When you're traveling light, you'll want to pay special consideration to the shoes you chose to bring. It's pretty easy to pick up t-shirts, underwear, shorts, pants, socks, and toiletries on the road, but a good pair of travel shoes (and at a decent price) may be harder to come by. Besides, there's nothing quite as comfortable as a pair of broken-in shoes to make traveling so much nicer.
The beauty of a pair of classic sneakers is that they can be as dressed up or dressed down as you make them. In fact, Converse even markets a line of their Chuck Taylors as wedding sneakers. Also, they don't take up much room in your luggage if you want to bring them along as a secondary pair of shoes.
Again, your personal style dictates the brand. California surfers often gravitate towards flip flops from Rainbow Sandals, a company from Orange County, California. Customers tend to love Rainbow Sandals because the shoes mold to their feet over time, making them incredibly comfortable.
Then there are Birkenstock sandals. These classics used to be relegated to hippies, but they're becoming more fashionable now that more people are discovering how amazingly comfortable they are once they're broken in.
And don't forget the original Chaco sandals! The company has been around since its inception in 1989 by a Colorado rafting guide, and the sandals were created to be used both in and out of water.
Here are 4 Footwear Choices When Traveling Light
The Classic Sneaker
If your trip doesn't require dress shoes or any other type of specialty shoe, consider a pair of classic sneakers. This category includes Chuck Taylors from Converse, the Old Skool line from Vans, the Samba Classic from Adidas, the Serrano from Onitsuka Tiger, and various re-issued retro styles from brands such as Puma, Nike, and Reebok. The beauty of a pair of classic sneakers is that they can be as dressed up or dressed down as you make them. In fact, Converse even markets a line of their Chuck Taylors as wedding sneakers. Also, they don't take up much room in your luggage if you want to bring them along as a secondary pair of shoes.
The Urban Boot
One of the most versatile shoes for traveling is a comfortably worn-in pair of Dr. Martens. The Dr. Martens brand is known for making stylish slip-resistant shoes for men and women since 1901, and a pair of their boots can be worn in a variety of contexts, from semi-formal to casual. If the 1990s taught us nothing else, we learned that "Docs" (as they're called by fans of the brand) could be worn with shorts, jeans, chinos, dresses, and even formal suits. Since a pair of Docs can take up more space in your luggage than most of the shoes listed here, wear them as you travel and pack a lighter secondary style of shoe. Once you break in a pair of Docs, they'll be more than comfortable enough for travel days.
Docs come in many styles, including classic lace-up boots of varying heights, Chelsea-style boots, Oxford-style low-tops, sandals, tassel loafers, Mary Janes, brogue-style shoes, and slip-ons. The company makes vegan alternatives in many of the styles.
Some of her recommendations have included the Merrell Vapor Glove 3, Vivobarefoot sandals, Ahinsa Bare Ankle Lifo+ vegan boots, and a few options from a company called Xero Shoes.
Docs come in many styles, including classic lace-up boots of varying heights, Chelsea-style boots, Oxford-style low-tops, sandals, tassel loafers, Mary Janes, brogue-style shoes, and slip-ons. The company makes vegan alternatives in many of the styles.
Low-Profile Hiking Shoes
Another popular shoe choice for those traveling light are low-profile hiking shoes. Youheum Son, a minimalism life coach whose YouTube channel "Heal Your Living" inspires viewers to find joy in living more simply, often recommends a barefoot-style shoe as part of an overall goal of being more mindful while walking. "I try my best not to stomp, drag, or walk unevenly," she writes. "I also practice natural and organic movement through hiking, long-distance walking, gardening, and other activities."Some of her recommendations have included the Merrell Vapor Glove 3, Vivobarefoot sandals, Ahinsa Bare Ankle Lifo+ vegan boots, and a few options from a company called Xero Shoes.
Sandal Territory
For some, the measure of a terrific vacation is not having to wash any socks when you get back. If you're going to the beach or a tropical climate, you may need little else for your feet than a pair of flip flops or sandals. But sandals can be useful in other climates and terrains, such as summer in New Mexico or Colorado.
Again, your personal style dictates the brand. California surfers often gravitate towards flip flops from Rainbow Sandals, a company from Orange County, California. Customers tend to love Rainbow Sandals because the shoes mold to their feet over time, making them incredibly comfortable.
Then there are Birkenstock sandals. These classics used to be relegated to hippies, but they're becoming more fashionable now that more people are discovering how amazingly comfortable they are once they're broken in.
And don't forget the original Chaco sandals! The company has been around since its inception in 1989 by a Colorado rafting guide, and the sandals were created to be used both in and out of water.
We hope you find this article on 4 footwear choices when traveling light will help you prepare for your next adventure! Do you have a favorite travel shoe? Let us know in the comments.
Here's a range of tactics for avoiding homesickness when you're away from loved ones after the festive season:
Acceptance
First of all, it's quite normal to feel down after the holidays. In fact, New Year blues are part of a cycle, meaning they'll come and go. The first step to overcoming January blues is adopting an acceptance mindset, which means recognizing that things have gone back to normal. Rejecting reality is likely to lead to surges of hope followed by huge disappointments.
Make a Plan
After the high of a holiday, going back to the regular, boring routine is enough to lower anyone's spirits. Revive the excitement of anticipation by planning fun activities such as fun get-togethers with friends, a trip to take place in a few months, or start thinking of what you'll do over Easter. Use an international calling app that makes cheap international calls to include others back home in your plans. Whatever you plan, ensure the activities fit your budget, lifestyle, and will give you a thrill.
Stay Active
Get Your Finances in Order
Part of the New Year blues come from financial stress. We spend a lot of money on trips, food, and all forms of entertainment during the holidays. This leaves a lot of people with holiday debt. After the festivities, it's time to sit down and sort your financial situation. If you still have some money left, use it to settle a bill/debt right away. It's also important to set yourself a budget for the next few months until your finances are back in order.
Get a Grip on Jet Lag
People living abroad tend to travel across multiple time zones to be with loved ones during Christmas. Unfortunately, they may end up experiencing jet lag. The body clock takes time to adjust to the timing of light and darkness at the destination. This disrupted rhythm can cause certain unpleasant symptoms like a headache, poor concentration, tiredness, disorientation, and indigestion. Restoring your regular sleep pattern can help speed up the re-adjustment phase after the holidays.
Reframe the Situation
Whatever emotions you are experiencing, try making your circumstances work in your favor. For instance, think of the extra pounds you gained over Christmas as an incentive to finally start exercising and eating healthy. Some mood-boosting foods to stock up are those containing vitamin B like whole grains and those containing Omega-3 fatty acids such as oily fish. Reframing your situation will make you feel like you are in control of your life and not the other way around.
Be Sociable
Spending time with friends or even colleagues is another great mood-booster. If you just moved to a new country, it's time to perk up your social life. Fortunately, technology has made it possible to meet people from all walks of life. There are several apps for meeting new friends and keeping in touch at Christmas, including Bumble BFF, Friender, WeChat's 'shake' feature, and much more.
Laugh all the time
Laughter releases endorphins which instantly raise your spirits. When the festive season feels long gone and you have nothing exciting to look forward to, find humor in everyday things and avoid taking life too seriously. Lighten the load by making some jokes, reading a funny book, watching funny movies, going to comedy shows, or simply hanging out with friends who make you laugh. Plus, remembering memories of strange and funny moments during the festivities will surely get you giggling.
Stay Connected
Most of the New Year blues are related to having been around many people over the festive season and then suddenly finding yourself surrounded by few people or people you don't know that well. To lift your spirits, try and stay in touch with loved ones throughout the year. Luckily, keeping in touch at Christmas and after the festivities has been made easier and faster with technological advancements.
Those living or traveling abroad can now make cheap international calls with apps such as Whatsapp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Skype, WeChat, Google Duo, and much more. Although app-to-app chats are free, they require an internet connection. In the event that your loved ones haven't installed an internet connection or the older generation don't own or even know how to operate smartphones, you can use the Yolla app. This international calling app makes cheap calls to mobiles and landlines across the globe.
Hopefully, you won't ever need any of these tips, but here they are if you do. I hope you find them helpful. Please feel free to let us know how you get motivated after all the festivities in the comments!