Planning and executing a vacation may seem like a dream. But for a surprising number of people, taking time off from work, family, and everyday responsibilities can be a stressful nightmare.
A 2015 Healthline survey of more than 2,000 working adults found that 62% of respondents felt their stress levels increased "a lot" or "somewhat" over the winter holidays. But you should never let stress cause you to take a vacation. Here are five ways to avoid stress and enjoy a well-deserved break as you plan, take a trip, and return to your vacation. 7 Family Vacations Everyone Should Take at Least Once
First of all, don't be too hard on yourself.
"If you're a working person, you're probably processing a lot of information by checking email, receiving text messages, and using social media. So it's no wonder you find it hard to switch off and calm your mind while on vacation," Dr. Megan Jones Bell, clinical psychologist and former chief scientific officer of meditation and mindfulness app Headspace, told Travel + Leisure. "It's a lot to ask just to switch on."
To deal with the stress of travel planning, figure out what's actually stressing you out. Is it the idea of switching off that's worrying you? Then why not try booking a vacation somewhere you know has reliable Wi-Fi? Are you stressed out by the feeling that you have to report to work but don't really want to? Instead, try an internet-free vacation. Worried you won't be able to plan the ultimate trip? Ask these top travel agents for help. No matter where your stress comes from, there's always a way to relieve it.
Start the relaxation process before you leave. Bell says you should start the process of relaxing before you head to the airport. According to Bell, this can be achieved by incorporating rituals and routines that you can do before, during, and after your trip to "find an anchor and act as a buffer against creeping stress."
For Bell, this means getting into the habit of Headspace meditation and starting a new practice for 10 minutes every day a few days before you leave for your trip. If you're new to meditation, you can always sign up for the app (a free trial is available for beginners) and continue meditating a little each day until you find a comfortable length.
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For others, these rituals might mean writing down in a journal what you want to get out of your vacation or creating a personal itinerary to ensure you see everything you want to see while traveling. Make sure you make your routine your own. Make sure all of your vacation goals are achievable.
Planning a vacation is a great idea, but cramming too many tasks into it can really put you off. In fact, several studies have proven that meticulously planning your free time can seriously undermine your enjoyment. And it's not the activity, but rather the fact that you allocate time for that activity, that drains you.
To combat the stress caused by this travel schedule, Bell suggested starting each morning of your trip by setting goals. Taking a few minutes to quiet your mind and think about what you want to accomplish that day can help relieve stress you might feel later.
And before you leave, try to create a looser travel plan. Make a list of all the places you absolutely must see, and a list of the places you want to see. This way, you can prioritize your time without being limited by the clock.
Use your vacation to develop new healthy habits.
Instead of thinking of vacation as a few days away from real life, think of it as a few days off to improve your daily life. "Holidays are a really great opportunity to pick up healthy habits that you don't have time or energy for in your everyday life," Bell said, noting that you're much more likely to pick up healthy habits. If you do them in a happy, supportive environment in your everyday life, you'll build them into your life.
To do that, find a vacation that aligns with your goals, whether that's a yoga retreat, a foodie trip to improve your cooking skills, or even a holistic wellness trip to refresh your mind, body, and soul. Or, as Bell suggested, use this as the perfect opportunity to start a meditation practice, which, as you'd expect, has some pretty impressive, scientifically-proven health benefits.
Maintain your new habits for at least 10 days after you return home.
According to Bell, it takes just 10 days to develop a new habit. This means that if you start a new habit while on vacation, you'll need to bring it home with you to reap all of its benefits. "Research from Headspace shows that using the app for just 10 days reduces stress," Bell says. "So if you start meditating for just 10 minutes a day before your vacation, you'll likely find that your sensitivity to stress is reduced."
But seriously, no matter what new habits you pick up or how relaxed you feel on vacation, returning to normal life can make you feel blue. To combat post-vacation blues, be sure to schedule a day to wind down, decorate your home with new souvenirs, and keep that vacation feeling going for as long as possible. Follow these steps and you'll be a master at beating holiday stress in no time.
