind is by meditating. To make sure you find the mindfulness technique that works best for you, try out a few different ones beforehand and use the most efficient one during your trip to set your mind at ease.

Have things with you that bring you joy. These can include physical item s like a book to read, or a game to play. It can be extremely useful in distracting you from your negative feelings. Alternatively, you can create a playlist of songs you love or have your favourite TV show with you.     4    

Don’t forget your physical health. Being physically active is a great way to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.     5     Going outside and connecting with nature can have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing, which in turn will help reduce your anxious thoughts.