Today we are flying to Orlando and DisneyWorld. Feels great to get a break from all this snow in Boston, but vacation can also be stressful. One of my biggest challenge on our vacations is that I'm always so busy thinking ahead that I forget to enjoy the moment (it's the project manager in me...). I need to be more mindful and live in the moment. I'm going to have to remind myself...
Here are some things that makes our trips a little bit less stressful
- We leave early for each event (airports, restaurants, the parks etc). Being late and rushing is the biggest stress factor.
- I make sure everyone gets a good night sleep. No one likes grumpy kids or husbands. Or a cranky wife for that matter.
- I pack our bags the evening before going out on day-trips. This save a lot of not only time in the morning, but also stressful moments of running around and the risk of forgetting things.
- I lay out everyone's clothes the night before. This way everyone will be ready in a heartbeat.
- I pack lots of healthy snacks (almonds, fruits etc) to manage the blood-sugar levels throughout the day.
- We drink lots of water every day. Dehydration leads to both fatigue and headaches.
- I plan activities ahead of time so that no one will get bored on the trip (games, bring books etc)
- My husband and I work as a team and share responsibilities for meals, bathtime etc.
- I unplugg and only check email twice a day. I ask coworkers at work to call me for any emergencies. That way I don't have to check emails every minute because I'm afraid of missing something.
Happy vacation planning!