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| Megan Batoon is a dancer-turned-travel series host and podcaster. Below, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s really like to travel for a living, manage pain and anxiety while abroad, and her must-try vacation secrets. |
| *This interview has been edited for length and clarity. |
| Q: |
You built a career out of traveling, which is a dream for many people. Can you share some little-known realities of what that really looks like? |
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| A: Much of my early travel experience centered around work where I was operating on someone else’s timeline. During my time filming with Netflix, our schedules were jam-packed with excursions and locations that needed to be visited promptly to stay on the production schedule.
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| I encourage travelers to pad some time to do “nothing,” no matter if they’re traveling for work or for pleasure. If you cram your schedule with too many activities, you won’t have time to enjoy yourself or even relax. If you’re too focused on trying to see everything, you might miss out on the adorable café or unique local stops hiding in plain sight that may end up being the highlight of your trip.
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| Q: |
Do you ever get stressed or anxious during the chaos of traveling? If so, how do you keep those feelings in check? |
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| A: I do have anxiety when it comes to traveling. I make sure to give myself time and leave for the airport 2 hours before my flight takes off so I’m not rushed. I’m also a huge proponent of TSA PreCheck. I’ve gotten through security within 30 seconds!
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| If I'm feeling anxious in air, I'll practice bilateral tapping, which is a somatic exercise where you alternately tap each side of your body to stimulate the vagus nerve, slow your heart rate, and soothe the body. I also practice meditation by sitting upright in my seat and taking deep breaths. I tell myself, “I’m breathing in ... I’m breathing out,” to keep me in the present moment, which can be extremely helpful during turbulence.
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| Q: |
You recently partnered with Advil to share your travel experiences and how to stop back pain from getting in the way. What inspired you to hop on board?
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| A: This partnership really spoke to me because I’ve been using Advil for aches and pains my entire life, so I was thrilled when they developed this new product that I know will specifically target my back pain. My friends even call me the “CEO of back pain.” |
| It truly felt like the perfect match because lately I’ve dealt with an increased amount of back pain, and now I have a go-to solution in Advil Dual Action Back Pain. I’m excited to spread the word to make sure travelers know [they can travel with less discomfort]. |
| Q: |
What are your top travel tips? |
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| A: When packing my luggage, I put a dryer sheet inside so all my clothes stay fresh and I keep a separate laundry bag for dirty clothes. I drink from a reusable water bottle on the way to the airport and utilize the refill stations when I arrive. Pro tip: Make sure to open your water bottle a bit before takeoff so it doesn’t explode with the air pressure! |
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