Travel Anxiety: The Pressure to Make the Most of Every Minute Often Pulls Us Away from the Present — Reflections from Javier Labourt
In the La Vanguardia interview titled “Javier Labourt, psychologist: ‘The anxiety of making the most of every minute of a trip often pulls us away from the only place where reality happens — the present moment’”, travel psychologist Javier Labourt addresses a common tension among travelers: the internal pressure to “do it all” often produces the opposite of enjoyment. Labourt invites readers to reframe travel as a conscious psychological practice.
Travel and the time paradox
Labourt notes that many people carry a performance-driven mindset even into their travels: “see everything,” “miss nothing,” “optimize every second.” When this mentality clashes with the natural pace of a destination, it can trigger anxiety, frustration, and transform travel into yet another obligation.
One of his central ideas is that this anxiety about making the most of every minute distances travelers from the present — the only place where reality is truly experienced. Instead of engaging fully with what is happening, people follow a mental script imposed by external or self-imposed expectations.
Preparing before departure: a psychological key
For Labourt, part of the work begins even before setting off: reflecting on personal expectations, emotional state, fears, and desires. Understanding what mindset we bring into a trip allows for greater awareness along the way and prevents automatic reactions to the unexpected.
During the journey itself, he recommends frequent pauses: stopping, noticing, writing, and feeling. These intentional pauses help internalize the experience and dismantle the idea that “everything must be seen now.”
A mixed model: balance between structure and flow
Labourt proposes a mixed model: planning certain days with a clear itinerary while leaving others open to spontaneity. This balance offers both the security of structure and the freedom of flow. For him, it is the best way to let relaxation and inner experience arise organically without becoming obligations.
Traveler’s anxiety, fatigue, and emotional vulnerability
The psychologist also warns that both body and mind undergo changes during travel: time zone shifts, disrupted routines, lack of sleep, irritability. These physical strains interact with mental pressures, and when combined with performance-driven expectations, they can lead to deeper emotional vulnerability instead of enjoyment.
Recognizing that fatigue and vulnerability are part of the journey — and approaching them with curiosity and acceptance rather than rejection — is an essential step.
Beyond the destination: internalizing the journey
One of Labourt’s most powerful reflections is that the richest journey is not the one with the greatest variety of landscapes, but the one that changes the traveler internally. When travelers allow themselves to be conscious, to welcome what arises, and to avoid judging their own pace, the journey becomes a true emotional transformation.
Once this transformation occurs, the tools learned while traveling — pausing, reflecting, embracing novelty — can begin to transfer into everyday life.
Practical applications for mindful travelers
- Start a journaling or emotional recording practice during the trip to sustain inner memory.
- Schedule “do nothing” moments that are not mandatory rest, but open observation.
- Dialogue with yourself beforehand: ask “What do I want this trip to bring me internally?”
- Accept mistakes and the unexpected as part of the emotional journey.
- Avoid evaluating yourself based on how “successful” the trip was.
Closing thoughts
This article summarizes key reflections shared by Javier Labourt in his La Vanguardia interview about travel anxiety, the pressure to maximize every minute, and its impact on the experience of being present. You can read the full interview here.
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