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Don’t let your fear of traveling alone hold you back. These tips will help. I’m pretty happy being by myself. In fact, I would say I’m comfortably a 4.5 on the Five Stages of Being a Merry Loner. I’ve gotten to the point where going to the cinema with anyone else seems utterly ridiculous (it’s the least social activity imaginable), and there is not a shred of self consciousness when eating alone at a restaurant. Zilch. So, you’d assume solo travel would be a breeze, right? Well, let me introduce you to my pal: anxiety. Coping with solo travel anxietyMy love-hate relationship with anxiety (he is, in his own way, trying to protect me) began at an early age. I was the kid who got nervous at sleepovers, the one who fretted whether his toys were getting along, and above all, the one who really hated change. And guess what? As it turns out, travel is just one long exercise in change: new beds, new people, new daily uncertainties. Despite all that, I’ve somehow managed to survive (and occasionally thrive) through two months of interrailing around Europe and half a year of navigating Turkey and Southeast Asia. In fact, as I type, I'm in the process of packing my bags to head back to Vietnam. All on my merry lonesome. Whether you’re a proud loner or just Loner Curious, it’s still normal to be a little scared of traveling alone—but that doesn’t mean you have to let solo travel anxiety hold you back from your dream destinations. Let’s go hand-in-hand through some of the top reasons people have a fear of traveling alone—and come up with strategies to kick your solo travel anxiety: The shortlist: 4 strategies to stop being scared of traveling alone
This week, I’m sharing a guest post from Daniel John.
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Daniel is a freelance copywriter from the UK who spends his days writing words for brands across industries—from travel to automotive to mental health. When not working, you’ll most likely find him behind the lens coaxing cats into posing for the camera. You can see some of his professional work at danieljohncopy.com
More thoughts on solo travel and enjoying your own company:
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Essays, guides, and recommendations on the Loner Mindset, Books, Analog Living, Solo Travel & Mindful Consumption.
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