The time has finally come for you to embark on your next adventure. Maybe you finally took a leap of faith and decided to study abroad in Italy for a semester, maybe you and your family are going on a couple week long backpacking trip through South America, or maybe you are just traveling to California for a week to visit the campus of your dream university.

Whatever the case may be, people are often frightened that they won’t make the most out of their trip, that they will miss out on a very important experience, or that they will have an amazing time but won’t remember every detail after their trip is done. Here are two ways to make the most out of your travel experience.

The first tip is to remember to take pictures while remembering to live in the moment. Sometimes people get so scared that they will miss something that they will constantly post every pretty building, street performance, or cute selfie that they take on social media. And while this is great for looking back on your trip, it may make you too focused on capturing the perfect shot than actually experiencing the perfect moment. Pictures are an important part of any trip abroad, but make sure that you are looking at your surroundings more than you are looking at your phone screens, otherwise, you may miss something beautiful.

The second tip is to keep a journal. This may seem daunting to some people, but keeping a journal to write in every once in a while or every day can be one of the most prized possessions that you take back with you from your trip. You will be able to reflect on your days while you are actually on your trip but you will also be able to relive those memories through your writing when you return home.