Every once in a while, it’s great to break away from emails, cellphones and computers to enjoy a little relaxation. However, planning the perfect vacation isn’t easy. Studies show that the inability to plan for a great vacation is the result of many Americans not taking enough holidays off. Thankfully, there are a few ways that you can plan the perfect vacation for you and your family.
Enjoy the Anticipation
According to a study done at Breda University of Applied Sciences, people enjoy planning their vacations more than actually being on the vacations. Psychological studies done at Northwestern University found that it’s the anticipation of planning time off that brings people so much joy. This proves that booking your trip ahead of time not only gives you the edge in terms of logistics but also brings you more enjoyment during the buildup to your vacation. Planning a vacation ahead of time also negates the stress of last-minute planning.
Use a Booking Agency
The days of having to plan your own vacation are gone. You can look at vacation ideas and destinations that booking agencies such as Outdoor Traveler offer. These agencies can help you in nearly every aspect of planning out your trip, including flights, tickets to events and even helping you book a private island such as The Brando Tetiaroa. Choosing the perfect booking agency depends on your individual tastes, so do a little research before hiring a group to help you plan your next trip.
Longer Vacations Aren’t Always Better
Some people think that it’s not even worth going on vacation if you can’t spend a week or two at your destination. However, taking multiple short trips throughout the year might be even better. Taking several three- or four-day trips over the course of a year gives you more opportunities to experience new things. It also gives you more time to enjoy the pleasure of anticipation. This isn’t to discredit long vacations. The more time off a person gets, the better. Some studies even suggest that it takes at least a week to get into the groove of things and really start unwinding. If you have the opportunity to take either one long vacation or several short ones, however, it might be more beneficial to opt for the short ones.
Spend Your Time Wisely
More important than planning long or short vacations is making the time on your trip worthwhile. This includes the time leading up to a vacation. People often feel guilty about taking time off of work, so they work harder until they leave. This leaves them tied up in knots while on the trip. Instead, they need to give themselves permission to slow down just before leaving because the more relaxed they are before they leave, the faster they can relax on vacation.
Ditch the Smartphone
You also have to remember to leave your smartphone behind. Your phone gives you access to work, emails and other responsibilities that can distract you from relaxing. You can go more than a few hours without having to check your email or text messages. A vacation does you no good if you’re going to keep working anyway. You might as well stay home and save money on the hotel room if you’re going to do that.
Most importantly, have fun. People often plan a lot of things to do when they go on vacation and end up running around to get it all done. When they get back home, they need a vacation to recover from their vacation. Don’t over stuff your plans. Instead, plan a few things to do, and play the rest by ear.
About Jammie Morey
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