There is something very freeing about sliding into the driver’s seat and heading out onto the open road.

It offers a chance to experience the world at a slower, more intimate pace than flying over in a plane. However, many women are hesitant to embark alone or with only women companions, not feeling prepared to meet the many challenges that can arise. I believe, however, with some advanced planning and preparation, women can indeed enjoy an extended trip by automobile.

I recently traveled to red rock country in Utah, a few states over from my home in California, USA. Several hiccups and inconveniences along the way inspired me to write this article, in hopes it helps other women set out, well prepared and ready to explore.

Plan Ahead – Well in Advance

Decide what you want to see, then calculate the distance for the round trip to decide if it’s feasible in the number of days you plan to be away. I can only comfortably drive about five hours a day, so I planned three nights of travel time each way.

I planned my overnights in towns that were interesting, either for their beauty or history, with sites in town that I could visit each morning before heading out, so I wouldn’t feel like those days were only consumed by driving.

Make Reservations

I reserved my hotel/motel stays weeks before I left. Even though I was traveling in October, which is post peak season, many locations were still very busy, so I felt secure knowing I would have a confirmed reservation waiting for me at the end of a long drive.

Be sure to confirm your reservation, print out the information and carry a file of your itinerary, physical addresses, receipts and confirmations with you. If you book online and don’t receive a response, call. Some hotels, in more remote areas, are a little behind the digital age.

Share Your Itinerary

Send your plan to a friend or family member, so someone knows where you are each day. Check in with them on a regular basis, daily even, if that feels right to you. Be sure to include the contact information for the hotels so they can follow up if they don’t hear from you as arranged.

Check Weather and Road Conditions Frequently

If you’re driving over mountains or across deserts, the conditions can change quickly and dramatically. Be sure to watch weather patterns, not only for your location, but for the region, as storms miles away can cause flash floods or high winds.

Get Your Car a Check Up and Keep It Happy on the Road

Take your car to a trusted mechanic, explain the situation and ask them to check belts, filters, coolant, power steering and brake fluids, oil, running and headlights, tire pressure and the condition of the spare.

Know how to change a tire, locate the spare and review how to use the jack. Some areas may be beyond cell phone service or road service may not be immediately available.

Be sure to carry a pressure gauge with you and do a visual inspection every morning, ensuring your tires are properly inflated and there are no fluids leaking from under the car.

While on the road, top off your gas tank before leaving for the day. Never drive on less than a half a tank. You never know when you might get stuck behind a traffic collision, have to take a detour or experience prolonged delays for road construction.

Use GPS

Live mapping and online navigation have changed my life. I feel so much more confident with them to guide me. I use Siri on my iPhone but there are numerous other choices. Siri connects to the Maps app and gives me verbal directions well in advance. It also warns of traffic hazards, road construction, offers alternative routes, displays the speed limit and projects arrival times.

However, don’t depend solely on electronic devices, carry detailed paper maps of your route and know how to navigate with one. There are still many areas of the world where there is no signal to receive GPS support.

Things to Carry with You

I was 200 miles from the nearest store when my car displayed “Change Key Fob Battery,” and I realized I neglected to bring a second set of keys. I was lucky and made it to the store to purchase a battery without consequence, but it did make for a very anxious drive.

Here’s a list of items that will help ensure you have what you need to stay safe and comfortable when the unexpected arises:

• Extra set of keys – Store them separately, one in your luggage and one on your person, for example.
• Extra pair of reading glasses and sunglasses.
• Drinking water – One gallon per day per person if you’re driving through a desert.
• Nutritious snacks – Granola bars are a convenient source of calories that don’t need refrigeration.
• Blankets or a sleeping bag – If you get stuck somewhere at high altitude or overnight, you won’t want to waste fuel to run the heater and staying warm is critical.
• Phone car charger – Test it before you leave to be sure you have the proper connections. I also carry a fully charged external charger.
• Printed contact information for family and friends. We all rely on our smart phones to store our information these days, but if its batteries are dead, you won’t be able to retrieve any information in case of an emergency.

Travel is so important for me, not just as a welcomed relief from my everyday life, but to remind me how big the world is and how varied and exciting it can be when I get out into it. Staying safe and feeling confident in my abilities to venture out sets me free to experience more than the well-traveled path. I hope this article encourages you to do the same.

Happy trails and safe travels.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you ventured on a road trip by yourself? Was it easy to plan and prepare for it? Why did you choose to hit the road rather than fly?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Since 2012, Charlotte Cho has been leading the way when it comes to Korean skincare. She and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Dave launched Soko Glam to bring the best of Korean beauty into our lives. They launched their own brand, Then I Met You, in 2018 and it’s been a hit since. The brand has never even done a sale — until now. Then I Met You’s Friends & Family sale is here but only for a few days short days.

If you’ve been wanting to try the best in Korean beauty technology, such as cleansing balms, tonics, lip masks and more, this is the sale you’ve been waiting for. In fact, Then I met You fans have been asking for a discount since the brand launched. Now, four years later, they can finally grab their favorite brand for 20 percent off. Shop some of our favorites below but there’s a lot more where this came from. The sale ends after the weekend and certain products have already sold out.

Then I Met You.

Birch Milk Refining Toner

Equal parts hydrating Korean toner and exfoliating Western acid treatment, this skin-refining toner brightens and clears pores.

Then I Met You.

The Giving Essence

Ellagic acid, black chokeberry and galactomyces work to brighten skin, hydrate and reduce the appearance of pores.

Image: Then I Met You.

Calming Tide Gel Cream

Hydrate, stimulate collagen production and bolster the skin’s moisture barrier with this antioxidant-rich moisturizer. The gel formula feels almost cooling going on to calm any skin irritation.

Then I Met You.

Honey Dew Lip Mask

Antioxidant-rich honeydew, moisturizing squalane and honey come together in this luxe lip mask.

Then I Met You.

Rosé Resurfacing Facial Mask

A blend of 6 percent glycolic and lactic acid exfoliates dead skin cells and leaves skin silky smooth in just 15 minutes.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Since 2012, Charlotte Cho has been leading the way when it comes to Korean skincare. She and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Dave launched Soko Glam to bring the best of Korean beauty into our lives. They launched their own brand, Then I Met You, in 2018 and it’s been a hit since. The brand has never even done a sale — until now. Then I Met You’s Friends & Family sale is here but only for a few days short days.

If you’ve been wanting to try the best in Korean beauty technology, such as cleansing balms, tonics, lip masks and more, this is the sale you’ve been waiting for. In fact, Then I met You fans have been asking for a discount since the brand launched. Now, four years later, they can finally grab their favorite brand for 20 percent off. Shop some of our favorites below but there’s a lot more where this came from. The sale ends after the weekend and certain products have already sold out.

Then I Met You.

Birch Milk Refining Toner

Equal parts hydrating Korean toner and exfoliating Western acid treatment, this skin-refining toner brightens and clears pores.

Then I Met You.

The Giving Essence

Ellagic acid, black chokeberry and galactomyces work to brighten skin, hydrate and reduce the appearance of pores.

Image: Then I Met You.

Calming Tide Gel Cream

Hydrate, stimulate collagen production and bolster the skin’s moisture barrier with this antioxidant-rich moisturizer. The gel formula feels almost cooling going on to calm any skin irritation.

Then I Met You.

Honey Dew Lip Mask

Antioxidant-rich honeydew, moisturizing squalane and honey come together in this luxe lip mask.

Then I Met You.

Rosé Resurfacing Facial Mask

A blend of 6 percent glycolic and lactic acid exfoliates dead skin cells and leaves skin silky smooth in just 15 minutes.

“Happiness climbs high early in
adulthood but begins to slide downward in the late thirties and early forties,
dipping to a low in the fifties. But we recover quickly from this slump, and
well-being later in life often exceeds that of our younger years.”—Daniel Pink

In When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Pink debunks the myth about “going over the hill” by explaining that everything declining after the 50s is simply untrue. Many Sixty and Me blogs are testament to that point, now scientific research backs us up.

Pink says we may think “everything is
timing,” but in reality, “timing is everything.” He claims that not only should
all our decisions consider timing, but also, we should aim to understand the
deeper rhythms that underlie everything.

Here are a few pearls of wisdom about
beginnings, middles, and endings that we might find useful as we climb the
ladder of age.

“Beginnings Have a Far Greater Impact Than Most of Us
Understand”

Pink reminds us that how we begin
something matters from start to finish. He offers three fundamental principles
for successful beginnings: “start right, start again, and start together.” Though
we may not feel that way, we have the power to influence the beginnings.

Start Right

Before you even begin, visualize
successfully meeting the goal you are setting out to do. Then “stockpile
motivation,” considering everything you might need to keep yourself motivated
throughout.

It’s important to set milestones along
the way, valuing small achievements that move you toward the right direction.

Fresh Start

If a beginning does not go well, you
can always start again. In other words, your life is full of fresh starts. If,
for example, you struggle with maintaining your weight, or getting regular exercise,
or even with learning a skill, there is always an opportunity to begin again.

I recently met a woman who’d never
been an athlete. At 60 she began competitive rowing. Her team ended up winning
a national championship.

Personally, I always wanted to publish a book and have piles of unfinished manuscripts. At 60, my first book came out. Later on I published another one.

Start Together

When a goal seems difficult, find
allies and partners to join with you. My rowing friend is on a senior team. In
my case, I write with co-authors. Sharing the task keeps us engaged and motivated,
while taking away some of the stress.

Middle Points

Pink’s data shows a midpoint slump not
only for humans, but even for apes. Somehow, whether it is in the middle of
life (a point where more divorces and affairs occur) or the middle of a project
or undertaking, the pattern is similar.

As we approach the midpoint, it’s easy
to become overwhelmed and discouraged.

For instance, I wanted to revive my knowledge of Hebrew in preparation for an upcoming trip to Israel. I had been fluent in my 20s, but after 40 years of not speaking it, I was more than rusty.

Using a variety of tools, I studied
for several months. However, at a certain point, I realized this was a bigger
undertaking than I had expected. I slowed down and stopped.

Pink’s point is, though, you can take
steps to counteract the midpoint slump. Be aware when it happens and use it to
re-energize yourself and move back into action. If you need to, imagine you are
only behind by a little to get you back on board.

One study he cites shows that teams
who were behind by one point at half-time ended up winning 58% of the time.
They were motivated to push harder than others who perhaps became complacent
about their lead.

Endings

Pink makes a surprising point about
endings. Film-makers discovered that “Adding a small component of sadness to an
otherwise happy moment elevates that moment rather than diminish it.”

The author of When goes on to
say that there is something about a deeper ending that touches us at a profound
level. Maybe that is because the twists and turns of life give us depth and
touch our hearts.

When it comes to endings, we tend to
give an extra push toward the finish line. By being aware of that, we can aim
to get the most out of our lives as we grow older.

Closing on a High Note

In the Netflix film Satan and Adam, an unlikely team, Sterling Magee, an older black musician, and Adam Gussow, a younger white harmonica player, join to play the blues on the streets of Harlem. After 12 successful years of touring and recording, Magee has a nervous breakdown and stroke.

A
few years later, dejected and silent, Magee lives in a Florida assisted living
facility. Amazingly, a staff person recognizes his talent and helps him find
music again.

As
a result, 77-year-old Magee and Gussow perform again at the New Orleans Jazz
Fest. The film portrays Magee’s decline followed by his amazing return to life,
something all of us can do.

So then, as we contemplate our lives
in the years past 60, it is so important to view the richness of the continual
cycles of beginnings, middles, and endings, and to embrace the numerous
opportunities to harness our motivation.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you ready to begin something new?
What might that be? Or, are you lacking motivation to finish something you’ve
already started? What can you do to counteract your slump and bring your
project to the end? Please share in the comments below and let’s have a
conversation.

It would be great to find an effortless, fun, easy and irreversible way to [insert your biggest wish here]. Like finding that perfect shade of lipstick, a dress that makes you look like a princess, or a chocolate dessert with fewer calories than celery. We can dream, right?

Once in a while, a single, seemingly small change can do just that. I know because it happened to me. I’m now over 60, and I credit my 15+ lb weight loss to cutting out nighttime snacking. Moreover, this has helped me keep the weight off for more than seven years.

No muss, no fuss, just made the decision to stop eating at 7:00 p.m. and have not looked back. Did it happen overnight? I wish. Keep in mind it takes a 3,500-calorie deficit to lose a pound of fat.

Plus, it wasn’t as if I polished off a sleeve of Oreos and half pint of Chunky Monkey each night and then suddenly decided to eat nothing after dinner. It was a handful or two of crackers or nuts, nothing huge, but I didn’t need the calories.

After a few months, I noticed my pants fitting looser. I was surprised when I stepped on the scale for my annual checkup at the doctor’s to find I’d lost more than 10 lbs. That inspired me to keep going up this new and improved habit. In the end, I lost about 18 pounds or so in that year.

The best part? I was never hungry. Seriously. Cutting out 500 or more calories would’ve been a different story. Drastic measures rarely work in the long run.

Also note that if I’d been intentionally striving for weight loss, which I had not, those 18 pounds would have amounted to approximately 1 & 1/2 lbs. per month!!

It Starts by Making Small Changes

Would you be discouraged by that rate of progress? Most people would. It’s exactly why it’s good to make these changes, set ’em and forget ’em, knowing you’re doing something good for your body. Lifestyle changes do not have deadlines.

Making small changes such as these is much easier to maintain than vowing to never eat chocolate, cut out all bread, ban the booze and a hundred other things you know you’ll never be able to do for the rest of your life.

Skipping a small snack at night? Doable. If this is your issue, I have a few tips that may help you, too.

Eat More During the Day

If you’re starving at night, chances are you didn’t eat enough during the day. If you have a bigger lunch and have a healthy snack mid-afternoon – the “witching hour” for cravings – you simply won’t be hungry at night.

Try not to let more than four hours pass between meals so you avoid becoming too hungry to make sensible dietary decisions.

Include Protein at Every Meal

Lean proteins like fish, eggs, dairy, lean meats and beans do a bunch of wonderful things. Protein revs your metabolism, keeps hunger at bay and fills you up.

Strive to include 20 grams (approximately 3 oz) with each meal and about half that with snacks. Swap out any carb-loaded meals – I’m lookin’ at you, bagel for breakfast! – with a protein to fend off hunger longer.

Set Small Goals

Ideally, you want to stop eating two, preferably three hours before you go to sleep. If you typically eat up until you turn off your nightstand light, begin with a half hour and train yourself to gradually go for longer periods of time between your last meal and sleep.

Find a Substitute

Cutting out snacking may also mean you’re cutting out something to do with your hands. A hot, calorie-free, comforting beverage at night fits the bill.

I sip on herbal tea. The downside? Pee dreams. You know, those dreams when you spend half the night looking for a bathroom because in real life you have to go. So, maybe knitting or coloring may work better for you. Just make sure it’s non-food related.

Fix Your Mindset

I talk a lot about mindset because we often see these types of changes in a negative way. Telling yourself you “can’t” have something makes you want it even more.

Flip that switch. Know why you’re making this change and give yourself time to adjust. I’m talking about a month or two, not a couple of days.

Saying, “Oh, well, I tried this for a week and it didn’t work for me, so I may as well go back to my bad habits and forget the whole thing,” is an excuse. Stop doing it.

You can do this! I did it, and I don’t possess any superpowers. At least none that I’m aware of yet. That could change any given moment.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you tend to eat at night? Let’s chat about it! Leave a comment down below to get the conversation going.