Family Vacations and Stress
For many, summer brings with it family vacations. Often, our first thought about vacations is that they’re fun and relaxing, and they definitely can be! However, vacations are also difficult to plan for, stressful, taxing, and sometimes, can lead to tension between family members as people feel the stress of planning and being away from home. There are many reasons why family vacations can be fun and also stressful, and often they can be both at the same time. So, whether you are reading this during a family vacation right now, if you are about to embark on one, or if one is in the works, my hope is that, through this post, you will be able to feel at least a little better about a potentially stressful week(s).
The importance of ‘you time.’ Regardless of whether or not you look forward to family vacations or not, one thing that is often lost on those trips is a time to be by yourself and to relax your way. Many of us have differing ideas of what is fun or relaxing, which might mean you might end up doing things that aren’t necessarily your first choice of activity. It’s okay and even nice to get outside of your comfort zone every so often, but it is also important to find the time to recharge on your own terms as well. Whether that means taking a walk or watching a movie of your choice is up to you, just make sure you make space for yourself.
Planning activities that appeal to everyone. If you have yet to go on your trip, making sure to take time to ask everyone what they might be interested in doing and giving everyone the opportunity to come up with a couple of ideas that they want to do is a great way to make sure everyone feels included and involved. If you are already on your trip, consider asking everyone what they might be interested in doing or eating tomorrow. It can be upsetting when you are going around doing activities that you had no part in planning, so carving time out for everyone can help ease the tension of disagreements in activities.
Understanding your limits, coming up with boundaries, and respecting the boundaries of others. Everyone, including you, has a limit to what they are comfortable or okay with when it comes to doing things with others, especially if it is an activity that they are not particularly enthralled by. There are so many places and times during vacations when you or someone around you might be overwhelmed, overstimulated, burnt out, or tired. It is important to recognize your own limits and boundaries with regards to keeping yourself safe and comfortable, as well as recognizing when other people need their boundaries respected; it’s okay to feel tired or overwhelmed, and taking a break from that is something that can help lower feelings of stress and frustration that can come up during vacations.
Reflecting and making space for feelings and thoughts you might have. Just as it is important to understand and make space for your boundaries, it is important to accept feelings and thoughts as they come. You’re okay for being frustrated or annoyed or tired! Acknowledging and accepting feelings that might come up is a way of having healthy boundaries with yourself, whether through journaling or reflecting through thoughts.
Family vacations can bring up many feelings in us, both positive and negative. Keeping the above list in mind when planning and during vacations can help create healthy boundaries with yourself and others while can mean less stressful vacations and possibly happier and healthier outcomes for everyone.
Ayanna Schubert
Birch Psychology
Resources
https://docjohng.medium.com/the-emotional-psychological-toll-of-the-family-vacation-679cbbc0a70e
