Vacation Canceled? Here Are a Few Ways You Can Cope

The average person spends almost 90% of their time indoors under normal circumstances. But circumstances like the ones we’re in now are hardly normal, which means we’re all spending more time inside than ever. And for many of us, that means canceled travel plans. If you’re stuck inside with the travel blues, here are a few things you can do to cope with your canceled vacation.

Start Planning the Next Trip

So your vacation got canceled. While it might feel terrible at the moment, it doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to travel again. So with the money you’re saving right now, consider planning another vacation for the future! It’s possible there’s a place you wanted to go even more, but couldn’t afford it at the time. With extra time at home and likely some opportunities to save money by not going out, now is an excellent time to develop a plan to save up for the vacation of a lifetime. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few key items that you need on your vacation planning to-do list:

• Determine how much money you need.
• Open a travel savings account.
• Plan for unexpected complications.
• Examine all of your household expenses.
• Set monthly savings goals.

When it comes down to it, this is about being smart with your money and having the discipline to make these long-term goals a reality.

Take a Digital Staycation

If one of your goals is to see some of the famous art around the world, you’re in luck. While a digital vacation isn’t as fun as a real one, museums around the world have made it possible to roam their hallowed halls without ever leaving the comfort of your living room. The Google Arts and Culture Project has partnered with over 2,000 museums around the world to bring art to you. The best part? You don’t have to worry about crowds as you peruse some of your favorite works from places like France, Italy, and the Netherlands. And considering that American artists appear in almost 40% of collections worldwide, you might just see a piece from our southern neighbors during your virtual travels.

Host a Cultural Dinner

You might not be able to have friends over right now, but learning how to cook a new dish from a culture you want to experience is so satisfying. And if you’re a millennial, and subsequently one of the 42% who purchased a new home within the last year, you might be itching for a good excuse to put your kitchen to the test. Maybe you were planning on visiting the UK and you’ve never made fish and chips before. Maybe Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala are your calling and you just never knew it. The point is that trying new things at home can help evoke the thrill of travel without you ever having to leave the comfort of your very own kitchen. And you just might end up finding a new favorite dish to cook.

Take Language Lessons

You might have taken lessons in Spanish or French when you were in grade school, but now it’s easier than ever to learn countless other languages. And you can do it with your phone. It can’t get much more convenient than that! Apps like Duolingo are excellent for beginners, and if you’re looking for something more in-depth, consider taking courses on Rosetta Stone. It might just seem like a good way to pass the time, but the truth is that learning the native language of a country you want to visit can help make you a better traveler. You may be able to have in-depth cultural experiences that a language barrier would have cut off. Consider this another to-do list item for planning your future travels.

Travel is a wonderful way for us to feel connected to the world. Right now, it feels like that connection has been ripped away. But when you use the tools at your disposal, you can feel worlds away right from your living room.