Leaving Stress Behind When Taking a Vacation
Vacations, at their best, can be a mental break from the stresses of work and daily life. However, we often take those stresses with us when we go, and they can interfere with the experience. In order to get more enjoyment out of our vacations, consider these ideas for leaving the stress behind.
1. As you prepare to leave for your trip, set aside time to reflect on the reasons you’re taking this vacation, and consider the benefits. Your health and happiness, and even productivity can be improved by vacation. Your vacation is justified!
You can simply do some quiet reflecting, but if that’s not helping you embrace the coming getaway, consider chatting with a loved one or making a list of all the reasons you’re taking this trip
2. Find time to relax before departing. Many of us go straight from the office to the airport, anxious about what hasn’t been done, or we stay up all night anticipating what might happen on the trip. Taking a moment to clear the mental clutter can help you get in that vacation mindset.
If you’ve got some downtime, allow yourself to veg out a little before leaving! If not, try taking 10 minutes for a quick guided meditation to calm your body and mind.
3. If you can, try to set yourself up so that you have to do no or minimal work while you’re out. This might mean some overtime before your trip, but don’t succumb to the “oh I’ll just finish this from the hotel” temptation.
US Today suggests setting up a pre-vacation “To Do” list several weeks before you leave, and working to check those items off each day so that you can build excitement and tie up all of your loose ends.
4. Try to completely step away from your work communications. Things that break your immersion, like calls, emails, and texts from work, can yank our minds out of the vacation and back to the office. If not checking email isn’t an option, try to setting specific limits on the time you spend working, and ask your travel partners to hold you accountable.
5. Allow yourself to become completely present and immersed in a new place. Indeed, this is one of the most compelling aspects of going on vacation. Need a little help? Try these tactics:
- Before each photo, take at least 60 seconds and take in what you are looking at, as well as any sounds, smells, or other sensations. Try to imprint them on your memory!
- If your mind wanders to work, stop and try to focus your full attention on whatever you’re doing right at that moment. Spend a moment with each of your senses and absorb anything you can see, hear, smell, feel, or taste.
- Put the phone away. Facebook can wait. Gmail can wait. Candy Crush can wait. Use your phone for getting around, pictures, and essential communication, but otherwise, turn your attention to the world around you.
6. Take it easy. Try to embrace a “go with the flow” mindset. David Gelles, of the New York Times, recommends ditching vacation checklists and strictly scheduled plans, in favor of in-the-moment experiences like visiting a local park, or speaking with a stranger. In this article from The Wall Street Journal, Brian Scudamore, Jennifer Deal, and Dr. Samantha Boardman offers tips on how to disconnect from work and embrace the challenge of doing nothing.
