Tips to get the most out of your holiday

[Rebecca Brown]

Do you ever feel that everything you do is work? Do you ever catch yourself dreaming of exotic destinations, or a simple week at the beach, any beach, with your feet in the sand, listening to the waves? Then you finally manage to take some time off, and book a trip. However, you can sometimes come back from your trip neither fully rested, nor with your batteries charged. Your mind can’t seem to go into relaxation mode, and you are still feeling the stress of the previous however-many months since your previous vacation.

To avoid this feeling of disappointment, here are a few ideas to make the most out of your time off, wherever you are going.

Avoid the work sandwich

Most people tend to work extra hard right before they set out for their time off, and when they get back, they have a pile of work on their plate. While away, they can’t stop thinking about the things waiting for them back at the office, which effectively ruins their vacation.

If you have a job which will go and inflate your workload while you are away, you need to find a creative way around this predicament. Make sure to let all of your client and co-workers know months beforehand when you will be unavailable. Work a few extra hours in the month before your vacation, if you must. Don’t procrastinate, and take care of all the most important tasks well in advance.

While you are away, DO NOT check your email. Work can wait, and in order to stay productive and on the top of your game, forget about it for a week or two. Once you get back, you will make a plan to deal with everything that has piled up. There is no need to do that on the beach.

Disconnect

Now that you have left the office – disconnect. Your computer from its socket, your phone from the Internet, and your mind from the world. No need to read the news, to keep up with industry trends, to check up on your colleagues, or anything in that family. You have blissful days of NOT being a part of the world ahead. Use them to your advantage. The world will not stop turning if you fail to check your email.

Go all inclusive

Make sure your chosen destination and your holiday package are something special – don’t think of it as an expense, think of it as a reward for your hard work during the rest of the year. Get a jar or a piggy bank and throw in a designated amount every week. This way, you will be able to treat yourself to an all inclusive holiday, at the destination of your dreams. In fact, you will probably realize that going all inclusive will save you a decent amount in the long run – you will have no need to spend additional funds.

Make a special playlist

Photos are not the only thing you can take with you. Before you head out, make a special playlist of the tunes you will listen to on your vacation. Just make sure it’s not something you listen to every single day at the office. While you are away, play nothing but these songs. This way, you will make audio memories, and once you get home, whenever you feel you need to unwind, lie down and play those same songs. They will instantly take you back to the beach.

End it with a bang

While you may have the urge to do everything right away – eat at the best restaurants, see everything you want to see, and so on, make sure you save something amazing for the very last day. That way, you will end your holiday on a high note, and return home with a smile on your face. Even if you don’t plan much of your vacation beforehand, make sure you reserve the final day for that special something.

As the holiday season approaches, and as you start counting down the days to paradise, make sure you use your days off to their fullest. They are rare, and you might have to wait a long time for another one to come around. Recharge your batteries to their fullest, enjoy your holiday, and forget about your daily worries and strife.