Life moves faster when you’re traveling.
With so many exciting, new experiences, how can you possibly remember them all? Instead of focusing on how to document everything there, choose a system before you go. By having a plan to record each moment, you can live in the moment, too.
1. Keep a travel blog.
Maintain a blog to keep friends and family up-to-date on your adventure. Tell a story—don’t simply write about what you did. Reveal your thoughts and have a genuine voice to keep the reader engaged. Include pictures to supplement your anecdotes. Unsure about starting your own blog? Pitch to a local publication or apply to write for the Her Campus Study Abroad Blog.
2. Send postcards home.
In each city, buy a postcard and write what you did that day. Get a stamp and send it to your home address. When you return, you’ll have a stack of memories that will take you right back.
3. Make a video.
You can capture moments in a photograph, but you can record memories in a video. Take a small camera with you and film everything from influential events to everyday moments.
4. Start a collection.
Pick an item (preferably small), and buy one in each place you visit. Love magazines? Collect international issues of Vogue. Instead of the usual postcards, magnets or stamps, choose something that you can wear such as earrings, scarves or brooches. Wearing these unique accessories at home will both keep the memories alive and serve as great conversation starters!
5. Write in a journal.
Invest in a classic journal and document your travels the old fashioned way. Your unfiltered thoughts on paper creates a meaningful momento.
6. Take a photo a day.
Someone you met. Food you ate. A street you crossed. Snap a quick pic each day to remember the little things. Put them in a Facebook album, upload them to Instagram or create a Pinterest board so you can relive your experience abroad through photos.
7. Create a photo book.
Websites like Snapfish and Shutterfly make it easy to create photo books. Choose a layout, insert your favorite images and order! Keep the book on your coffee table so you can casually flip through it when you’re feeling nostalgic.
How are you documenting your summer travels? Tell us by tweeting at @HerCampusAU (and if you haven’t booked a trip yet, check out Contiki’s affordable tours for the ultimate summer vacation)!