Have you ever come back from a holiday feeling tired and stressed? You may have to re-evaluate your approach to having your vacations.
The goal of vacations and holidays is to unplug you from your busy life, make you feel relaxed and refresh your body and mind from the stress of your everyday life.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind to help you tune out of your hectic office life and plunge into the relaxation of your vacation.
- Escape Your Phone Service
Put your phone’s “airplane mode” to good use by using it throughout your vacation, or better yet, turn it off. And if you are going outside Singapore, don’t go out of the way to upgrade your data plan. Do not even call your network service provider to ask about it. Just put your phone in airplane mode and only use it for taking photos.
- Keep Off the Social Media
Thanks to the online world, we seem to have the fear of missing out on something. Who cares if your ex is getting married or your college classmate is going to Canada for good? Live in your own moment and stop worrying about what’s going on at home. Every time you’re about to check your Facebook or Twitter, ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this?” or “Do I really need to post that now?” Get everyone envious by posting all your vacation photos when you get home.
- Plan a Vacation Your Bank Account Can Actually Afford
It will be more stressful if you constantly have to worry whether you have enough to support yourself during your holiday. So, travel within your means. At the same time, know that it’s okay to treat yourself once in a while. Make peace with the fact that you will see some of our hard-earned money leaving your wallet and know that you deserve the treat.
- Let Your Co-Workers Know
If you’re going on a week-long vacation, there will likely be times when your boss or co-worker will have to reach you. But you can minimize the possibility of this and enjoy an uninterrupted holiday by preparing your co-workers to help you pick up the slack. Letting your co-worker know of your scheduled vacation and formulating emergency exits for them will give you a better shot at truly relaxing during your vacation.
- Remind yourself that you deserve it
People tend to feel guilty for taking a break. But don’t! The fact that you are physically and mentally unable to relax during the week can take a toll on your overall health. We need to occasionally take a break from our work life in order to recharge and comeback in full health.
Ultimately, feeling a bit stress when you come back to work is inevitable. Integrate pleasurable activities into your day-to-day life, so you are not reliant on travel and holidays to de-stress.