Planning a vacation is stressful on its own, and actually enjoying a holiday without a few unexpected incidents may appear unimaginable. However, having a good planning strategy is golden. Start with preparations early on, and make sure nothing slips your mind. With a few helpful tips, you’ll easily organize a stress-free vacation that an entire family will enjoy.
Disconnect from work
One of the most important things to think about is devoting your full attention to your family. Spending countless hours at the office leaves you with little time to devote to your kids and spouse, so use the vacation to compensate for the lost time. Let all your co-workers and bosses know you’re on vacation, and that you won’t be available during that time. Make sure you fulfill all the tasks before your trip. Just to be on the safe side, clue in your trustworthy co-workers about your ongoing projects and tasks, so that they can tackle any issues that might arise while you are on a vacation.
Expect the unexpected
You can never be too alert, so it’s always a good idea to be prepared for various unpleasant situations. A delayed flight, bad weather, a flat tire on your car or carsickness could be some of the problems that may ruin your trip, but you could make them less stressful by planning ahead. Don’t let something as small as waiting for your flight an extra hour affect your mood for the rest of the vacation. Some things you just can’t predict, which is why you shouldn’t let them get to you. Avoid being overwhelmed by dissatisfaction and frustration, but rather go with the flow and try to enjoy and savour each moment of your travel.
Take care of your home and pets
Don’t forget to cancel mail and newspaper subscriptions if you’re leaving your home unattended. Furthermore, make sure you provide your pet with a safe and pleasant home while you’re on a vacation. Look for pet boarding and leave your pet in good hands. Also, think about all the food that could go bad while you’re on vacation, and freeze it or throw it away before you leave. The last thing you need is to come back to a smelly home.
Make lists
Lists are your best allies when it comes to packing. Feel free to write down all the essentials you think that you may forget to pack. From passports, medicines, cosmetics, maps, itineraries, sunblock, to batteries, chargers, phones and money – make sure you’ve crossed everything off the list before you leave. Furthermore, write down everything you need to do as well, like unplugging the electrical devices and appliances, emptying the trash bin and watering the plants, so you can have as stress-free a vacation as possible.
Plan activities
A vacation is usually all about being spontaneous and enjoying the moment, but planning a few activities ahead couldn’t hurt either. Have a back-up solution if bad weather stops you from doing some outdoor activities, such as going paragliding. Planning out the day indoors could save you the unnecessary stress. Therefore, think about going to the museums and planetariums, or maybe visiting the aquarium nearby and enjoy all the beauties of art and entertainment instead of just being stuck in your hotel.
Start packing in time
Packing is probably the most stressful part of every vacation, which is why you should do your best to make it as easier as possible. Start packing at least a week before the trip. This doesn’t mean you should put all of your stuff in a suitcase seven days before the trip, but at least, pick which wardrobe you’d like to bring, and put it aside, so you have everything ready for packing your bags. Use every day to think about potential items you’d want to bring. Don’t end up running around the house 2 hours before you have to leave, not knowing whether you’ve packed your hairbrush, your favourite sweater or a book you want to read at the beach.
Having a stress-free vacation isn’t always easy, but it’s manageable. Just make sure you plan and start everything in time. You’ll enjoy a relaxing vacation with the family and come back fully prepared for the new work challenges.
