Stressed while on vacation? It’s been shown that Americans take the least number of vacation days a year – and for some reason, this fact is celebrated. But studies have shown, again and again, that taking time away from life and from your job is healthy for you and for your stress level. When you don’t take time away, it can make you even more prone to stress, in fact. For some, it seems that being on vacation, however, causes them to feel more stressed out. If you’re one of those people who can’t seem to relax on vacation, you’re not alone.
Take Away the Distractions
Staying connected is one of the causes for stress. One of the reasons why vacations can be so much more stressful these days is because it seems we can be found no matter where we go. Whether we have cell phones, laptops, or smart phones, nearly anywhere in the world, someone can reach out to us to tell us about a problem, talk about work, etc. When you’re away on vacation, it’s time to disconnect from the world. You need to be able to turn off your phone and your computer and connect with those traveling with you. Or you need to simply have some quiet time when you don’t think about anything more than what you’re doing. Before you leave for vacation, put a new message on your phone, letting people know who to contact in order to contact you in emergencies, but other than that, make sure no one contacts you – and if they do, don’t answer the phone. It's your time - disconnect from stress.
Go Somewhere with Activity
Different activities not only can keep mind away from stress, they help make life rich and joyful! Find a vacation spot that has plenty to do. This way, you will be able to keep your mind and your body occupied. It can help to go on a vacation which highlights several new activities as well to help keep you busy. For example, you might want to go on some hikes or go shopping to help fill your days. Try also to do things you wouldn’t normally do when you were at home. This way, you’re also making new memories which you can return to when you are back in your same old routine. This will give you the relaxation you were hoping for. And...fill your life with moments that take your breath away!
Keep the Schedule Open
To minimize stress it's good to have agenda when working. But not so good when taking rest! When on vacation, try not to have an agenda each day. While this might cause you a bit of stress at first, try to enjoy it. You want to leave a number of hours just open for you to explore, to sleep, and to do anything else which sounds like a good time to you. While it might take a few days for you to enjoy the time without responsibilities, once you get into the groove of not doing anything, you will find your stress melts away. And that is certainly the point of vacation, isn’t it?
