How to Take a Vacation Without Stressing Out

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!Want to join us on social media? We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!TwitterFacebookPinterestInstagramLinkedInYouTubeIn this episode...How to Take a Vacation Without Stressing Out https://faithfulontheclock.com/how-to-take-a-vacation-without-stressing-out Everybody needs a vacation once in a while, but for a lot of people, a break just brings more stress. Episode 88 provides some tips for getting through a vacation without anxiety.Timestamps:[00:04] - Intro[00:46] - The majority of people struggle to take vacations without feeling stressed and don’t enjoy them when they take them. They typically don’t know how to resolve the stressors that make their trips distressing.[02:17] - People often don’t want to take vacations because they stress about the work that will be waiting for them when they return. One good strategy thus is to plan out the transition before and after the vacation so everyone has reasonable expectations about how and when that work will get completed.[04:58] - Leaving room for some spontaneity is important during a vacation because getting too concerned about squeezing in more or watching the itinerary can keep people from feeling free.[06:18] - Because most people stress out about being able to take care of details and problem-solve on the fly, doing your homework in advance can reduce anxiety prior to your trip.[07:00] - Creating a fair balance of power where everyone knows what their responsibilities are can help prevent resentments or situations where one person is able to relax on the trip more than others.[08:16] - Because your body gets habitualized to your normal behaviors, get ready for your vacation by practicing relaxing activities well in advance to get your nervous system calmed and ready.[10:15] - You are not weak or flawed for needing a break — you are human! Follow God’s example of resting and reflecting.[11:26] - Prayer[12:11] - Outro/What’s coming up nextKey takeaways:Most people have trouble truly unplugging and relaxing for a vacation. They experience stress when trying to take time off, not rejuvenation.Strategy #1 — Talk with your boss and team about the time before, during, and after your break about clear boundaries and expectations. Come up with a game plan up to at least a month ahead of time for how to delegate and get through the transitions.Strategy #2 — Leave room for spontaneity. We need to let go of the idea that we have to maximize everything and just enjoy our time in the moment.Strategy #3 — Don’t forget details. By figuring out ahead of time who can help or what resources are available, you can reduce the stress around the ability to overcome unexpected hurdles.Strategy #4 — Make sure you have a fair balance of power. One person should not have to handle all the logistics, or they can’t relax. This imbalance can lead to resentment.Strategy #5 — Practice relaxation ahead of time. If you are not used to relaxing, you can stress out in relaxing environments because they don’t feel natural. Taking a vacation or break is something even Jesus did. It doesn’t mean you are abandoning anyone or are weak. Take the opportunity to reconnect to the Father when you are away, just as Jesus did.When a Vacation Reduces Stress — And When It Doesn’tHow to Minimize Stress Before, During, and After Your VacationAmericans Are Stressed About the Holidays, but Less Than Last Year: Study2 in 3 Americans feel too much pressure on their vacations to actually enjoy it - digitalhub USCTAs:Identify at least three ways you can relax before you go on your vacation.Schedule time with your boss or team to talk about your upcoming vacation.What’s coming up next:Most people who start resolutions quickly fizzle. Episode 89 of Faithful on the Clock walks you through how to find the commitment you need to reach new goals.Support the show!Visit the Faithful on the Clock Patreon page to choose a tier plan and become a supporting member. You'll gain access to goodies like early episode access, newsletters, and more based on the plan that's right for you.patreon.com/faithfulontheclockWant to give a one-off tip or donation? Use our Captivate support page. You can become a member there with the same great tier options you'll find at Patreon, too.Support Faithful on the Clock