There was a moment on our long drive up Interstate 85 on Thursday when everything felt like it was about to fall apart. It was raining steadily outside, the kids were growing restless after just a couple hours in the van, and when I glanced down, I realized I was almost completely out of gas—literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, I was stuck on a call that I desperately needed to end but couldn’t. It was traveling at its worst: rushed and distracted.

I wish I could say the rest of the trip improved dramatically. In some ways, it did. My wife and I eventually wrapped up our respective calls, and the kids took a break from their devices to enthusiastically sing along to songs from Wicked and Mufasa. I played a bit of Lauryn Hill to remind them what good music sounds like. We had some bright spots, but by the end of our six-hour journey, I was exhausted.

Since we’re a big family that frequently takes road trips, we’ve learned a lot about what helps and what doesn’t. Simple strategies like preparing in advance, packing lightly, and taking breaks every few hours can make a huge difference. But one of the most important lessons we’ve learned is the necessity of building rest into our trips once we arrive at our destination. Sometimes it’s as simple as walking the dog at a rest stop, like I did at the gas station. Other times, it’s about truly pausing to relax, like I’m doing right now.

After we arrived late last night, the girls immediately noticed my exhaustion (even our six-year-old advised me to take out my contacts and rest!). With an early start planned for work today and more activities scheduled for tomorrow, I knew this afternoon would be my only real chance to recharge. Initially, I was tempted to jump into doing all the things, but I recognized that would leave me drained later on.

So, instead, I’ve chosen to relax. I’m enjoying sitting here with some fruit, appreciating the occasional visits from the girls as they drift in and out of the living room. In a few minutes, I might step out onto the rented rooftop porch and enjoy the view. I might even take a nap. Imagine that… resting for the journey. Now that’s a pretty good way to travel.

SDW3