You have high hopes when you go on vacation. You envision restful nights, busy days, and plenty of time relaxing by the pool. Unfortunately, vacations rarely go exactly how we planned. Many of us spend our vacation days feeling just as tired, if not more tired, than when we’re at home engaged in our regular routines.
Being tired can be irritating when you’re on vacation, but it can also be dangerous. Being tired behind the wheel can put you at risk of getting into an accident, especially when you consider the fact that other drivers are fatigued too. A whopping 70 percent of drivers operating big rigs are fatigued, and if you’re tired, your chances of getting into an accident go up.
You don’t have to spend your entire vacation feeling exhausted!
There are ways to boost your energy and have the kind of holiday you’ve always wanted. Here are our seven tips for taking care of yourself on your vacation.
1. Get a Good Night’s Rest Before You Leave
Don’t set yourself up for a vacation full of exhaustion by getting little to no sleep the night before you leave. Instead, focus on getting a good night of sleep before you hop in the car or get on the plane.
Getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. You can make it a lot easier by not waiting to pack until the last minute. Make a list and spend the week packing so you can go to bed without worrying about having forgotten something.
Go to bed early if you have to rise early, and give yourself plenty of time to get ready in the morning, so you don’t leave the house feeling groggy.
2. Develop a Nightly Routine
It’s easy to wing bedtime when you’re on vacation. You might end up going to bed much later than you’re used to. Or maybe even crashing and getting up earlier than usual to make sure you have plenty of time to do everything you want during the day.
It can leave you exhausted every day of your vacation.
Instead, you should develop a nightly routine. That means trying to go to bed around the same time every night and getting up at around the same time every day. It also means returning to your hotel room with enough time to unwind before bed.
Other tips for sleeping well include:
- Wear an eye mask
- Listen to white noise
- Request extra pillows and blankets, if you need them
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature
- Turn off all the lights and draw the curtains
3. Take a Break During the Day
Days can quickly become packed when you’re on vacation. That’s not necessarily a bad thing! There is a lot to do and only so many hours in the day. However, if you’re go-go-go all day long, you’ll end up feeling exhausted long before the day is finished.
Instead, plan breaks into your day. If you’re out and about, that might mean spending an hour or two sipping on a cup of coffee and doing a little people watching. If you have time, return to your hotel room for a bit of midday nap. You’ll feel much more rested if you prioritize rest throughout the day.
4. Avoid Making Plans Every Day of Your Vacation
There’s nothing wrong with having a busy day while you’re on vacation, but that doesn’t mean every day should be active. If you spend every minute of every day doing activities, you’ll develop a level of exhaustion that doesn’t seem possible.
Avoid over-planning your vacation and leave empty holes in your schedule on purpose. Plan something in the morning and keep your afternoon open, or plan a full day one day with nothing planned the next.
It will allow you to rest if your body needs to take a break, and it will enable you to do something fun you discovered after you arrived.
5. Eat and Drink Well
It’s easy to indulge when you’re on vacation. That means drinking more sugary drinks and alcohol, as well as piling your plate with fried foods and grabbing another round of dessert. Although there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself, too much sugar and junk food will leave you feeling sluggish.
Instead, focus on eating and drinking healthy at least most of the time. Grab a glass of water at lunch instead of pop, start dinner with a salad, so you eat less during the rest of your meal. Also, limit the number of alcoholic drinks you consume, and you’ll have more energy to enjoy your vacation.
6. Split Up
Although you can become exhausted when you travel on your own, nothing compares to the exhaustion that accompanies traveling around with others. That’s especially the case if you’re traveling with children for your family vacation.
Although you may be tempted to spend every minute of every day together, you can regain a lot of energy if you split up instead. Break off from the group with just one or two friends to do something the rest of the group doesn’t want to do, or take your oldest child out shopping while their dad stays at the hotel pool with the little ones. It can help you pay more attention to what you want and how you feel instead of always being worried about everyone else.
7. Skip the Workout
It’s admirable to want to maintain your regular workout routine while you’re on vacation. Still, it may be what’s making you tired. If you’re already spending your day walking around town, getting up early to hit the treadmill is just going to make you more tired.
It’s also a good idea to think carefully about how much exercise you’re getting throughout the day compared to your fitness level. For example, you may want to take a taxi in the morning if you know you’ll be walking a lot later in the evening.
Final Words
It’s normal to feel exhausted while you’re on vacation, but always feeling tired every day can put a damper on your trip. Follow these tips, and you can feel energized to take on every activity on your list.
