Help for Holiday Stress

It’s July and that can only mean 1 thing, the schools are breaking up for summer and the holiday season is about to start in earnest. But for many of us the frantic build up to our much needed holiday leaves us stressed and exhausted and unable to enjoy the first few days.

So what can we do to minimise the stress and make the most of our precious time away?

The first and best thing to do is to get the holiday into perspective – whether you are going caravanning in Cornwall or tanning yourself in Spain there is no such thing as a perfect holiday. We tend to create and image of things being idyllic and don’t contemplate that things have a tendency to either go wrong or not be quite as we imagined. Aim to have a good time but be realistic - flights will be delayed, the apartment may not be as per the brochure or the traffic down to the south west will be solid, but if you prepare yourself mentally and go with the flow you will deal with it easier if and when it happens.

The next positive thing to do is plan ahead on both the work and family front. We are so busy getting ready to go away that we seem to need the first few days away to recover and how many of you reading this have ended up feeling unwell and exhausted once the bags have been unpacked?

On the work front many of us worry about leaving things in a mess or tasks unfinished. We want to hand over our work to someone we can trust and we try to cover all bases to ensure we don’t come back to any problems. In reality things will always happen when we are away which we could not have either anticipated or controlled. Do what you can, ask for help and don’t leave it all to the last day. From the home perspective make sure you are not the only person preparing to go away. Whether you are a couple or family of 6, everyone needs to pull their weight and prepare. Share out the tasks and allow enough time to get them done. It’s not all down to one person; if people are participating in the holiday then they can participate in the preparation also!

1 thing to avoid is crash dieting before your trip. We all suddenly become very aware of how we are going to look on the beach or around the pool in shorts and bikinis but that is no excuse to starve yourself for 2 weeks before. It will make you tired, snappy and for what, to put it all back on when you get there? If you need to lose weight start now and do it properly. Eat well, drink plenty and get some exercise. That way you can continue eating well whilst you are away and stay feeling good throughout the break. Seek advice if you need to.

And finally, think about minimising the stress whilst you are away. If you are a family, think in advance about the different activities everyone will enjoy and be mindful of the smaller than usual space you will be occupying. People will need their space and will want to do some of their own things. If you are going abroad keep your sensible hat near by and don’t overspend as this will make coming home stressful. Have a budget and stick to it. Be wary of people offering you great deals that are “too good to be true” and don’t do anything you wouldn't do at home. Having fun does not mean going wild and paying for it later.

There are a number of good websites to help with holiday planning and so take some time to search on Google and start working towards having the holiday and fun you deserve!

If you are going away and can feel the stress building already, why not give us a call at Change Works Unlimited and see how we can help. Change Works Unlimited is a Stress Management & Career Development Centre based in Portslade.