Infographic
Why Family Travel Feels Harder Than It Looks
The Sandwich Traveler Deep Dive
1. The Iceberg Effect
"Everyone sees the trip. Your body feels the load."
The Visible Trip
The Hidden Load
- Clearing work aggressively before you go.
- Packing for kids (and maybe parents).
- Managing meds, refills, and flare worries.
- Catching up on everything you "missed" afterwards.
Your pain is not ‘too much’ — the load on you is.
2. Where Your Energy Leaks
On a typical family trip
Physical Leaks
- • Standing in queues with no support.
- • Lifting bags "just this once".
- • Hard beds, strange pillows, stairs.
Invisible Leaks
- • Worrying about slowing everyone down.
- • Masking pain to "keep it light".
- • Decision fatigue from planning.
"Pain planning is not about being weak; it’s about plugging obvious leaks."
3. Reframing the Myths
"The story in your head matters as much as the seat you sit in."
Myth: "If I ask for rest, I’m ruining it for my family."
Reframe: "Rest is how I stay present for the parts that matter."
Myth: "Good parents keep up."
Reframe: "Good parents show kids how to listen to their bodies."
Myth: "If I can’t do everything, I shouldn’t go."
Reframe: "Doing less but remembering more still counts."
4. Plan for the Body,
Not Just the Itinerary
Same Destination. Different Bodies.
Standard Trip
Day 3 Crash
TBL Style
Rest Block
Rest Block
Present at Dinner
TBL-Style Planning means:
- 1 headliner activity per day.
- Built-in rest before & after travel.
- Backup plans agreed in advance.