Just the idea of planning a vacation can be stressful.
This post originally appeared on theHarvard Business Review.
Vacations are the things that dreams and cruise commercials are made of.
Ideally, you come back refreshed, recharged and ready to go.
But sometimes, the exact opposite is true.
Sometimes vacation stress is unavoidable, but most times its manageable if were simply more strategic.
This gives you the opportunity to protect the time before and after your holiday from too many commitments.
It also gives you the ability to make thoughtful choices as you pull the details of your trip together.
Its best to not make plans for any scheduled items like conference calls while youre traveling.
When you originally purchase your flights, its worth spending the extra money to travel at reasonable times.
And since you planned well in advance, youll be able to find more affordable flights.
If youre traveling with children, focus on simplicity.
Especially at younger ages, theyre quite content with a pool to play in, and with being unrushed.
Use your Out of Office message on your email and phone wisely.
Gratitude creates joy that can carry you through the initial shock of going back to real life.
As youre planning your next getaway, these strategies can help make it truly refreshing.
