5 Tips to Manage Feelings of Overwhelm When Planning a Trip to Europe

Planning a trip to Europe can be overwhelming.

Where do you go?

What do you do?

How do you get around?

I have a great post on figuring out WHERE to go in Europe as well as a podcast episode.

So do check those out.

But in this post I want to offer up some tips on WHAT to do once you know WHERE you’re traveling to.

You know, what to see, do and experience. 

Because it can be mind boggling at how many choices there are for things to see, do and experience in London, Paris, Berlin or even in the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Yes, it can be very overwhelming.

So here are some tips — in a step-by-step guide — to help you manage the overwhelm and to figure out what to do.

Step #1 Breathe — and realize that you can’t do it all

A client who I’m planning a trip to Europe for recently said, “I know I can’t do it all.”

Bravo!

I commend her for realizing this as many travelers think they can do it all — or at least they try!

I think deep down most of us know that we really can’t do, see and experience everything in any given destination.

But still we end up planning too much. 

So my advice for when you feel overwhelmed in planning your trip to Europe is to stop.

Take a step back.

Breathe.

Then repeat this to yourself — as many times as needed — “I can’t do it all!”

Once you have that firmly in your brain, then move on to step 2.

Step #2 Stop ‘shoulding’ all over yourself

Yes. 

A bit of play on words.

What I want you to do is think about what you WANT to do when planning a trip to Europe.

Not what you think you SHOULD do.

Case in point, I’ve had clients tell me that they feel they ‘should’ visit a certain site. 

For example, someone might say to me, “Well, I’m in Paris so I should go to the Louvre.”

“Are you into art?” I ask.

“Not really, but I am in Paris and it’s the place in Paris everyone goes.”

“But what do you WANT to do in Paris?” I ask as a follow up.

“Oh, I’m into food,” the client replies.

Uh…maybe we should focus on those kinds of activities for YOUR Paris experience.

So many of us think we should see, do or experience a certain site or town or … whatever … because it’s well known.

Or because a relative, friend, co-worker or your sister’s best friend tells you, “Oh, you’re going to England! You really need to visit Stonehenge.”

And you think to yourself, “Stonehenge is one of the more popular places in England. I probably should go see it.”

But in all honesty, you find sites like this a bit boring. 

It’s just a bunch of big stones in a circle. 

Don’t put sites or experiences on your list because you think you should.

Put things on your list that you WANT to see, do or experience.

This leads to step #3.

Step #4 Whittle your list down

This is the toughest part in planning a trip to Europe.

You know you only have 4 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence and 4 days in the Tuscan countryside.

So…

How do you want to spend that time?

What is the cream that rises to the top from that long list you created?

I suggest choosing 1 thing for each day — at least to start with.

So if you have 4 days in Rome, choose your top 4 on that list.

I know this is tough, but it will be helpful.

Really think about the sites you want to visit or experiences you want to have the most.

What calls to you?

Once you have those 4, then maybe put a couple of other experiences as your 2nd tier.

These are the ones you can add once you see if you truly have time for them.

You may want to pack your days full of activities or you may not.

This is entirely up to you and your style of travel.

I suggest at leaving at least half a day open so you can add something at the last minute that might strike your fancy.

This is the most difficult step.

But it’s one that you must do.

Be tough with yourself.

You can do this!

Step #5 Stop looking & researching

The final step is to STOP.

You will want to continue to research and look at ALL the things you can do. 

Don’t.

Just don’t.

You will just drive yourself crazy — and bring on that overwhelmed feeling again — if you keep researching.

You’ve got your plan for how to spend time in each of your destinations.

I’m not saying not to be open to other ideas.

But do stop looking and researching.

One piece of advice that I mentioned above is to leave some wiggle room in your schedule.

Because then you can add something that perhaps a local recommends once you arrive in Europe.

However, do stop with the looking and research.

There are the 5 steps to help you deal with overwhelm when planning a trip to Europe

I hope these steps help you manage any overwhelm you may feel as you plan out what to do on your trip to Europe.

Do you have some other advice?

I’d love to hear any tips.

Just drop them in the comments below or feel free to send me a note at lynne@wanderyourway.com

And if you’re still overwhelmed, I suggest setting up a travel consultation call with me to help you out.

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