Traveling solo in 7 countries taught me that my headspace can make or break a trip

• Solo travel can cause me to get stuck in my own head when I feel lonely and make mistakes. 
• But when I remember the perks of being alone, like total autonomy, I feel happier on my solo trips.
• Celebrating small wins and not dwelling on mistakes helps me maintain a positive mindset.

Traveling by train through the US, Canada, and Europe, sailing through the Caribbean Sea on the largest cruise ship in the world, and taking long-haul flights from the Pacific to the Atlantic — I've done it all by myself.

But I didn't always travel solo. Growing up, I took trips with family and friends. Back then, the idea of traveling alone was daunting to me.

Nowadays as an adult, I have to take most of my trips solo. Living in New York City, I often travel by myself to visit loved ones in different parts of the world, from Texas to Guam. 

I also find myself often adventuring alone because of my job as a reporter. Two years into travel reporting, I've explored my home country, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Honduras, the Bahamas, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec, all alone.

Getting used to navigating and exploring on my own took some time without having someone else to share the process with. And even after all these trips, I still find myself struggling to get out of my head when I'm all alone — especially in other countries. But I've also figured out how to improve my headspace during these tough moments.

Combat loneliness with gratitude 

When I'm traveling solo, one of the biggest obstacles in my head is loneliness.

But remembering why I am on the trip and the perks of being alone — like total freedom to do what I want — helps me feel better. 

In these moments of overwhelming isolation, I focus on feeling grateful for a job that allows me to travel and remember that being alone helps me grow and learn more about myself.

When I travel alone, I get to select every mode of transportation, accommodation, and activity. This gives me the chance to try new things and figure out what I like and what I don't like.

For example, my train trips taught me that I love riding the rails — even through the night. But booking bunks in shared cabins made me realize that I need to book private rooms for a good night's sleep.

Celebrate small wins, and don't dwell on mistakes

My trips are never perfect. There are times when I arrive at the wrong train station, get caught in the rain, and struggle to sleep. But when I dwell on these mishaps, I feel really negative and incapable of enjoying the experience.

So early in my travels, I make a conscious choice to push through and focus on what I can control, like arriving at stations early, buying an umbrella, and taking extra time to sleep. These small wins boost my spirits.

One time, I arrived in Vienna on an overnight train from Berlin in a shared cabin. I hadn't slept at all and was exhausted. I knew I couldn't check into my hotel until 3 p.m. and that I needed rest.

So I focused on what I could control and began looking for hotels to crash in. Once I left the station, I started going into random hotels to book a room. By the third hotel, I got one. I had to pay for the whole night even though I was only taking a nap, but I thought it was a small price to pay for a safe, comfortable place to doze. 

I framed this as a small win to celebrate. I got out of my head by focusing on positive problem-solving and found exactly what I needed. 

My trips are full of small wins like this, like finally walking across the bridge from New York to Canada after a 10-hour train ride from NYC, or finding a delicious kebab cart next to a park while exploring Vienna. These small wins help me stay positive and I'd highly recommend other solo travelers do the same if they're struggling.

Staying out of my head is challenging when I'm traveling solo, but when I focus on the positives, I find that by the end of every trip, I'm a better problem solver and a more confident person.