Who doesn’t love vacations? Most of us cherish the thought of escaping the rat race and enjoying some peace and quiet. However, even though you work hard all year round for that well-earned break, taking a vacation can actually be highly stressful – and not just if you have adrenal fatigue. Will the pets be okay? Are all your documents in order? Have you cancelled your appointments?
Checking off the million and one things you have to do before you even get out of the house can be exhausting. There’s also the unspoken anxiety around what to expect when you arrive. The point of a vacation is to take time to rest and digest, so creating a plan to allay the worry and stress is important if you want to get the most from your break.
With that in mind, here’s my guide to a planning a stress free vacation when you have adrenal fatigue.
Choose Your Destination Wisely
For many people, booking their vacation is the most exciting part. Having a break to look forward to can make working a job you dislike worthwhile. However, it’s important to choose your destination carefully in order to minimise your stress. For example, if travelling abroad, will you need vaccinations? How might this affect your adrenal fatigue? Which would be more therapeutic – a city break or a remote retreat? If you’re travelling with children, are there activities for them which will give you a break?
A good travel agent can save you time, money and stress. Most reputable companies will have scouted out the location for you in advance, and this can take some of the anxiety out of what to expect when you arrive.
Before you go, ask questions like:
- Will there be places where you can source healthy food so you don’t have to abandon your eating plan?
- Will your insurance cover you if you fall ill while you’re away?
- Can travel to your hotel / apartment be arranged in advance?
Doing your research ahead of time and thinking carefully about your choice of destination could mean the difference between having a blissful rest and enduring a frazzled nightmare. Don’t be tempted to reach for the cheapest deal and hope for the best.
Plan Your Exit Strategy
It’s natural to worry about forgetting something important before you go, that’s why having a checklist is vital if you want to set off with peace of mind.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you can cram all your preparation into the week before you go. Some travel experts recommend getting organised up to a month before you leave. Ordering foreign currency, securing visas, and planning vaccinations takes time. Not only could leaving things until the last minute jeopardize your trip, it’s a sure fire way to send your cortisol levels through the roof.
The Internet is a great resource when it comes to planning your vacation. Hunt out websites that publish printable packing and “to do” lists which can help you prepare. They may highlight things you’ve overlooked or forgotten.
Working it out
Those last few days at the office can be almost unbearable. Counting down the days until you make the break can be really stressful, but it pays to use this time wisely so that you’re not faced with a tsunami of emails when you return.
To avoid coming home to a backlog, there are several things you can do:
- Set up an out of office alert on your mailbox so that clients know not to expect an immediate response.
- Consider asking a colleague to take over some of your workload while you’re away (you can always return the favor) or if at all possible, hire in help.
- Clear your desk of clutter and empty your in-tray. There’s nothing more stressful than returning to a mountain of paperwork.
- Remember, you have a right to expect not to be contacted about work while you are on vacation. Just because you have a mobile device does not mean that you should be bothered with trivialities while you’re having a break.
Your vacation is a time to kick back and take care of yourself. If you have adrenal fatigue, it’s more important than ever to use this time well, and for the purpose it was intended – to recharge your batteries and indulge in time for you.
Take-away
Although it may initially sound like an added stressor, making the effort to plan your break properly will ultimately pay dividends. With a little organisation, it doesn’t have to be another thing to run you down.
Do you have any tips about holidaying with adrenal fatigue? What are your top suggestions?
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