Vacations are supposed to be a time to relax, recharge, and reconnect with loved ones. Is that what happened on your last vacation? Did you find moments to recharge your emotional, physical, and mental batteries? Or were you too busy making everyone else happy to pay attention to your own needs? If you come home from vacation drained and tense, you’re doing something wrong.
Good news—you can make your next vacation more enjoyable, whether you’re going someplace new or back to the same cabin you’ve gone to for twenty years. Here are nine ideas to make your vacation more enjoyable.
1. Stop ignoring your own needs
If you’re a people pleaser, you may be so focused on making everyone else happy that you forget your own needs. You know this habit leads to frustration, burnout and simmering resentment. From now on, stop pretending you don’t have needs, too. Make sure you’re recharging your own batteries along with everyone else’s. (Sure, parents find joy in making their kids happy, but we also need to invest in ourselves and our other important relationships. A vacation can have time for everyone.)
2. Be honest about what drains and what energizes
Before heading out on your next family outing, take an honest look at yourself and identify what drains you, what brings you joy, and what energizes you. Next, have an honest conversation with your loved ones about which kinds of activities they look forward to, and which they may be dreading. Don’t assume you know the answers! Ask anyway. You may be surprised at the seemingly unimportant events your kids or spouse most enjoy, or at how an activity you spend hours preparing for doesn’t really matter to them.
3. Admit your limits
Any vacation will be more enjoyable when you start with realistic expectations about the needs and abilities of family members. (Age, health limitations, skill levels, attention spans, etc.) Small children need frequent stops and they will get sand all over their lunch at the beach. As my husband and I age, we must reconsider how strenuous a hike we want to take (so we’re not too sore to enjoy the next day). When you plan expectations within your limits, everyone will be happier.
4. Get clear on what you want
Why are you taking a vacation in the first place? Is the main goal to sightsee a bucket list destination? Family togetherness? Getting away from the rat race to spend time in nature? Keep that goal in mind as you plan your days. For example, if you need to slow down and recharge, resist the temptation to plan activities from dawn to sundown. Knowing your primary vacation goal helps you prioritize your energy usage. It also enables you to consider the trip a success even when some plans go awry.
5. Start off on the right foot
Don’t leave the house already stressed. If the last-minute rush to pack up stresses you out, change your methods. Personally, I prefer packing a day in advance, because if I wait to the last minute I’ll fall into “hurry mode” and forget things. I sleep better the night before departing when I know I’m already packed and ready to go. What will help you face the hour of departure as calmly as possible? Packing the car the night before? Eating a favorite breakfast? Bringing a mug of soothing tea in the car with you?
6. Clarify your Vacation Rules and Expectations
Going on vacation is a disruption of normal life, which means the family may assume the normal rules and duties don’t apply. People pleasers may find themselves doing all the work while the rest of the family kicks back. This is neither fair nor healthy. Instead of simmering in resentment while you do all the work, make sure everyone is clear on their responsibilities ahead of time. So, take time to have that conversation (even if it feels awkward) so everyone knows they’re expected to share the load within the level of their maturity and ability.
7. Look for ways to compromise. Make vacation more enjoyable for everyone
One person’s favorite way to relax is another’s deadly boredom. One person’s favorite fun activity may be exhausting or terrifying to another. Be aware of these differences in temperament and preference. Plan your vacation to allow everyone to have some activities that bring them joy. This may mean devoting different days to different activities, to allow everyone a favorite pastime. Or it may mean splitting up, so people have options. For example, my husband loves to fish and I don’t. When we go away, he takes some mornings or afternoons to go fishing while I stay back at the lodging and read. A win-win.
8. Change things up
If vacations are getting stale, or if your standard activities leave you empty, it may be time for a change of pace. Look for opportunities to try a new activity or visit a nearby place you’ve never been to. Even if you vacation at the same place every year, there will be some activities you’ve not yet tried. Who knows, you may discover a gorgeous lake you didn’t know existed, or get a chance to do something fun that’s been on your bucket list. A little change can breathe life into your next trip and make your vacation more enjoyable.
9. Take it easy on the return
Even when a vacation was a ton of fun, we can come home tired. And then there’s all the stuff that needs to be put away. Remember your vacation goal? If the purpose of the trip was to relax and recharge, don’t ruin it by dragging home at midnight and forcing yourself back to work at 6 am the next morning.
Instead, consider easing into normal life by giving yourself time to readjust. My husband and I try to arrive home from a trip early enough in the day so we can relax a little and take our time putting things away. If your travel plans force you to arrive home late, consider taking an extra day off. Use the extra day to reflect and savor the memories, restock the fridge, or take time to get those vacation photos organized.
How will you make your next vacation more enjoyable?
I hope these ideas will help you take more intentional, more satisfying, more restorative vacations. The kind we can look back on with fond memories and a deep sense of gratitude.
Which of these ideas will you implement to make your next vacation more enjoyable?
