Nineteenth-century writer Elbert Hubbard is credited with saying, "No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.
" Imagine: that was generations before folks began to stress about vacation swarms at amusement parks.
If it's not managing the stress of standing in lines on vacation, it's enduring the Louds next door...
or the cancelled flight...
or car troubles.
Yes, the height of vacation season is upon us.
Kaiser Permanente family counselor Rick Carter suggests how to make sure you don't come home from vacation desperately needing another one.
"A longer vacation is not necessarily better," Carter says.
"It's about how you plan it and how you use the time.
" Define vacation It may seem obvious, but Carter says people too often overlook their likes and dislikes-effectively setting a stress time bomb.
If you're a book-by-the-ocean person, odds are a go-go-go travel itinerary will drain you.
"Figure out what vacation means to you," Carter says.
And honor that definition.
Plan your exit strategy Smart phones and ubiquitous Wi-Fi networks make it easy for work (and associated stress) to join you on vacation.
If possible, block off your calendar the day before your official vacation, so you can attend to all phone calls and e-mails and get things off your desk.
"Give yourself a buffer," Carter says.
"By planning how you're going to get out, you smooth the way so you're not thinking about work.
" Even better: schedule a day off before you leave town to also tie up loose ends at home.
Flexibility is key Creating a mental picture of what the trip will look like-how you'll spend the time-can help prevent vacation stress, Carter says.
So can being open to options, because flights do get delayed and hours-long lines do form at popular attractions and siblings do clash after too much time together.
"Know your options in advance, so you have things to do when your first choice doesn't pan out," Carter says.
Prepare for re-entry You know the e-mails and phone calls will pile up while you're out of the office.
Limit meetings and deliverables on the day you return to work, so your vacation-induced calm doesn't fade the moment you return to your normal routine.
" Imagine: that was generations before folks began to stress about vacation swarms at amusement parks.
If it's not managing the stress of standing in lines on vacation, it's enduring the Louds next door...
or the cancelled flight...
or car troubles.
Yes, the height of vacation season is upon us.
Kaiser Permanente family counselor Rick Carter suggests how to make sure you don't come home from vacation desperately needing another one.
"A longer vacation is not necessarily better," Carter says.
"It's about how you plan it and how you use the time.
" Define vacation It may seem obvious, but Carter says people too often overlook their likes and dislikes-effectively setting a stress time bomb.
If you're a book-by-the-ocean person, odds are a go-go-go travel itinerary will drain you.
"Figure out what vacation means to you," Carter says.
And honor that definition.
Plan your exit strategy Smart phones and ubiquitous Wi-Fi networks make it easy for work (and associated stress) to join you on vacation.
If possible, block off your calendar the day before your official vacation, so you can attend to all phone calls and e-mails and get things off your desk.
"Give yourself a buffer," Carter says.
"By planning how you're going to get out, you smooth the way so you're not thinking about work.
" Even better: schedule a day off before you leave town to also tie up loose ends at home.
Flexibility is key Creating a mental picture of what the trip will look like-how you'll spend the time-can help prevent vacation stress, Carter says.
So can being open to options, because flights do get delayed and hours-long lines do form at popular attractions and siblings do clash after too much time together.
"Know your options in advance, so you have things to do when your first choice doesn't pan out," Carter says.
Prepare for re-entry You know the e-mails and phone calls will pile up while you're out of the office.
Limit meetings and deliverables on the day you return to work, so your vacation-induced calm doesn't fade the moment you return to your normal routine.