Healthier Travel: Learning to Let Go of Control
In a recent interview with El Confidencial, travel psychologist Javier Labourt shared a reflection that resonates with many travelers: what happens when vacations, instead of relaxing us, actually become a source of pressure?
According to Labourt, this experience is far more common than we think. Traveling often carries expectations, plans, and even social mandates that—if not managed—can generate more anxiety than enjoyment.
The Pressure to “Make the Most of It”
Labourt explains that many travelers feel the need to see everything, photograph every corner, and follow routes to the letter. This behavior is often linked to FOMO (fear of missing out).
In his words: “The need to see everything, take photos everywhere, and follow routes to the millimeter is strongly related to FOMO. That fear of missing out is tied to an illusion of control.”
In other words, travelers often try to control every single aspect of their trip—when, in reality, what they need most during vacations is the opposite: spaces to let go of control.
Travel as a Mirror of Daily Life
What makes Labourt’s perspective compelling is how he connects the way we travel with the way we live day to day. Many people with demanding routines, packed schedules, and little flexibility tend to reproduce the same mindset when they travel.
Instead of resting, they transfer the pressure of meeting goals into a new context: seeing every museum, trying every recommended restaurant, visiting each “must-see” spot. When they fail to achieve it all, frustration follows.
Thus, travel stops being a source of pleasure and turns into just another to-do list.
The Proposal: Let Go and Create Space
Labourt suggests that a healthier way to travel involves leaving room for spontaneity, embracing the unexpected, and allowing oneself to improvise. It’s not about avoiding planning altogether, but rather finding balance.
As he states in the interview: “To travel in a healthier way, you need to make space for letting go of control.” This idea captures his approach: travel can become an opportunity to practice what many of us struggle with in daily life—surrendering, opening up to the unexpected, and enjoying without calculation.
Practical Tips for Traveling with Less Pressure
Building on Labourt’s perspective, here are a few simple strategies for a lighter, healthier travel experience:
- Plan only what’s necessary: choose a couple of main activities and leave free time in the schedule.
- Accept that you can’t see it all: focus on what resonates most personally and let go of the rest.
- Travel for yourself, not for the photo: use the camera as a memory, not as an obligation to document every second.
- Listen to your body: rest when tired, eat when hungry, even if it doesn’t fit the plan.
- Embrace the unexpected: leave room to get lost in the city, discover a local café, or meet new people.
A Needed Cultural Shift
Labourt’s reflection points to something deeper: how society values productivity and achievement, even in leisure. Too often, travel becomes a way to show accomplishments on social media, rather than a personal experience.
Changing that mindset not only helps us enjoy travel more, but also has positive effects on mental health and on the way we connect with daily life.
This article summarizes some of the key insights Javier Labourt shared in his interview with El Confidencial. 👉 Read the full interview here.