If you’ve been craving a trip but feel too overwhelmed, too busy, or too stuck to start planning, you’re not alone. And here’s the good news: you don’t need a fully formed plan to get unstuck. Just a tiny spark of momentum.
Because once momentum kicks in, everything gets easier: decisions, clarity, and the confidence to build a trip you’ll actually love.
One thing I see again and again in my work with clients is this: momentum shows up after you take the first small step, not before.
You don’t even need to book a flight or commit to a destination. Momentum is created by the little actions — the ones that spark clarity, excitement, and direction.
So if you want to make travel a bigger part of your life in 2026, here are five simple ways to build momentum this month (even if you barely feel ready).
Many people think they need to “know everything” before they can start planning. Maybe they’re unsure about budget, time frame, or destination, and they postpone the whole thing.
But the smallest action can actually start your momentum.
Try something simple:
Look up one destination you’re curious about
Bookmark a hotel that feels aligned
Save flight alerts
Make a short list of places that excite you
These tiny steps do more than move the plan forward, they create emotional momentum. They turn planning from “I don’t know where to start” into “Oh, I can do this.”
A two-minute action today can unlock real clarity tomorrow.
2. Get Clear on Your Why
When clients tell me they feel overwhelmed or indecisive, it’s almost always because they’re trying to plan before they’ve clarified their why.
Ask yourself:
What do I actually want to feel on this trip?
What am I hoping this time away helps me reconnect with?
Do I want rest? Adventure? Connection? Inspiration?
When you know your intention, the planning becomes easier and the noise falls away.
In my coaching work, I’ve seen how powerful it is when someone names their intention out loud. Once they articulate what they want (rest, inspiration, connection, adventure, etc.) the planning gets so much easier.
Clarity is momentum.
You don’t need a full afternoon or a week off to get inspired. Some of the best ideas come from the smallest pockets of stillness.
Try:
A quiet 10-minute coffee with no screens
A walk around the neighborhood while imagining dream destinations
Journaling on what you want your next chapter of travel to look like
When you give yourself even a sliver of space, the ideas start to surface.
And with space comes direction.
You don’t need your whole itinerary to build momentum. Just one anchor.
Anchors could be:
A date range
A general region
A budget range
A travel intention (for example: “We want ease,” or “We want connection”)
Anchors don’t limit you. They create freedom by reducing the decision fatigue that keeps you stuck.
Once an anchor is in place, the rest of the plan often falls into place far more easily.
You don’t have to figure out everything alone.
Support (whether from a partner, a friend, or a travel coach) can be the exact thing that moves you from “thinking about it” to actually taking steps.
Sometimes momentum comes from:
Talking through ideas with someone who truly listens
Getting help narrowing the options
Having a guide who understands your travel style
Letting someone else handle the hard parts
The moment you stop carrying the entire process by yourself, everything gets easier.
Momentum doesn’t come from big leaps. It comes from small, thoughtful choices that reflect who you are and what you want.
Whether you’re planning something for 2026, 2027, or simply dreaming about possibilities, your next trip can start today with one tiny, intentional step.
And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
I help travelers uncover what they truly want from their time away and design trips that feel aligned, intentional, and deeply restorative.
✨ Ready to build momentum?