One of the hardest parts about traveling for long periods of time is that you begin to miss that sense of home. I’ve lived in six different places in the past month or so and have picked up a few things on how to feel at home while traveling.
Here’s what has helped me feel at home no matter where I am in the world:
unpack your things
When you first arrive in a new location, immediately unpack your things. Hang your nice clothes up, fold your pjs in the dresser, and unpack your soaps and skin care items in the bathroom.
This has helped me so much while traveling. It immediately gives a sense of normalcy, a feeling like home.
bring comfort items
If you have room in your bag, bring one or two things from home that bring you comfort. This could be a favorite blanket, a beloved book, or a special photo. Anything that brings you a sense of peace and coziness is perfect.
In my case, I packed my favorite pillowcase and my selenite crystal. It’s so comforting to be in a new place, with new surroundings and so many new things to get used to, and get to sleep with my pillowcase at night.
make your space homey
If you don’t have room to pack comfort items from home you can always buy a couple of things from the store. Go somewhere like a Target, or even better, a cute little local shop, and buy a few things for your living space to make it feel more you.
I’m in Florida right now for a few weeks and when I got here I bought a candle, some soft sheets, and a pink lava lamp. I’ve always wanted a lava lamp since I was a little girl, so I thought I’d make that little dream come true <3
Just these few things have made my stay so much cozier. This is one of my favorite ways to help me feel more at home in a new place.
become a regular
Become a regular at a cafe or shop near you. This is such a fun way to not only create a little second home for yourself, but also to meet new people.
I love to find a cute little artsy cafe near my place of stay and make it a routine to go there every day. After a few days, you’ll have your favorite order and you’ll begin to recognize the regulars. It’ll start to feel like a slice of home.
grocery shop
I love grocery shopping when I’m traveling. Something about grocery stores makes me feel so warm and at peace. I feel at home in grocery stores.
This tip is best if you’re staying in a place like an Airbnb where you have access to a kitchen, but I still grocery shop for snacky items when I’m in hotels. If you do have a kitchen, make some meals for yourself. This can be so comforting on the go and gives that feeling of hominess.
It’s so fun to grocery shop in new places because you get to see the different types of local foods that shops carry around the world. You get to try yummy new snacks that you might not have access to back at home.
create a routine
Speaking of grocery shopping, it can be helpful to create a daily routine to follow. This can help you to stay rooted and grounded and feel more connected to yourself.
One routine you could practice is to make it a goal to watch the sunset every night. Or like I said about becoming a regular, you could create a routine where you work at the same local cafe every morning.
go thrifting
When I visit a new place, I love to go thrifting. I think it’s so cool to thrift and collect items from all around the world.
Also, I just love shopping the local clothes. Each city around the world has its own vibe and thrifting a few items there can help you feel more connected to a place.
connect with others
To help you feel a little less stranded and feel at home while traveling, it can be so helpful to connect with locals and other travelers.
Here are some online resources I like to use:
- Meetup app
- Facebook groups
- Eventbrite
- Reddit on r/solotravel (here’s a really helpful post on meeting people as a solo traveler!)
If you go to one of the events on Eventbrite, even if you don’t talk to anyone, it can be fun to roam around the area and be around the energy of excitement and connection.
live in the present
When traveling long-term it can be easy to get caught up in the next destination, the next trip, the next thing to see, and not be present where you currently are. This soon becomes unsettling and will make you feel restless. For me, I almost start to feel like I’m floating above Earth—like I don’t really exist anywhere.
To help prevent this, follow the tips above and practice mindfulness. I wrote a whole post on ways to practice mindfulness (that aren’t meditation). By practicing mindfulness, you’re training yourself to appreciate the current moment and to live in the here and now. Now is all there ever is. The sooner you live in the now, the sooner you will be at peace.
feel at home while traveling
One thing I’ve realized while traveling is as long as you are connected to yourself, you are at home. When I take the time to practice mindfulness, take care of my needs, and listen to my body, I feel at home no matter where I am in the world.
Do not abandon yourself and you will never be without a home. I hope these tips help you! You really can make any place feel like home. I wish you happy days and safe travels!
