Road trips aren’t my thing. I started driving late, so it took me a while to get the hang of it. The first long drive I ever made was to Houston, TX and I never wanted to do it again. Sitting in the car for hours was boring and the humming of the car made me sleepy. A terrible combination.

I got better at making the drive over the years, but I still dreaded it… until recently. Being in the car for long rides started to grow on me. It started to bring me a little bit of peace and quiet. The humming that made me sleepy before calmed my mind now. In the past 1-2 years, I’ve made road trips by myself and with friends/family and I’ve enjoyed it. I prefer doing it by myself, but sometimes the company makes it entertaining.

When I decided to relocate, I had to test it out and see if I really liked road trips or not, so I was on the road for 33 hours! Now it wasn’t a 33 hour trip according to Google Maps, that’s just how long it took. Here’s a few tips on how I have successful road trips:

1. Get the vehicle checked out.

   Always always always take care of your car, but especially before a road trip. if you’re not taking your car, I’d still get the fluids, tires, and brakes checked out. Also, make sure the AC works well. One thing that would really sour a road trip for me is car issues.

2. Bring a partner.

   Depending on the distance, having someone in the car is great. The pros: someone to talk to, someone to take turns driving, and someone to look out for your safety. My mom drove with me, that’s my girl.

3. Leave early.

   No matter how long the GPS says, leave early. If you’re not an early person, travel with someone who is. I find it way easier to be driving during the sunrise.

4. Plan in time to fill up on gas.

   Stopping for gas is a 20-30 min ordeal. You have to find the exit, find the gas station, wait for a pump, pay, pump, then get ready to drive again. You might even grab some snacks or stretch. Those 20-30 min breaks add up.

5. Pack snacks.

   If you’re picky like me, definitely pack snacks. If you’re not, pack some snacks and grab other snacks you want on the way. Just remember adding another stop also adds time.

6. Make a playlist.

   I like to make playlists by genre. That way I can just shuffle the songs and maintain the vibe. It throws me off when the music switches from H.E.R. to Moneybagg Yo. I prefer to not have to rely on a passenger to DJ either. So make some playlists, based on different vibes and you’ll be set.

7. Prepare for inclement weather.

   It could go from sunny to storming in just a few minutes. Cover items that are attached to the car or could be impacted by rain, hail, etc. If you’re anything like me, you’ll check the weather app a million times thinking, “It didn’t say there would be any storms.” The weather is likely to change with no notice. If that might bother you, mentally prepare for it to happen.

8. Plan in stops.

   Every drive cannot be made in one shot.

9. Be patient.

   Anything that can go wrong, will. The AC will stop working. The tire will pop. The rain will fall. There will be traffic. You will be “off schedule”. It’s okay. Just pause, take a breath, and think. You will get to your destination at the right time, the most important thing is safety. If the AC stops working, get a price from the nearest mechanic and decide if you want to wait and pay or ride it out. If the tire pops, YouTube a video of how to put on your spare or call a friend. If it rains or there’s traffic, drive slower. Take the time to slow down instead of panicking.

10. Make it fun.

    Get creative. Make up a game. Do karaoke. Road trips are fun when you make memories to remember them by.

Driving from Dallas to Florida was a journey. We listened to music, talked, laughed, sat in traffic, and all the other fun stuff. It was great to spend that much time with my mom. For entertainment, we decided to stop and take photos at the state signs, but by the time we got to Alabama and Florida, it was dark and we were too focused on getting to our next stop. We drove through a cool tunnel in Alabama too, however, that’ll probably be my first and last time in Mississippi and Alabama. We caught the sunrise heading down Florida. All in all, it was a great trip. If I ever end up driving across state lines again, I’ll be prepared to find the sign and take a photo at each sign.

It took me a few years to enjoy road trips. I had to stop rushing and over scheduling myself. I had to stop worrying about being everywhere at the right time. I had to let my brain rest, instead of getting behind the wheel only to realize I was tired as hell.

Sometimes the reason we don’t like something is because we haven’t given it a fair chance. This is the reason I didn’t like road trips. I was always rushing to be at an event or specific place at a specific time, I never took time to enjoy the drive. We rush through life and wonder why we’re disappointed. We complain every day about our jobs and wonder why we aren’t happy. We criticize everything about ourselves and wonder why we lack confidence or self-esteem. We focus on the next moment and wonder why we can’t enjoy the present. It’s because we’re not here in the current moment. We’re too busy stuck in the past or focusing on the future that we miss the opportunity to enjoy where we are. A fair chance is free from projections from the past and expectations of the future.

Travel Tip #9: Give everything, including yourself, a fair chance.

Take a drive. Take a bike ride. Take a walk. Take a run. This week, disconnect from the past, the future, tv screens, phone screens, and people. Even if only for 10 minutes, disconnect to be in the present. I guarantee taking 10 minutes will not throw off your entire day. Give yourself, your mind, and your body a fair chance at enjoying life.

You deserve it,

Mai

(These posts are for me as much as they are for you.)