Holiday destress
The stress of organising holidays and the stress of actually being on them can leave you feeling as though you’ve never been away. Holidays are a brilliant chance to reconnect with loved ones in a way that isn’t always possible at home, but can sometimes be draining – especially when you’re travelling with family or a partner.
Will (played by Henry Cavill) experiences the stresses and strains of a holiday in new action thriller The Cold Light of Day (on Blu-ray/DVD from 10September), with his anguished father eventually tiring of his constant work calls by throwing his mobile phone into the sea! Avoid holidaying like Will by following our stress-minimising guide.
1. TECHNOLOGY: Turn your phone off and leave your laptop at home. Incessant communication from home will ruin the sense of escapism holidays are supposed to provide. Before you leave, make sure everyone knows you are going away and ask someone at work to keep on top of any urgent business, so you don’t have to.
2. ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: If travelling with kids, plan a couple of activities to keep them entertained during the day, but don’t try to cram too much in. Be flexible, trying to stick to a tightly packed schedule will only cause more stress. Involving everyone in deciding what to do will keep everyone happy, and books and boardgames are an ideal way of keeping kids entertained with minimal supervision.
3. ACTIVITES FOR YOU: Make sure you do and see what you want to do on holiday, not what you feel you have to do. Don’t be afraid to suggest doing things separately from one another, as being dragged to activities you’re not interested in could lead to irritation.
4. FLIGHTS: Book flights at a reasonable hour. Resist the temptation of booking that low cost flight at 4am, lack of sleep will lead to frayed tempers and a bad start to the holiday. Pay that little bit extra for a flight at a civilised hour and arrive feeling ready and rested.
5. ACCOMODATION: The same goes for accommodation - if you can, spend a little more on somewhere comfortable (a pre-holiday shopping ban can help save a few more pennies). Space is very important; make sure you’re not on top of each other. A week or more in too-close proximity with your nearest and dearest will invariably lead to tensions running high.
6. DESTINATION: Think about what you want out of your holiday - whether its relaxation or adventure - and pick a destination which would best suit it. A break in a fast-paced city is unlikely to be restful. If looking for somewhere hot, staying near water is ideal as it will relax and cool you.
7. MEALS: Take your time with meals. Treat them as social, fun events rather than as purely functional. Meals at home are so often rushed and there’s the hassle of preparing and cleaning up. Eating out, though it can be expensive, is worth it purely for the lack of stress involved.
8. SLEEP: Sleep in. Don’t set any alarms and make your room as dark as possible. Take this time to catch up on sleep and don’t feel guilty for doing it.
9. CHILDCARE: If travelling with kids, see if you can combine your holiday with another family. Childcare duties can then be taken in turns, giving everyone a chance for some much-needed downtime.
10. FUN: Don’t forget to have fun! Holidays are the perfect time to escape from your day-to-day routine at home, and enjoy doing things your lifestyle doesn’t normally allow for. They’re a treat and a luxury, so go for that massage on the beach or jetski ride – life’s too short.
Share your stress-busting tips with us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM