Do you have a vacation coming up? If so, then this blog post is for you. We all know that vacations are great opportunities to get away from our daily stresses and just relax!
However, if we’re not careful, they can also be filled with stress. In this article, we will go over 11 strategies for relaxing on your vacation- without the stress.
1. Unplug from Work
When you’re on vacation, it’s easy to get caught up in checking emails or calling the office. Since this is your time off though, try not to check in too much. Doing so will only make things more stressful!
Instead of worrying about what’s going on in the office, focus instead on enjoying yourself and relaxing. Make sure you have your out-of-office turned on, notify your clients you will be out of touch for a few days and have a coworker responding to emergencies(if possible).
2. Don’t Overbook Yourself
Vacations are meant to be relaxing, so don’t try and fit in a million activities. Instead, choose just a few that you really want to do.
you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed about the number of things on your agenda then take a break- go for a walk by yourself, read an old favorite book from home, indulge in some guilty pleasure TV.
3. Don’t Force Yourself to Do Things
While it’s great that you’re trying new things on your vacation, don’t force yourself to do something if you don’t want to. If some activities or experiences aren’t for you, then skip them!
You should never feel stressed about what you chose not to do- after all, this is your vacation. If someone asks why you’re not joining them on an activity, just say ‘I’m enjoying my vacation’ and leave it at that.
4. Have a Relaxing Routine
Having some sort of daily routine is great for relaxing! Having something to look forward to can be very calming, even if you aren’t doing anything special.
Try waking up and eating breakfast at the same time every day or set aside an hour in the morning/night(or both) for reading your favorite book. It’s important to carve out some time for yourself and doing something just because you enjoy it.
You can also try meditating or simple breathing exercises when feeling stressed(or really anytime). Taking a few minutes at the beginning/end of each day to relax is an easy way to reduce stress! Breathing deeply while focusing on your muscles relaxing will help calm your mind and body long term.
5. Sleep
This is a tip that can be applied to everyday life as well as vacations. Relaxing on your vacation will be much easier if you get enough sleep!
Try going to bed at the same time each night- whether it’s before midnight or even earlier than that, try not to deviate from this schedule too much while you’re away.
If you wake up naturally at around the same time every day, then try waking up even earlier to go for a walk or explore your surroundings before everyone else wakes up! This is one of my favorite ways to relax on vacation- I recommend giving it a shot!
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6. Take a Break from Technology
While it’s nice to have pictures and videos of your trip, don’t let yourself be glued to technology!
Taking time out each day(or at least every few days) where you put away all electronics will allow you to relax more. Sometimes we get so caught up in looking at pictures that we forget how much fun we’re having in real life.
7. Make time for yourself
While it’s important to spend time with friends and family, don’t forget about your own needs as well! This might be hard on some trips because you’ll probably want to go out exploring or do things together.
If this is the case though, try suggesting that everyone take a break by themselves at least every once in a while.
This is important because it’s easy to get overloaded when we’re with other people. If you give yourself some time alone, then this will help cut down on the stress and make everyone happier!
8. Schedule some “downtime”
While it’s important to spend time exploring, sometimes we need a break from all the action. To relax easier and avoid getting burned out on your trip, try scheduling some downtime every once in a while. This can be anything from having an afternoon coffee by yourself or taking a few hours off during the day to just relax.
Scheduling this time in will help you avoid burnout and make your trip more enjoyable! Plus, it’s a great way to start doing some of the things on this list without having to stress about them too much!
9. Bring Entertainment
If you’re traveling somewhere new, make sure to bring some entertainment with you! Whether this means bringing a good book or downloading movies onto your tablet- having something to occupy your time will help keep stress levels down.
This is important because it helps us relax if we have something fun to do when we get tired of exploring. Keeping a little entertainment with us can go a long way!
10. Move Your Body
While most people’s vacation plans involve a lot of lounging around, sometimes we all need to get up and stretch our legs! If you’re on the beach or by a pool- go for a swim. If it’s raining outside then find an indoor activity that will help keep your body moving. Pull up a quick 10 minutes youtube HIIT video or do some stretches in your hotel room!
This is important because staying active can help relieve stress and make us feel better. Plus, it’s a good way to explore new places without having to worry about getting lost.
11. Be Flexible
Plans change and delays happen; don’t let yourself get too stressed out if something doesn’t go as scheduled. It might be frustrating, but this is a good opportunity to change up your plans and walk around somewhere else instead. Don’t be afraid of changing things up! Plus you never know what kind of adventure might happen.
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Final Thoughts
While these are only eleven tips, they can help you have a low-stress trip even if things seem overwhelming at first glance. If anything on the list seems too hard though, try starting with one thing and work your way up from there instead of trying everything all at once. By doing this, you’ll be able to relax a lot easier and enjoy your trip more.
How are you going to relax on your next vacation? Let us know in the comment section below!