It seems impossible, I know. Enjoy traveling over the holidays? Really? As you brace protracted lines at the TSA checkpoint and your car crawls at a snail’s pace along the Interstate?
Even when everything goes according to schedule, the sheer volume of fellow travelers can exponentially magnify our level of stress.

You already know the basics. Keep a positive attitude, drink lots of liquids (the non-alcoholic kind), feed your body nutritiously, listen to music that makes you feel good.

Hollywood Beach in Florida, down the street from where I live. It's where I take my ocean dips

Yes, do all that. And consider five additional acts that will instantly shift your mood and help you better enjoy your trip - especially when things don’t unfold as planned!

1.    Push the Engage Button

When we feel anxious, we tend to retreat into the drama of our minds. One negative thought feeds the next, and before we know it, we have checked into mental jail. 
Here’s how you get out of jail: Chances are, there are people around you. Find the ones that have a smile on their face. Don’t isolate. Don’t hide behind your tech gadgets. Smile back. Engage in conversation. This works especially well with strangers because they will surprise you.  

Stay away from war stories. Otherwise, what you talk about simply doesn’t matter. Neuroscientific research overwhelmingly shows that when we tune into a positive frequency with another person, the benefit of the exchange endures well beyond the actual conversation. A win in the present moment, and a win beyond the duration of the exchange!

One of many outsized murals in Miami's vibrant Wynwood Arts District

2.    Focus on Where You Are

Don’t want to talk to a stranger? Another way of getting away from mind-chatter is to simply focus on a physical object around you. An advertisement billboard. The outline of a plane on the runway. The sun peering out from behind a cloud. The exquisite shape of a tree in a field.

It helps if the object you contemplate is beautiful to you. Even if it isn’t, you have suddenly shifted from a mental obsession to something that is real. Something that is right in front of you, in the present moment. You will feel just a little calmer.

Lifeguard station in Manhattan Beach, in the Southbay area of Los Angeles

3.    Get Podcast-Inspired

Listening to music we love is a superb way to manage our mood. Consider listening to a podcast or two, instead. A great podcast is music on steroids. Holidays are, statistically speaking, prime podcast listening times. Great. A podcast is music for the brain, for the heart, the soul. Select a podcast source that you know will make you laugh, challenge you, uplift you. The moment you listen to your podcast, you no longer disengage from life. You’re engaging with a conversation that transcends your present travel circumstances. How cool is that!

Don’t have a favorite podcast? Check out Creative Warriors. I was Jeffrey Shaw’s Thanksgiving guest. We chat about to how to brazenly celebrate life during the holidays. Our conversation will uplift, I promise. 

One of the many totally deserted beaches on North Caicos, in the Turks and Caicos Islands

4.    Practice Self-Talk

If you already practice self-talk, you know how quickly well-chosen self-talk shifts how you feel in any situation. “Boy, I’m having a crappy trip” may reflect how you actually feel in the moment. It will also keep you stuck there. “Boy, I’m having a great trip” will likely ring hollow. You know it’s a bunch of baloney.

Self-talk that affirms a truth about you which transcends the reality of the moment WILL create a shift. If you are someone who likes people, “I thrive in the company of fellow humans” may be helpful self-talk in a situation where folks are frustrating the heck out of you. This self-talk isn’t baloney. You are affirming something that is true for you – and yes, your mood will shift.

Bicycling through Berlin with my friend Cassis, film music composer and Berlin resident. An awesome way to soak in the city.

5.    Give it Up

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Give up your idea of the perfect trip. Give up your story of how things should unfold. Give it up, because it’s not happening. Accept what’s going on. Yes, surrender. 

You and I know this is not easy to do. Surrender doesn’t happen by itself, it’s a conscious decision we make. The moment we do, however, we feel the tension on our bodies fade away. It truly is instant. We decide, and our body follows suit. Better yet, we are mentally ready for all of the unexpected events that are about to unfold. These events were not part of our perfect-trip-story – but you know what, they may be better than what we had envisioned.

These 5 simple habits will evoke palpable mood shifts for you. They can be life-savers during a hectic travel week. The good news is, they work the rest of the year, as well. They help us take our power back in any situation where we have no control. Apply them, and enjoy!

 A side street in Old Havana

People are your friends – really. 
    Look for the person that smiles. Smile back. 
Podcasts are your friends
Recalibrate your mood 
Affirmation
The mental shift. Surrender

Achim Nowak is an international authority on presence and interpersonal connection. His first two books--Infectious and Power Speaking--have become essential leadership development tools with Fortune 500 executives and entrepreneurs. Achim's work integrates a wealth of experience in the personal transformation field, actor training, conflict resolution, and spiritual practice. He has been featured on 60 Minutes, NPR, Fox News, and in the Miami Herald. His weekly Energy Boost message offers practical tools for creating an energized life and has a devoted following across the globe. Achim lives in Miami, Florida.

Achim Nowak is the author of The Moment: A Practical Guide to Creating a Mindful Life in a Distracted World (New Page Books).