Please note that this post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
Why Can’t We Relax on Vacation?
We’ve all experienced a vacation at some point where we return from our trip feeling more exhausted than rested, and more worn-down than refreshed.
While it may seem ironic that we don’t know how to relax on vacation, it’s not surprising that for many of us, it’s a challenge to actually relax on vacation.
Why can’t we relax on vacation? The reasons are plentiful.
With the lines more blurred than ever between work and our personal lives, and the expectations of having an instant response time and 24/7 availability, it’s no wonder we struggle to unplug and have difficulty relaxing.
Related: 7 Tips on How to Unplug and Relax for When You Really Need That Break
Vacations are integral to our physical and mental health in multiple ways. Primarily, and perhaps most importantly, they help to break the stress cycle by giving us the opportunity to relax and unwind.
This is why it’s more important than ever that we learn how to relax on vacation wherever we are, whether we’re at the beach or at home.
If you’re wondering how you can actually relax on your next vacation, and how to plan a relaxing vacation at that, here are some straightforward tips to help you out.
How to Actually Relax On Your Next Vacation
1. Don’t just plan to get away. Plan to detach. If you’re wondering how you can actually relax on your next vacation, it’s not enough to just plan to get away. You actually have to plan to detach. This means legitimately taking time off of work, so no ‘checking-in’ with email, no phone calls, and a drastic reduction in your use of technology. Trust me, mentally detaching from your work is the only way you will really be able to declutter your mind, and actually relax on vacation. Work will always be there when you return to reality, but your vacation won’t be. Take your vacation as the opportunity it really is: as a respite from the real world.
2. Find a balance between indulgent and healthy foods. It’s undeniable that one of the best parts of vacation is trying out new foods and indulging yourself. Yummy deserts, creamy pastas, and sweet cocktails are just part of the deal when it comes to a vacation. However, it’s important to find a balance between foods. If you indulge yourself too much, you might actually wind up feeling worse, rather than rested after your vacation. Follow the 70/30 rule, where 70% of the food you eat is healthy and nutritious, and the remaining is indulgent. On some days you can let this slide to maybe 60/40, but be sure to not let it slide too much. Just as your brain needs to recover from work on a vacation, your body does, too. Eating healthy and nutritiously is integral to that healing process.
3. Let your body recover. While it’s good to work out even on vacation, chances are that your body needs a break from the usual routine. Scale back on your workouts while on vacation, and give your body the chance to relax and recover. You’ll be far more motivated to return to your usual workout routine after vacation once you’ve given yourself the chance to fully rest up.
4. Plan, but don’t overschedule. When you’re planning out your vacation, it may be tempting to jam-pack your calendar with activities. However, vacations are the one time you should probably reconsider oversheduling your calendar. Having too much to do on a vacation often makes for a more stressful trip, which means you’ll return home afterwards more exhausted than rested. Plan a few activities here and there, but leave gaps in your schedule to just relax.
5. Include restful activities. If you’re wondering how to actually plan a relaxing vacation, the key is to plan restful activities. This means maybe foregoing that additional intense hike or swim, and opting instead for that evening meditation class, or taking advantage of the soaker tub in your hotel room. If you’re like me and tend to experience FOMO (fear of missing out), remind yourself that this is a vacation, not a marathon. It’s okay to not take part in every activity. In fact, your body and brain will likely benefit more from activities that recharge them, rather than exhaust them.
