This month’s question comes from Philippa:
Hi Kate,
I always find the process of going away on holiday really stressful, how can I relax and let go more?
My Answer:
As many people prepare to go on holiday over the next month or so, I thought this was the perfect question for this month’s Q&A feature.
I like to refer to this problem as ‘travel anxiety‘.
Over the years, I’ve tried and tested a variety of habits to make travelling as stress-free as possible for myself and my clients.
Here are the habits that help the most:
Pack in advance
I purposely do the majority of my packing a week in advance of travelling because there’s always a feeling of tension before the packing is done and it gets worse the closer you leave it to travelling!
This also allows for the time and headspace to remember anything I’ve forgotten and to edit things down given the fact I typically start off packing far more than I need.
Overall, it means I’m less stressed because everything feels under control.
Create a template packing list
I have a simple word document with bullet points that I’ve used for years. For some trips, I don’t need to take everything on the list, but I know that everything I could possibly need is there and it’s therefore highly unlikely I’ll forget anything.
Again, this leads to a feeling of being in control, which equals less stress/anxiety.
Get help packing
Several of my clients have a nanny for their children, so we get them to pack the children’s bags, and, again, ideally at least a week in advance. I appreciate not everyone has this option but if you do happen to have a nanny, get them to help! As per the previous point, they can also work from or even help create the template list.
Leave extra early
The anticipation of something going wrong when travelling to the airport is a major stress for many people. So, I suggest leaving extra early. This will help to alleviate some of those nerves and should there be any issues along the way you’ll be less stressed knowing that you have extra-extra time!
Consider staying over at the airport
If you have a very early morning flight, or if you land very late, consider staying the night at an airport hotel. The majority of people I know, myself included, barely get any sleep when you have a flight that requires getting up in the early hours of the morning.
Rather than starting or finishing your holiday feeling exhausted, stay at the airport if your budget allows. This not only means that you’ll get more sleep, but you’ll feel far less stressed because you’re already at the airport.
Don’t go straight back to work
I had a client years ago who would always book the day off work after he returned from holiday and before starting work.
If you arrive home on a Friday or Saturday and you don’t work weekends, then you wouldn’t need to do this. But many people try to squeeze every inch out of their trip and get home on a Sunday and then they’re straight back at work on the Monday.
In my experience, this is especially stressful when you have young children because whatever time you do get on the Sunday is spent sorting them out!
Don’t be tempted to take a ‘red eye’
Similarly, it may not feel like a big deal when planning your trip as the focus is all about the holiday. But do you really want to arrive or return feeling shattered – especially on the return? You’ll have hopefully destressed and caught up on sleep whilst on holiday then all that goes to waste if you go straight to the office from a night flight!
Go easy on yourself
If you have been working flat-out right up until your holiday, as many people do, anticipate that it might take you the first few days to unwind. Those stress hormones don’t immediately disappear especially as the travelling is also often a stressful experience.
So, try and take it easy in the first few days. Prepare to feel agitated like you should be doing something. If you’re on holiday with young children, ask your partner/family member/friend if they can look after the children for a few hours and take some time to yourself so you can fully relax and unwind.
Boundaries around work
In an ideal world, you won’t have to do any work whilst on holiday! But if you do, I recommend setting yourself clear time frames and making it enjoyable – for example, sit out on your hotel room balcony with a cappuccino or juice for a couple of hours in the morning.
Make sure you also plan days that are 100% work-free, so that you have time where you can completely switch off.
Don’t stress the small stuff
In the build-up to a holiday, we often feel hyper-focused on not forgetting anything and thinking about what could possibly go wrong. Firstly, nowadays, you can pretty much get anything you’ve forgotten to pack at the airport or at your holiday destination.
Secondly, it’s natural to focus on the worst-case scenarios – this is really what I’m referring to when I call it ‘travel anxiety‘. So, if you recognise this is you, put a label on it – “I’ve got travel anxiety, this always happens”, then shift your thoughts to what you’re looking forward to about the holiday once you’re there.
Lastly, I also suggest laying out the most important things the night before you travel – your passport, money, keys, phone, charger, tickets etc. That way you know the most important things are all there and ready to go.
In essence, all these habits are about lowering stress hormones through preparing in advance and making the transition from home to your destination, then home again and back to work as easy and relaxing as possible. This way you get the most from your holiday and you’ll return to work feeling rejuvenated.
Kate x
