Going on vacation is a great way to escape the stress of everyday life and unwind. Unless, of course, you spend every breakaway tethered to your phone or frantically running from one tourist hotspot to the next. Even after jetting off with every intention of enjoying a stress-free vacation experience, your long-awaited “break” could leave you feeling more exhausted than when you left. To make the most of every vacation, here are six clever ideas you must try.
1. Bring A Travel Buddy
Solo travel offers many benefits that most people don’t consider. However, jetting off with a friend can make your time away that much more enjoyable. A long and complicated planning process is much easier with two heads or more too. Rather than doing everything yourself, you can delegate tasks to your travel buddy. Planning the trip together will ensure that everyone is happy.
2. Work On The Itinerary
Spontaneity can certainly make a vacation more exciting. But, you shouldn’t leave the entire trip to fate. Without any sort of plan, you’re likely to waste time, which could lead to regrets. There are many online resources you could use to plan your itinerary. The website Aussie Holiday Ideas is helpful with Australian trips. Just remember to leave yourself time to unwind too.
3. Keep Your Luggage Light
Many people pack far too much when going away. Rather than cramming your suitcases, you should consider what you actually need to take. When a vacation is a week long, you shouldn’t need more than a week’s worth of clothing. Taking many more outfits “just in case” will cause hassle and could incur a baggage charge. For weekend trips, stick to hand luggage alone.
4. Put Any Devices Away
A vacation is a time when you can get away with ignoring your phone. Because of this, you should delete any work-related apps and disable push notifications. Although you might not want to explore without your phone, you must leave it in your bag. This will let you immerse yourself fully in the trip. Don’t take too many pictures either, as cameras create boundaries around you.
5. Make Sleep A Priority
When you’re on vacation, most people ignore their usual sleeping patterns. The trouble is, this will likely leave you tired and irritable. Even while exploring a beautiful city, these feelings make it impossible for you to enjoy yourself. That is why you must make sleep a priority. Make sure you stick to healthy sleep habits, like your usual bedtime, to keep yourself feeling alert and refreshed.
6. Ease Back Into Work
Any great vacation will leave you feeling well-rested and energized. This post-getaway afterglow can last some time, but won’t if you ruin it yourself. Transitioning back into work will be difficult. However, doing so right after stepping off a red-eye flight will make it harder. Thankfully, you can avoid any unnecessary stress by scheduling your trip to end a few days before you go back to work.
Make the most of every vacation by following the clever advice above.
Bonnie is always on the road with some amazing adventures ahead. Her favorite continent is South America and she’s passionate about culture-focused traveling and ethical and sustainable tourism. During her time in university as a research assistant for a sociology professor, she realized she can’t fully understand cultures from a safe distance. She quit her job to become a full-time “voluntourist,” which brings her to places where she can immerse in local communities and support their causes. On top of writing, one of Bonnie’s priorities is offering women advice on how to stay safe while solo backpacking.