Going on holiday sounds nice in theory, doesn’t it? But do you find that, when confronted with the reality of it, you hardly ever relax? Do you think it’s possible to relax at all on vacation? Or do you spend far too much time worrying about money or activities that you’re left exhausted at the end of the day?
Vacations can be relaxing, but for that, you have to know how to plan them. If you go on a vacation unprepared, you’re probably going to find yourself getting stressed over how to enjoy it. Similarly, if you plan to do too many things, you’ll also get stressed over being able to do it all. In order to relax, you need to find a middle ground.
Choose Wisely
Everyone has an opinion on what the best vacation looks like. They have different cities they claim are the best to visit. They have a whole list of activities to do. But the truth is, none of that matters. What you should really be asking yourself is what kind of vacation will actually help you relax.
This varies from person to person. That’s why it’s important to figure out what kind of vacation would be best for you and where. Only you can make that choice.
Make a Budget
Money is one major source of stress. That’s why it’s important to make a budget before you leave. Ideally, it should be pretty comprehensive. Most people think of transportation and hotel, as well as a little spending money. But there are other things your budget should take into account.
If you already know the places you want to visit and the tours you want to go on, try looking up how much they’ll cost beforehand. Get a sense of how expensive dining out will be, so you can budget for that too. And keep a spare amount of money for any unexpected expenses that might come up. If you do that early enough, you won’t have to worry about money issues during the trip, and you’ll be able to truly relax.
Plan for Free Time
You might get carried away planning your vacation at first. It’s normal to be curious and to want to experience everything a new place can offer. But if the point of this vacation is to relax, then it’s important to set aside time for it. Maybe schedule a couple of hours a day just to sit and read. Or schedule a little nap on a random day. It makes your vacation much more enjoyable.
Disconnect
In theory, going on holiday means you get to forget about work for a little while. In practice, however, things are different. Maybe you worry about your work too much and can’t help but check in every now and then. Or maybe, your job isn’t the kind you can fully walk away from for a few days. So, what do you do?
If you’re not truly needed at work, then make an effort to disconnect from work. Don’t check work messages and leave it all for when you come back home. But if your work needs you, then schedule an hour or two during the day when you’ll be available and leave the rest of the day to yourself. Set boundaries and enforce them. You’ll be able to relax that way.
Still Have Trouble Relaxing?
It’s possible that, after all of this, you might still have trouble relaxing. If this begins to affect your life deeply, then consider therapy. A counselor can help you understand why you find this difficult. We can help you figure out how to address that and live a better life. Keep this in mind next time you struggle to relax. Reach out to us to learn more about anxiety therapy.
