Going the extra mile: How to unburden during long-haul travel

I recently spent just over twenty-four hours on a bus. That’s right, twenty-four hours. Questionable legroom, crumbs in places they shouldn’t be, and the constant rumble of an engine mocking my every attempt to sleep – you name it, I faced it. By hour six, I’d begun to question my life choices, but by the twenty fourth hour, I had unlocked the secrets to surviving long-haul travel without losing my mind. Whether you’re about to tackle a marathon journey by bus, plane, train (or all three), I am here to help. Here’s how to make it through with your sanity intact and maybe even enjoy the ride.

1. Download Movies (Extended editions obviously)

Long journeys call for long movies. The extended versions of The Lord of the Rings were my movies of choice – if Frodo can survive Mordor, I can survive a bus, right? Want an even better tip? Choose films you’ve either never watched before or haven’t watched in a long time – this will ensure you are attaining the highest levels of distraction.

2. Read Some Books (Genre Roulette)

This may seem like an obvious tip, but here’s the trick: variety is key. When choosing the books you want to bring with you, choose genres that you can rotate between and stay engaged. I went for a festive Christmas book, a gritty WWII novel, and a mystery. If you ever get tired of reading one, just switch to another. Then, you’ll never get bored.

3. Listen to Music/Podcasts (Wired Headphones are your saviours)

Wireless headphones are great. Nothing dangling by your ears, no knots to untie, great. However, nothing screams “rookie error” more than your AirPods going dead at hour five. Bring wired headphones and thank me later. Download your favourite playlist, discover a new podcast, or lose yourself in a true crime series. Eliminate that worry of your battery going dead.

4. Wear Comfy Clothes (The uglier the better)

Forget fashion, this is survival we’re talking about here. Hoodies, jogging bottoms, and fluffy socks are your new best friends. Have no shame, take those shoes off (but never the socks). If you’re not resembling a human marshmallow, you’re doing it wrong. Comfort is key.

5. Bring a Hobby (or admire someone else’s)

On my bus journey to Lapland, I was surrounded by what can only be described as a knitting and crocheting masterclass. People had yarn rolling down the aisle and full-on projects going on. I unfortunately could not join in, being tragically unprepared, but I did spend quite a lot of time admiring a hat someone was making. Bring something to do, whether that be knitting, drawing or journaling, because hobbies make time fly by.

6. Move Around (When you can)

An opportunity to move is golden. Stretch your legs, walk up and down the aisle, and if you’re feeling dramatic, run a lap of the services you might stop at. Even a toilet trip counts as exercise. Your legs will thank you when you arrive at your destination not feeling like a plank of wood.

7. Sleep (Respect the silence)

Here is where I recommend you equip yourself with the holy trinity: neck pillow, sleep mask, and ear plugs. When you sense that a collective silence is descending (for us, it was a peaceful six-hour window), take full advantage. Sleep is necessary for survival, so do your part.

8. Play Games (and make friends)

I never play games on my phone, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Wordsearches, crosswords, and those classic iPhone games like 8-ball pool will save you from losing your sanity. Bonus tip: find some multiplayer games that you can challenge your seatmate to.

9. Enjoy the Views (if you’re lucky enough to have a window seat)

After bouts of intermittent sleep, our bus collectively awoke to the snowy wonderland of Lapland. If you’re blessed with a window seat (as I was), use it. You can easily lose two hours just staring at the scenery and contemplating life.

10. Thank your driver (the true survivors)

Don’t forget the hero of your journey. Whether it’s your bus driver, train staff, or flight crew, remember they’ve done the trip with you (probably more times than you can count). A little appreciation goes a long way, and these people deserve it most.