By Clara and Justin Hamel
Ahhhh … vacation, the time of year we eagerly anticipate, counting down the days and planning all the ways to maximize relaxation and adventure. Whether it’s lounging on a sunny beach, hiking through scenic mountain trails, exploring a new city or spending a day at an amusement park, vacations are one of the true hallmarks of summer.
Ideally, vacation offers us a chance to step away from our daily routines, recharge our minds and bodies, and create lasting memories with family and friends. However, let’s face it. The time leading up to and returning from vacation can make it feel less invigorating and more frustrating. In fact, executing a well planned vacation can sometimes create more stress than it relieves.
All of this adds up and can create anticipatory stress beginning days or weeks before the actual trip. Our brains are busy managing dozens of details and trying to predict and prevent anything that could go wrong. The pressure to create the “perfect vacation” can sneak in. Many people feel the demand to make every moment worth it given the amount of time and money invested into the planning and taking the trip.
The actual vacation is often not the most stressful part. It is the days before and after that tend to drain our energy. In fact, studies have shown that vacations can improve mood, reduce burnout and increase overall well-being, but many of those benefits fade quickly when people return to hundreds of unanswered emails, jam-packed schedules and multitudes of laundry.
Don’t despair, though — you can have it all.
A few simple strategies and some small changes in mind set can ensure you are getting the rest and relaxation you are craving.
Start preparing earlier than you think you need to. Even completing one small task each day during the week before departure can prevent a last minute scramble. A packing list can help keep you on track and ensure you don’t show up to the trail or beach without the proper attire.
At work, try to leave a day before and after your vacation open. Many people schedule every minute leading up to departure, only to find themselves exhausted before the trip even begins. If possible, avoid packing your schedule for your first day back to work after vacation. It feels a little less stressful to ease into work rather than be overwhelmed by it.
Also, adjust your mindset with a little realism. Every vacation includes a few road bumps, so try not to get bent out of shape at the hiccups along the way. After all, these little unplanned bumps in the road can often be the catalyst for the best memories. When things don’t work out as planned, learning to pivot can be the difference between adventure or disappointment.
Finally, extend the vacation mindset once you return. Instead of jumping immediately back into full speed, keep one thing from your vacation going for a few days (or permanently). Take an evening walk, eat dinner outside or read a book instead of scrolling your phone.
So bask in the sun, enjoy the scenery, make the memories and embrace the adventure, but remember vacations are about connection, not perfection.
*Dr. Justin Hamel and Clara Hamel have a combined over 30 years of experience in health fields. Reach them at 1° Performance & Longevity, located at 46 N. Central Park Plz., Suite 101, in Jacksonville, on Facebook or by phone at 217-243-6358.
