A relaxing vacation is about you, your family or a friend who’s in need of one too. Whether you’re alone or with others you have to try to get the most out of your vacation. But before you jet away, formulating a plan of action is key. Plan early so that you’re not rushing or forget to do something important before you leave.
First, sit down with whomever you’re going with and brainstorm about your destination. A big part of deciding where to go is picking the right time of the year and what climate you want to be in. A good idea is researching and asking around about places others have visited and what they have to say about it. Talk about what activities people going want to do and what they don’t want to do. Choose a time frame that is good for you but don’t make it too short or too long. This depends on the person and their lives back home.
Second, which mode of transportation has the lowest stress level for you? Some people hate flying but like the bus; others find the train soothing but hate driving. Whatever the case may be, pick the mode that will keep you relaxed and able to enjoy your trip. Plan in advance so the time and day you want to leave isn’t already booked up.
Third, if you’re leaving the kids home, have pets, or need someone to cover for you at work – you should line up reliable people to take care of these things while you’re away.
Fourth – it’s not good to start out stressed before you go away. Maybe take a day or two off from work before you’re leaving so that you can start relaxing early and prepare more easily. This will give you more time to think about what to bring and what not to bring. Don’t take a lot with you. Bring the minimum; otherwise you’ll fill your entire car up or you might be weighed down by luggage at the airport.
Fifth, if it is needed, be certain that you have all the right documentation like a passport, driver’s license or a birth certificate. If you’re driving make sure that you have supplies such as a first aid kit. If you’re flying, these things are easy to get at the airport or at your hotel so you may not have to pack them.
Don’t get too caught up in your plan or itinerary because you’ll stress yourself out if something doesn’t go exactly the way you wanted it to. It will also make those that you’re with stressed because every single step has already been planned for them. This can ruin a perfectly good vacation if you’re annoyed that everything isn’t going as scheduled. Sit back and take a deep breath if things aren’t going your way. Be prepared for things to go wrong, like road conditions and bad weather or your flight getting cancelled or delayed. Things like this can bring your vacation to a halt pretty quickly so having a backup plan is a good idea.
When you reach your destination don’t get caught up in the activities you’re going to do. Slow down, rest and relax. Just go with the flow and enjoy your time away from work, stress and the usual everyday grind. Try taking a break from technology and turn off the computer, television and phone. Of course cameras are great to bring on vacation and nowadays most people use their phones. Maybe change the setting on your phone to send phone calls to voicemail and don’t check those texts or social media.
If you’re someone who has to be aware of phone calls, emails or texts try checking every once in a while but don’t get obsessive. Some people get more stressed when not checking their phone so if you’re one of them, go ahead and check it. Think about setting an automatic email response telling those who will be contacting you that you’re on vacation, when you will be back and who they can contact if it is important. Allow yourself to relax and stop thinking about what’s going on back home. You’re taking this vacation for a break, right? So take it!
Don’t go crazy over the money you’ll be spending on your trip. If you’re worried you’re going to spend a lot, consider going somewhere else. If you want to buy souvenirs or clothes, know how much you’re willing to spend and give yourself a cap. If you go over that amount you’re more than likely going to stress yourself out about it. But don’t be afraid to treat yourself a little. You’ll probably be sorry you didn’t.
Depending on where you are staying, say a cabin for instance, it will most likely have a refrigerator, oven and sink – so right away that will cut your food costs in half. However, if you dislike cooking or cook for a living, this might not be the most relaxing amenity for you. You’ll want to plan on bringing more money to spend at restaurants and on room service.
Whatever happens on your vacation do something really good on the last day. A nice dinner out, a hike or sunbathing…whatever sounds like the perfect ending for you.
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