Frequent travel: the hidden cost of a life in motion

For over fifteen years, I’ve lived between airplanes, terminals, and hotel rooms. As a tourism journalist, travel is not just part of my routine, it’s my vocation. It’s supposed to be a privilege, and it is, but over time I’ve discovered that, despite the apparent glamour, living out of a suitcase can silently impact physical, emotional, and mental health.

Frequent travel isn’t always synonymous with enjoyment. Often, it means subjecting the body to constant changes in climate, schedules, food, and sleep. It also involves emotional disconnection, mental fatigue, and a persistent feeling of not belonging anywhere. This article isn’t a complaint, it's an urgent reflection: what price are we paying, those of us who live in constant transit?

The physical impact: a body in survival mode

One of the first effects I noticed was physical exhaustion. Sleep disturbances due to time zone changes, known as jet lag, reduce rest quality and weaken the immune system. Constant exposure to air conditioning in airplanes or waiting areas dries out the skin and mucous membranes, potentially increasing the risk of respiratory infections.

Additionally, eating out frequently, often high in sodium and saturated fats, disrupts the digestive system. Long flights and extended waiting times, combined with physical inactivity, may also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, especially when circulatory movement is neglected.

Solutions:

• Stay hydrated before, during, and after the trip.

• Bring healthy snacks to avoid processed foods.

• Schedule stretching routines or walks, even in airports or stations.

• Try to keep a regular sleep schedule as much as possible.

The emotional toll: permanent nostalgia

Being constantly on the move means missing celebrations, daily moments, and meaningful emotional bonds. Goodbyes become routine, and often, relationships are formed with an expiration date.

The concept of “home” becomes blurry. Living from hotel to hotel may sound appealing, but it also creates emotional disconnection from anything stable. This can lead to sadness, anxiety, or a sense of emptiness hidden behind the adrenaline of the next destination.

Solutions:

• Create personal rituals to maintain emotional connection in each place (carry a meaningful object, video call loved ones, keep a travel journal).

• Set clear breaks between trips to reconnect with emotional and family environments.

• Seek therapeutic support, especially if this lifestyle begins to affect emotional well-being.

Mental fatigue: always on alert

Planning trips, meeting tight schedules, and dealing with delays or unexpected events creates a constant state of hyper-alertness, which overburdens the nervous system. In the long term, this hyperactivity may lead to mental exhaustion or the “frequent traveler syndrome,” marked by loss of enthusiasm, lack of focus, and reduced performance.

The brain, far from enjoying, starts operating on autopilot.

Solutions:

• Practice meditation or conscious breathing techniques to slow brain activity.

• Reduce multitasking during travel.

• Include screen-free moments to restore mindfulness.

  
  

Coming back: return to where?

Frequent travel also means coping with the disorientation of returning. The well-known “post-travel depression” doesn’t just happen after vacation; for those who travel for work, it becomes an identity instability. Coming home can feel more foreign than arriving in a new country.

Solutions:

• Create a physical space that truly feels like home, even if it’s simple.

• Add symbolic anchors (plants, books, scents) that generate familiarity when returning.

• Plan your returns with activities that help you reconnect (gatherings with friends, personal routines, rest time).

  
  

Conclusion

Travel is, without a doubt, a source of growth and discovery. But when it becomes constant, without pauses, it can turn into an experience that wears down body, mind, and emotions. My story is far from unique, it reflects what many professionals in tourism, culture, the arts, and business face every day.

Perhaps it’s time we speak more openly about the cost of always being on the go. And above all, find ways to travel that connect us not only to the world, but to ourselves.  

Miguel Ledhesma