Vacation and stress are terms that shouldn’t be used in the same sentence. Unfortunately, they tend to pair up more frequently than people would like. Between planning, traveling, and trying to stick to an itinerary, a lot of people spend more time stressed than relaxed on their vacations. How can you prevent this from being an issue on your next trip?
5 Helpful Tips to Actually Enjoy Your Vacation
If you want to have an enjoyable vacation where you’re able to unwind and forget about the stresses that are present in your everyday life, you have to be proactive and plan ahead. Specifically, you’d do well to consider the following tips:
- Choose the Appropriate Length
The first step is to determine how long your vacation will be. There are a few factors to consider. First, you should take the destination into account. For example, if you’re traveling to Rome, Peppylocals suggests a three or four day stay in order to take in everything and see the sights. If you’re traveling to a smaller town, a day or two would probably suffice.
You also need to think about time zones and travel. If you’re traveling from New York City to Australia, for example, that’s a pretty long flight. You would need to take jet lag into account and extend your trip by a day or two.
- Plan for a Buffer Day
You should definitely plan for a buffer day upon your return. In other words, you don’t want to get back from your trip and immediately go back to work. If you’re expected back in the office on a Monday morning, try getting back on a Saturday afternoon (as opposed to a Sunday evening). This gives you time to get your life back in order (and makes the final day of your trip more enjoyable since you won’t have to worry about work for a couple more days).
- Pack Light
You might think you’re doing yourself a favor by packing multiples of everything, but you’re actually putting some added stress on your plate. As The Notorious B.I.G. might have said, “Mo stuff, mo problems.”
Pack light and you’ll have less to worry about. Better yet, if you’re flying, you might be able to get away with not checking baggage. This prevents delays and eliminates the risk of an airline losing your luggage.
- Choose Travel Companions Wisely
Who you choose to travel with will have a major impact on your stress level. While your spouse might suggest letting the in-laws tag along, is this really the best thing for the trip? If they’re going to make you feel uncomfortable or try to control the vacation, you should address it ahead of time and make an executive decision to not invite them. Choose your travel companions wisely!
- Spend On Accommodations
There’s something to be said for traveling on a budget and saving money; however, there are also certain aspects of the trip that you should be willing to pay a premium for. Accommodations are high on the list. It’s better to spend more and stay in a hotel that’s nice, comfortable, and in a convenient location than to save a few bucks and spend your trip in a dirty, cheap hotel that’s far away from everything.
Don’t Let Stress Weigh You Down
Stress is a pretty natural part of our DNA these days. In fact, it’s so common that we almost feel a little weird when there’s nothing to be stressed about. However, vacation is one of those times where you get a free pass. You don’t have any work or home responsibilities and can instead focus on enjoying your time away. By implementing some of the tips highlighted in this article, you’ll stand a much better chance of kicking pesky stress to the curb and having a good time.