How To Have A Stress-Free Vacation

It may feel as though enjoying a stress-free holiday is unrealistic. There is always something to think about, always plenty to do before you can go, and always something to contend with when you finally get to your planned vacation spot. Sometimes it can genuinely feel as though you’re going from one set of stresses to another or even doubling up on your stress in some cases. This can mean that for some, vacations just don’t seem worth it. 

 

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However, the truth is that vacations are always worth it. When done right, they can reduce your normal stress levels, and if you are careful, they won’t add any more to your life either. Continue reading to find out how this can be done.

Pre-Book Where Possible

One of the things that may make a trip more stressful than it ever should be is not being able to accomplish all you want to do. This is especially true if it is something you have always wanted to do, perhaps the basis for the trip in the first place. 

If there is something you want to do, don’t run the risk of getting stressed (or even having your vacation ruined) when it is highly likely you can pre-book the activity ahead of time. When you can do this, you will find your stress levels decrease because everything will be in place, and you will know precisely what to do and where to go. You can arrange your airport parking, your airline can book your seats, your transfer when you arrive can be scheduled through your travel company, and numerous activities can be booked. A good example of this is a package tour by a reputable company you can book from home because everything is included for you and you don’t have to worry about anything.

Don’t Be Too Reachable 

When you're on vacation, you should stay on vacation. What you should not be doing is responding to business emails or participating in conference calls. In fact, work should be entirely ignored for the duration of your trip away. If you are a company owner with no additional employees to cover for you, this may be challenging, but planning for your vacation in advance is, as we’ve already said, a great way to de-stress, and it can also help your business keep going even when you’re not personally available. 

However, it’s not only work that can create stress when on vacation. It could be that your friends and relatives become a problem as well, and they will constantly want to ensure you’re all right and that you’re having a good time. This is incredibly well-meaning, but it can be stressful. If you can drop them a message once a week and make sure they’re aware that this is your plan, you should be able to relax a lot more. Staying away from social media is also a great idea. 

Pack Light 

Strange as it may seem, packing can often be a stressful element of your vacation. It shouldn’t be, of course; it’s just putting the clothes and items you need into a bag to take with you when you go away. However, it can still cause people to become anxious because they don’t know exactly what to take or what they are going to need while they’re on vacation. 

To combat this issue, research your destination. Look at the weather, at the dress code, at the activities. Then narrow down your packing to just the things you know you’re going to need. If there is a laundry room at your hotel or a cleaners in the city you’re staying at, then you can take even less with you. Take as little as possible to make your trip easier and less stressful.

Give Yourself Enough Time

No matter how you plan to get where you're going, give yourself more time than you think you'll need during peak season. This is very important on days with a lot of traffic (such as spring break in the US). On these days, almost everything will take longer than usual, like check-in lines, getting a taxi, and parking at the airport. Business travelers who are used to a certain routine may also find that traveling with their families isn't as easy or quick as when they travel alone. Knowing you have enough time to deal with anything unexpected can help keep you from getting anxious and stressed. If you get to the airport early, remember that working or reading in an airport lounge is much more relaxing than being stuck in traffic for 20 minutes in a taxi before your flight.

Don’t Assume Something Will Go Wrong

Sometimes stress can definitely come from within. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’ve never left your hometown before, the more you think about things that can go wrong, the more stressed you will become. You might not even be able to truly enjoy yourself when you’re away because you just can’t shake the feeling that there is a problem or disaster is just around the corner. 

Although it’s good to have a contingency plan just in case you lose your passport, run out of money, or have an accident, for example, don’t dwell on these potential issues. Have plans in place to deal with them, and then focus on the positives of enjoying your vacation. In that way, you’ll be in a much better frame of mind, and you’ll have a lot more fun, as will anyone you’re traveling with. 

Have Something To Look Forward To When You Get Home

When you get back from a long trip, it can be exhausting and emotional, and it can be hard to get back into your old routine. A 2010 study found that this is very different from how people feel before a trip. People were always happier when they were getting ready for a trip than when they got back.

Make sure that when you get home, you have something fun to look forward to. That could be a neat and clean place to live or some fun things to do in the near future. If you can organize this before you leave, going home won’t be so bad, and you won’t feel stressed out during your vacation, which will curtail your fun. 

Share some of your favorite stress-free destinations below.

Packable Halloween Costumes

I like to travel during the holidays, and one of those holidays is Halloween. I'm an adult who will dress up for any reason. Costumes are fun. Even if you're just looking to pack a costume for the kids, they can end up taking up a big part of your carry-on, which is all priority space.  

We have visited Disney parks multiple times with costumes and still packed light and accomplished carry-on-only travel, so I think we've done it right. Here are some fun costumes that you can easily pack:

Sports Fan

This was a back-up plan of mine, because one October we visited Disneyland and it was suuuuuuuuuuuper hot. I knew the outfit I'd brought wasn't going to do me any favors, so I pivoted and ran to a sports store and purchased an LA Angels t-shirt, hat, lanyard, and matching sweat bands. Because it was the local baseball team, people got really excited seeing me coming. I was able to rewear that t-shirt on the rest of my trip, too. You probably already have some sporty gear for your chosen team. Add multiple pieces to really push it over the top.

Ice Cream Man or Barista

Eric doesn't like to wear involved outfits, because the added layers make him too hot. Ice cream man or barista really only requires an apron, hat and name tag. You can wear your regular clothes underneath, since most everything works. Purchase pieces separately, or buy the complete costume:

• Barista complete
• Green Apron
• Name tag
• Ice cream man/woman
• White apron
• Name tag
• hat

Free Guy

I really loved this movie and you don't have to be Ryan Reynolds to pull it off. You can purchase the above costume from Amazon, or you probably already have a shirt and tie that will work, and you can just order a name tag to go with it. You can add a set of blue light glasses or carry around a cup of coffee to complete the look.

Postal Carrier

Three easy pieces - a vest, hat, and bag - make this great outfit, plus you can use the accessory as your day bag and it'll look stuffed with mail. You may need to add some better stitching and a good closure before you head out, but that's not too hard to do. You don't want all your snacks and whatever leaving a trail behind you. 

Another idea for you is to use a blue bag you already have and add a logo to it with double-sided tape or sticky-backed velcro. I really love this Travelon bag for travel. The blue is a lovely dark color and it has anti-theft features.

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Basic Witch

Most of us travel with a little black dress. If this is true of you, then you don't have to do much more. Pack a fun witch hat (these are great, don't require much maintenance, and you can add a variety things to them) and maybe some chunky jewelry that really says "witch". You can wear whatever black shoes you've brought to go with your dress. I, generally, just bring black flats that go with everything. A wand really caps things off, if it's not going to be inconvenient to tote around with you. It will make for fun, magical photos though.

Squid Game

This was such a phenomenon that almost everyone is going to get this costume. It's also laid back and comfy, and great for cooler climates, because you can easily layer warmer pieces underneath it if you need. You can get the official costume or add your own numbers to a generic track suit that you can wear again not on Halloween.

Clark Kent

Want to be a (somewhat) secret superhero? You probably have a white button-down shirt and a tie. Get yourself a Superman t-shirt to wear underneath and arrange your shirt partway open and your tie askew to look like you're Clark ready to quick-change. If you don't have a pair of glasses already, head to your local dollar store and buy a pair of black glasses that you can pop the lenses out of. 

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Artist, Beatnik, Mime or French Person

I really loved this outfit that I wore for work one year. It's easy to do and still allowed me to move around like normal. I have several striped shirts, but if you don't, you can buy the whole costume. This makes a fun couple's costume, too. Here's the whole outfit for women and for men.

Robber

Replace the beret above with a black knit cap and carry a money bag (if you're lazy and cheap like me) or get the whole look with gloves and a mask to be an old-school robber. All you need is a pair of black pants and shoes and you're good to go. Get this in short sleeve or long sleeve if it's cooler out. If you're in need of a real purse to hold your credit cards and keys and stuff, there's always this bag. 

Sorry for this terrible picture. Good thing I've learned to take more and better ones since this.

On Safari

I feel like everyone has one of these outdoor shirts in khaki, brown or white. Get yourself a matching hat and add some cheapo binoculars and now you look like you're on safari. Easy peasy.

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Tourist

You are one, so this should be easy. All you need is a Hawaiian shirt, a camera, and a map. Ask people for directions for more effect. I like these phone cases that look like cameras that you can wear around your neck, so you aren't carrying around something unnecessary.

You may see more costume suggestions before Halloween, because I love being creative with just a few things. I hope your Fall travels are looking good. Have you ever tried to travel with a costume?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, and I may be monetarily compensated if you make a purchase through any of them. Thanks in advance for helping me keep this blog going with your purchases.

Your Fall Travel Packing Blueprint

Fall is quickly arriving and with it comes the struggle of how to pack light when you have to plan for weather that may be warm, cold, or anything in between. While planning for our Paris trip, I've been checking the weather forecast nearly everyday to come up with a strategy. If you have a fall vacation booked and need some packing help, I'm here for you.

This will be our third trip to Paris at the end of the year and probably one of the warmest times we've been there, but there's always the chance that the temps will drop when we get there and mean we need warmer clothing. Here's how I've packed for us in these situations before:

Mix and Match & Layer

You want to make sure everything you're bring goes with everything else. I like a neutral bottom and a colorful top, but I try to stray away from many patterns, because if I have to wear multiple pieces at a time. Our last time in Paris, it was 20 degrees and raining every day, so we were wearing 3-4 layers at a time: t-shirt or tank and/or lightweight long-sleeve shirt, sweater, and coat with a scarf. We didn't bring heavy coats with us, which made the extra layers necessary, but we were comfortable, even while walking outside for long periods.

I always travel with a scarf/wrap a lightweight jacket and a cardigan or two. This way I'm covered if it gets cooler at our destination and for the chills on the plane. It may seem silly, but on the plane I wear a pair of stretchy jeans, comfortable slip-on shoes, a t-shirt, a cardigan and a scarf. If it gets warm, I can shed some layers, but if it's cold, I'm set. I have this awesome HappyLuxe wrap that I can also use as a blanket. In fact, I can wear it as a scarf while also covering my lap if my legs are cold.

Layering also gives you the ability to wear part of your travel outfit at your destination, so I always dress with that in mind. I work with three bottoms and four-five tops total. When they all go together, you have 12-15 different outfits. You can see how I've made different looks with each of these tops and bottom combinations.

I usually toss in an easy dress (and a pair of tights, in case it's really cold)  that can work for day and night, then go with just two pair of shoes. Both should be great for walking and at least one of them should work for your dress. Make sure you bring shoes appropriate for your destination. Paris has a zillion steps to or inside all their landmarks, so wearing shoes that aren't too confining are best, as my boots last time were a bit too tight with socks and I ended up with a stress fracture in one of my feet. 

Sneakers, open-top flats (like Toms) or some great booties with stretch. I prefer my Arcopedico booties, because I can walk all day (even on cobblestones and steep inclines) without my feet hurting. They're also pack down small, so I don't have to wear them on the plane to conserve space. Bonus: If you're going to Europe, you won't stick out like a tourist. My other biggest tip when it comes to shoes: don't bring shoes you haven't worn before. You will 100% regret it.

Do Laundry

There’s no way around it. If you pack light and you’re gone for more than a week, you’re going to have to do laundry. Schedule some downtime (which you should do anyway) to clean your clothes. It doesn’t sound fun, but you can take the time to hit the pool, watch a show or catch a nap. Just need to freshen up a piece? Spray some vodka on it. It deodorizes, and since it doesn’t have its own smell, you won’t reek of booze.

Accessories

Throw some accessories in your bag to give you other options. A lightweight scarf can jazz up an outfit or work as a head/shoulder covering in a church. A good piece of jewelry can literally turn a day dress into a nighttime one, especially if it's a cute little black dress, which is what I take with me everywhere. A fun sunhat can keep you from getting sunburned and also give an outfit a new twist. 

Now all your clothes fit in a carry-on. You know where all your things are. You don't have to wait at the carousel for your luggage. You don't have to pay baggage fees. You don't have to break your back trying to get your bag up stairs. Now, you just need to get working on making your toiletries lighter.

You can do it!

Carry-on packing can be difficult at first, but with some practice you can become a pro and save baggage fees. With fewer bags to deal with, you’ll feel freer as you waltz off the plane and get right onto your vacation while everyone else is still waiting for their suitcases. 

Our last international trip had us taking two large carry-ons and two large personal items, but we were also going to a wedding and needed fancy clothes and shoes. This trip I'm challenging myself to pack one large carry-on and two medium personal items, one of which will fit into a smaller carry-on (in case we bring back souvenirs). 

What are your biggest struggles when trying to pack light?