Planning a Relaxing Getaway

Considering all the stress we deal with on a daily basis, a nice relaxing getaway can help us clear our minds, recharge, and better prepare us to tackle adult responsibilities. However, planning a vacation regardless of how long it is can sometimes be a big stressor in and of itself. The following are some ideas for when you want to plan a relaxing getaway and you want the stress levels to be as minimal as possible.

Consider Your “Happy Setting”
Many people have a happy setting, such as a beach, a campground, etc, where they can go and it feels as though a weight is lifted off their shoulders and they can tackle any problem that comes their way. If you’re going through a particularly stressful time, consider going to your happy setting rather than trying someplace different.

Consider What Stresses You Out
Everyone has certain things that can stress them out when they’re traveling, for example, maybe you always need to leave two hours early or you hate flying during the day. If you’re planning a relaxing getaway, make sure to plan accordingly so you can avoid those stressors as much as possible.

Figure Out Your Budget
One of the biggest stressors in life is usually money, so when you’re planning your relaxing getaway, the first step is to figure out what you can afford to spend. The second step is to shrink that number by a substantial amount. Sometimes, especially when you’re on vacation, it can be difficult not to go over budget, so when you have an amount in mind but you plan to use much less than that, you leave yourself a little wiggle room just in case.

Keep Your Plans Flexible
Unfortunately, plans aren’t always going to go exactly as you want them to. Maybe it will rain or you’ll come across another activity you’d really love to do. It’s for that reason that it’s best if you keep your plans as flexible as you can. You give yourself some room to work with just in case you want to alter your plans or something happens that’s out of your control.

Do Your Research
As fun as spontaneity can be, when you’re planning a relaxing vacation, you’ll want to do as much research as possible. This includes researching your accommodations, restaurants, etc. Granted, it doesn’t mean there are guarantees, but at least you’ll get an idea of how safe, clean, and reputable the businesses are before you give them your money.

Leave When There’s Little Traffic
Dealing with traffic is the worst, especially when you’re taking a vacation and you’re nervous about getting there and back safely and on time. You’ll want to avoid rush hour traffic, so leaving in the middle of the night might be an idea you want to consider, but you’ll also want to check if there are any major events in the area on the days you plan on traveling so you can avoid that traffic as well.

If you feel like planning your relaxing getaway will take you to stress levels you really don’t want to deal with, consider leaving the planning to a travel agent. You may find that you’re much happier having all the plans put in place by the travel professional so you can just focus on going on vacation and enjoying yourself.