6 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VACATION
Vacation: That time when you can escape the stress of your everyday life and get some much-needed downtime. Your vacation is your time to fully relax and recharge — and if you don’t commit yourself to that, your time off may end up being completely counterproductive. There’s no way to control the flight delays, or travel mishaps but there are a few things you can do to ensure you really enjoy your vacation.
Here are six ways to amp up the enjoyment factor and make the most of your precious time off.
1. Remember you can’t do it all
One thing that’s guaranteed to ruin any vacation? Cramming as many activities and sights as possible into every 24-hour period. I know the FOMO is real when you travel, but the last thing you want to do is overload your schedule with more than you can handle. To avoid any itinerary-induced anxiety, try to pace yourself. Focus on experiences rather than ticking things off some “top ten attractions” list. Aim for quality over quantity. When you do put that itinerary together, create a list of “must-see” places and another of “would like to see” places. This way, you can prioritize your time without feeling pressure to see and do everything.
2. Lower your expectations
It’s only natural to be excited about your vacation, but if you start out with rigid or unrealistic expectations, you’ll always be disappointed — regardless of what does or doesn’t happen. Will the hotel room or apartment end up being smaller than it looked on the website? Probably. Will that Instagram-worthy vista look a little less spectacular with dozens of other people crowded around you, vying to capture the same photo? Definitely. Rather than stressing about trivial things, focus on what you’d like to have happen while you’re on holiday instead — whether it’s adventure, connection, or simply total relaxation. These are the kinds of vacation goals that won’t be ruined when plans go awry.
3. Go with the flow
We all have a story about that trip that didn’t go as planned. Maybe you were bound for Mombasa but your luggage ended up in Kisumu. Maybe you spent the entirety of that once-in-a-lifetime holiday in the hotel bathroom, curled up in the fetal position with a horrific case of food poisoning. When you’re travelling, it’s safe to say something will probably go wrong. While you can’t stop unexpected occurrences from happening, you can choose how you react to them. And more often than not, those mishaps and wrong turns offer the opportunity to connect with the place you’re visiting on a more genuine level. If you find yourself in the middle of a ridiculous travel situation on holiday, take a deep breath, remind yourself it will all work out — and then try to think about how funny it will be when it’s all over.
4. Take time to unplug
A vacation is one of the rare times when you can ignore your calls, notifications, and overflowing inbox and actually get away with it, so take full advantage! Disable push notifications, temporarily delete your work-related apps, go to dinner without your phone — do whatever it takes to fully disconnect from the stresses of work and home life. Taking a break from being constantly glued to a screen will only make your vacation that much sweeter.
5. Ease back into work
A fantastic vacation will leave you feeling rested, refreshed, and more energized. That post-holiday afterglow can last for a while, unless you book a red-eye flight with three stopovers and a 7-hour layover on the way home. Transitioning back to work will be difficult enough, so try not to make it any harder by subjecting yourself to stressful travel conditions — especially if you need to be back at the office bright and early the next day. If possible, schedule your return flight so you’ll have a day or two to unwind and decompress before you get back to the grind.
6. Don’t do it for the ‘gram
Lastly, make sure you’re planning a vacation you genuinely want to take. It sounds pretty obvious, right? But, so many of us fall into the trap of booking a trip because it seems like the kind of holiday we “should” be taking, or the kind that will impress other people. Just like anything in life, our vacation choices can be influenced by social pressure, so ask yourself where you would want to go if no one else knew or cared. Whether you’re keen to lounge on a beach for seven days straight or explore remote corners of a remote wilderness, the most important thing is to make a choice that reflects your interests and desires.
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8 Pieces of Travel Etiquette Every Tourist Should Know
There are some etiquette rules to being a tourist that are obvious, like being respectful and well-mannered to locals. But other rules are less obvious, and yet totally crucial to not only being a good tourist, but also a good human. There are pieces of travel etiquette that every tourist should follow no matter where they go. Regardless of whether you’re going to a low-key beach town or a historic religious institution, there are ways that you, as a visitor, should behave to not only show respect, but also represent your character and where you come from glowingly.
You should always remember that it is a privilege to be able to visit another country. When you’re in a new country, you should think of yourself in a stranger’s home, even if you’re in the local coffee shop. The same kinds of manners and considerations you’d make if you were in someone’s private space should be your behavioral standard when it’s not obvious how to behave. Being a polite tourist isn’t just about remembering your please’s and thanks you’s. It’s about ensuring that the country hosting you is aware of just how grateful you are to be there, and just how much respect you have for their way of living — even, and especially if it’s very different from your own.
Know Where You’re Going
Before you travel anywhere, you should do a little bit of preliminary research. Get a general idea of what the area is like, what important historic events have occurred there, and what the culture is comprised of. Was there recently a war there? Are the locals conservative? Are you traveling there during a holy time? To ensure you’re not being unintentionally disrespectful, and to be a good travel student, do a little homework, it will only enrich your time there and help you relate to the people better.
Don’t Take People’s Pictures without Asking
People don’t want to feel like they’re a human zoo. You should never take someone’s picture from up close without asking for permission. If the person is far away, it might be OK to snap a quick photo — but, and this will be relevant if you’re visiting a memorial site or a cemetery, remember that under no circumstances is it ever OK to take a photo of someone grieving. If you’d like to take someone’s picture, go up to them and ask if they will permit it, and if they do not, be understanding and back down immediately.
Be Mindful At Memorials & Religious Places
If you really want to take a picture of a memorial or religious place, do your best to ensure there’s no one in the photo, as people who have come to grieve deserve privacy and respect. Places like concentration camps and cemeteries should be no photo zones, if possible. While you’re there, make sure that you’re also respectful of the tone. Aka, these are not the places to make phone calls, to laugh with friends, or to speak loudly.
Prepare To Dress Conservatively If the Culture Calls For It
If you’re going to a conservative country, respect the culture. Dress as close to the locals as you can, both to show them that you respect their dress code, and also for your own safety. If everyone else has their shoulder’s covered, you should have yours covered, too. If you’re unsure of how to dress, get in touch with a travel agency or tour guide to get some reliable advice.
Try To Translate, If Possible
No one expects you to learn a new language before visiting a new country, but having some knowledge of the language will only help you. At the very least, do some research to find out the best way to greet people, so that you don’t offend anyone with an outdated phrase. When in doubt, use Google Translate.
Do As Others Do
Before you open up your laptop at a cafe or make a phone call in a museum, look around to see if anyone else is on their phone or computer. If you’re tempted to take a photo of something but no one is taking pictures, perhaps there’s a reason. Always scan a room for clues before you make yourself too comfortable.
Be Polite, Always
For instance: If you don’t like the local food, you don’t have to eat it. But you do have to be gracious, and at the very least take a small bite and pretend to like it. Insulting food is insulting a culture in many cases. In the same way that you wouldn’t spit out something your grandmother made special for you, you shouldn’t crinkle up your face or turn up your nose at another culture’s food, drink, dress, music, or lifestyle.
Be Patient
Even when you are in a rush, make sure that you are being careful and polite. If you’re used to a metropolitan life or travel often, it’s easy to forget that you’re a visitor. But when you’re visiting a new country or culture, it’s important to hold the door for people, walk at a respectful distance and pace, and not show signs of frustration when waiting for food or other services. Even if you are jet lagged, even if you are late for an important event, even if everyone around you is slow, or distracted, find patience, as you are a guest and it’s not your place to demand fast service or the right of way. Reminding yourself that it’s an honor to be there is a good way to put things into perspective.
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5 Signs You Need to Take a Break Now
With deadlines to meet, errands to run, a party to attend, and a week of meals to prep, your life is based on responsibilities — and your level of stress is high because you always meet your deadlines. After all, you’re an adult who can function under all types of pressure. And who can blame you for this determination? In a society where an extra shot of espresso is the answer to lack of sleep and working late is the key to getting ahead, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize the difference between your excuses and your exhaustion.
By taking note of these five signs that it’s time for mental break, you’ll be able to rest your mind in the moment and reward yourself with the difference it makes in the future.
1. When you’re constantly sick
While you can’t control your immune system, it’s not a coincidence that you become sick during the most inconvenient times. Why? Because our crucial life events trigger an amount of stress that usually causes a toll on our bodies. To avoid this domino effect, take your mental break and prepare for swamped weeks by sticking to a schedule that will allow you the sleep and nutrition you need to feel better and perform your best.
2. When you’re too stressed about the past to focus on the present
As you go through the motions of your day you can’t help but dwell on how you made a calculation mistake on your last report and have failed to go to the gym for the past two weeks. Your mind spirals into the type of darkness where you feel the heaviness on your shoulders and the constant attack on your mind.
This type of overdrive is due to the action of life moving forward and the stress of you staying behind to hold on to whatever you deem was unsuccessful. By taking a break, you’ll give your mind the chance to relax and your thoughts the time they need to be sorted out.
3. When you’re neglecting yourself
If your schedule begins to turn into a cycle of skipping out on dinner to finish an assignment and overlooking doctor appointments to save time, it’s a smart idea to take a step back. Even though your responsibilities are important, your health is mandatory — and not taking care of yourself will cause you more stress than you probably already feel. Along with allowing your body to unwind, a mental break is a great opportunity to create a schedule that will stop you from disregarding your health and start you on a route to a higher quality of living.
4. When you’re tired and can’t sleep
What better way to combat the feeling of being sick like a good night’s rest? Nothing, which is why it’s so frustrating when you get into bed to sleep and end up lying there wishing you could. With endless thoughts running in your mind and (what feels like) the anxiety that comes with them, it’s only understandable that you feel everything but at peace. Thus, a mental break will give you the fresh air you need and the sleep you deserve.
5. When you’re always sad
Sometimes your emotions become overwhelming and all you can think to do is feel them — so let yourself. After all, there’s no shame in welcoming something that proves that you’re alive. Although it’s good to recognize how you feel, it becomes concerning when it’s a feeling that’s constantly sad and unmotivated. If the thought of going to your favorite fitness class makes you tear up or the motion to cook your next meal suddenly becomes paralyzing, accept that you could need a mental break to set yourself back on track to come back stronger than before.
Although ignoring your obligations isn’t a viable solution, a break in order to collect yourself could be exactly what you need to become more efficient. Sometimes, true strength comes in accepting that you’re a human who needs to recharge (instead of a robot who needs no such thing).
