Ways to Reduce Vacation Stress 
and Enjoy Your Time Off

Oftentimes, lack of planning in our daily lives can lead to unnecessary stress; vacations are no different. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, 80% of people find planning to be the most stressful part of taking a vacation. Before your next trip, do yourself a favor and set aside some time to sort the details rather than carrying that mental baggage with you.

Below, the Integral Travel offers some helpful tips for ensuring your next vacation will allow you to reap all of the mental benefits possible during your time away.

Establish goals with your travel partner(s)
If you have already decided where you’re going to travel, the next order of business is to define your goals. Sometimes this might be obvious due to the destination you choose (e.g. going camping); however, it’s still important to check in with your travel companion to see if you’re both on the same page. If you’re not, don’t get discouraged – look for ways to compromise, or agree to set aside personal time during the trip to do activities individually. After all, that’s why it’s good to have this conversation in the beginning.

While you’re setting your goals, this is also the time to discuss your ideas about working remotely while you’re away. Ideally, you should be leaving work in the rearview mirror for the duration of your time off in order to remain fully present during your vacation. But that can be easier said than done for some people. If you absolutely must check in or read emails for work during your time off, establish your boundaries for yourself in advance. Like choosing a time of day when you will log in and sticking to a set amount of time. Be sure to also share your vacation plans with your staff and clients as well.

If you routinely post promotional material on social media platforms like TikTok, you can hire an agency to handle this for you while you’re away. Check out a TikTok agency and see if you can get something set up while you’re away from the office.

Do some research
Read as much as you can about things to do at your destination, or talk to family or friends who are knowledgeable about the area. If you would rather leave it to a professional, contact a travel agent to put some information together. Travel agents are especially helpful when it comes to finding special deals or packages; choosing safe travel accommodations; and providing recommendations for both reputable contacts and businesses.

Create a loose itinerary
As off-putting as it may sound for vacation, creating an agenda can help to avoid several potential conflicts, a lot of which may otherwise cause you to miss out on fun events or activities. The itinerary can also help to factor in travel time between destinations, whether it’s by foot, bike, cab, or some other mode of transportation. The great thing about having a loose itinerary is that it allows for flexibility.

Maybe you decide you want to bike one day because you went hiking the day before. This kind of itinerary doesn’t set anything in stone – Instead, it provides a framework to have the vacation you and your travel companion desire. Keep in mind that the itinerary should include time for you to pack and organize before your trip and to decompress afterward.

Protect your home
Burglaries can happen anytime. An alarm system is usually the best line of defense; however, there are some basic ways to keep your home safe with or without an alarm. First, stop your mail, or ask a friend or a neighbor to pick it up (and keep an eye on things) for the duration of your trip. There’s nothing more glaringly obvious than an overloaded mailbox or packages on the front doorstep to tip off a burglar.

Window shades and lights are other potential signals to criminals. Try to follow a pattern that you would if you were home. This means if your window blinds are generally closed, keep them closed while you’re away. Installing a light switch timer to turn your lights on and off automatically is another inexpensive way to provide the illusion of someone being home.

Planning for a vacation shouldn’t be stressful, and with the right approach, it won’t be. Use these tips to help make your next vacation an enjoyable one!

by Sheila Johnson, guest blogger, www.wellsheila.com

Photo credit: Unsplash.com