Now we are back to work and enduring January once more, thoughts easily turn to holidaying and booking ourselves a little bit of sunshine. But considering how close we are to Christmas it’s easy to remember that sometimes even relaxing can get a little bit stressful at times.
There are always strains and problems around getting away, especially if you’re with the family, but that’s no reason not to go. To help you get the most from your break, we’ve put together five top tips for stress-free holidaying, covering everything from avoiding social media to keeping your holiday home sparkling clean.
- Clean the house beforehand
We all know what it’s like to come back to a messy home. The sight of clothes on the floor or dishes not done can make your heart sink and erase all that relaxation in an instant. Well, this one’s easy to fix. Just make sure you have a really good clean-up before you go. It doesn’t need to be a proper spring clean, just make sure the house is looking presentable, the beds are made and there are no pressing chores for when you return. That’ll make it so much easier to switch off on your break.
- Have food in the freezer for when you get home
The other common pitfall when it comes to stress on holiday is coming to the end of your time away and realizing you’ve got nothing to eat at home. Anything like that which plays on your mind is going to keep you from relaxing properly. To avoid this, fill the freezer beforehand with easily defrostable foods like bread and meat so that you can dine hassle-free on your first day back.
- Know how to keep your holiday-home clean
For more and more of us now, holidaying isn’t about staying in a fancy hotel. Instead, we find cheap and cozy short-term rents online. This is great when it comes to informality and price, but does mean a few additional stresses if you’re responsible for looking after someone else’s home. Everyone knows it’s easy to spill a glass of wine or even something more significant like cleaning products by mistake. To keep stress-free, make sure you know where to find handy information like how to get rid of bleach stains or what to do when someone treads mud all over the carpet. Remember though, if working out how to get rid of bleach stains is not your favorite holiday activity you can always go more rural instead!
- Do laundry before coming home
This might seem counterintuitive; if you’re trying to relax having to sort out a load of dirty laundry while you’re away is probably not on your list of priorities. But in actual fact, doing one load before you come home can really relieve the mental stress of knowing how much needs sorting as soon as you arrive back – not to mention making sure you have plenty of clean clothes at the ready!
- Switch all internet off
This a vital tip for all 21st-century holidays! If you don’t want to be disturbed by work crises or the latest news make sure to go somewhere that doesn’t have Wi-Fi and banish screen time for you and the kids. The difference it makes to how you feel at the end is staggering!
So there you have it, five great tips for having a stress-free break with your family. Just remember to do a few small jobs beforehand, and make sure you have trusty info on hand (even how to get rid of bleach stains!) just in case! Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy your break.
