3 Ways to Reduce Stress on Vacation
Between worrying about preparations, leaving home, squeezing activities into your allotted time, and wondering how your dog is coping while you are gone, you can end up experiencing more stress than relaxation while traveling. Since your vacation is meant to be your break from reality, it’s important that you are able to enjoy your vacation and come home refreshed. Here are a few ways to reduce and avoid stress while on vacation.
Plan Ahead
The excitement of a spontaneous trip might seem like a good idea, but in actuality, traveling requires plenty of planning if you want to avoid stress. If you are traveling out of the country, you will need to start planning months ahead in order to secure a passport and a visa. You will also consistently need to track plane ticket prices, purchasing only when prices are at their lowest. Most travel experts agree that 54 days prior to departure is the cheapest time to get a ticket. You should also aim to leave on a Tuesday or Wednesday as those days typically have the fewest passengers, which drops prices even more. Saturdays are also a surprisingly low-traffic day, as people usually depart and arrive on Fridays and Sundays.
Check the weather before you pack to make sure you take only what you need. Not only will packing light help you ensure you’ll have less to lug from destination to destination, but it will also help you ensure you obey airline luggage weight and size requirements. Exceeding a designated suitcase weight can lead to expense excess costs.
Prioritize Activities
A common mistake travelers make is trying to see it all. Many vacationers will pack each day with activities, leaving little to no room to relax and simply enjoy being away from it all. This is not to say you shouldn’t plan to do and see fun things. Of course, if you visit northern India, you should see the Taj Mahal. However, you shouldn’t plan to visit a different temple or go on an elephant ride every single day. In fact, just skip the elephant rides. Prioritizing the activities you participate in also is a good way to save money.
To truly relax and experience the place you are visiting, you need a day or two where you are free to wander and simply exist in this new place. It’s actually impossible to plan to discover an amazing restaurant or plan to be invited to a festival or party; you need to enjoy the unexpected surprises of your vacation. Sadly, certain things will be missed if you don’t leave yourself time to wander freely. Your stress also will diminish if you have a day to sleep in, walk leisurely, and allow yourself time to enjoy your vacation free of a set schedule.
Make Reliable Arrangements for Home Maintenance
Worrying about whether your kids, your dogs, your plants, or your home is safe and being cared for really will cut into your relaxation time while vacationing. To avoid this, take the time to make reliable arrangements for your home. Ask a neighbor to get your mail, check your doors and windows, and keep an eye out for safety.
When it comes to your pets, kennels are an option, but you might also consider hiring a pet sitter. Some sitters even offer boarding in their own homes in order to provide round-the-clock care for your four-legged family member. A house sitter is also a great way to guarantee that everything is being taken care of, including your home and your pet. However you decide to do it, be sure that your arrangements make you feel comfortable and prevent worry while you are having fun relaxing on your vacation.
Avoiding stress is a top priority when planning a vacation. If you aren’t going to enjoy your time spent traveling, there’s little point in wasting the time, money, and energy. However, with proper preparations, traveling can be just as relaxing and exciting as you hope it will be. Be sure you plan far ahead to avoid any unnecessary expenditures, prioritize your time during the trip, and be sure your home is cared for. Vacations are supposed to be fun, offering you a break from reality. Let them be just that and leave your stress behind.
What are your travel stress tips?! Share in the comments!
Aimee Lyons is a twenty-something free spirit who loves crafting, painting, building, and anything else that lets her exercise her creative muscles. A born do-it-yourself kind of girl, she started DIYDarlin.com to inspire others to embrace their inner creators and tackle projects with confidence. When she isn’t crafting, you might find her vintage shopping or taking her Corgi Champ out exploring in her hometown of Austin, Texas.
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