CLEVELAND, Ohio – Vacations were designed to heal stress.
But now, traveling can cause more stress, leading to anxiety and anger.
The main reason is a canceled flight, but also high gas prices when driving and poor service due to low staffing.
Last summer I had a little holiday stress of my own – not bad, but annoying. My family rented a house in upstate New York that was peacefully nestled in the woods. When we were doing the dishes after dinner, the water pressure was low. Must be temporary, we thought.
It was not. Showering was impossible so we called the owner who called a plumber who told us it would take several days to fix. So we had to look for another rental car, pack and unpack again – not a relaxed start.
Francoise Adan, MD, is Chief Whole Health and Well-being Officer at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland and Director of UH Connor Whole Health.
Almost everyone I spoke to had travel difficulties. Some have decided that it’s best to stay home and just visit the nearby attractions that you’ve never explored. Try local restaurants, visit museums, the zoo, the lake or the beach as if you were a visitor to your own city.
Sometimes a short vacation seems necessary because a vacation takes us somewhere else physically and mentally. Discovering something new is refreshing – especially when you switch off digitally and really immerse yourself.
It takes us out of everyday life and gives us new perspectives – plus relaxing time together with friends or family. All of this is possible even if you just drive less than an hour to another city to avoid the damage caused by canceled flights.
When you travel, there are practical tips to minimize stress:
Lower your expectations. We hope for a perfect vacation. The odds are against it. Expect and accept pitfalls and don’t let them ruin your trip.
Avoid checking bags when flying: this can make a canceled flight or missed connection more of a hassle.
Pack Light: Struggling with luggage is annoying. Bring snacks and have prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines ready, as well as an extra pair of contact lenses and glasses.
Avoid doing things at the last minute: it only increases anxiety and you forget something important.
Have the car checked in good time: Have someone check your tires, coolant, etc. a week or two before your trip.
Rent a house or condo: Here’s how you can cook your own meals and probably save money. It will definitely give you flexibility.
Even if you do everything right, something is likely to go wrong. So life is.
First, don’t panic or get angry.
It makes things worse. Instead, stop. To breathe. Count to 10. Not reacting immediately is always the best choice.
Second, adapt – you might even find a silver lining.
In our case, the house we moved to on our vacation was much nicer than the first.
Third, stick to what’s happening right now.
Don’t think your vacation is ruined. It just won’t be exactly what you expected.
At the end of the day, it’s important to stay on top of things. It will make for a good story.
Francoise Adan, MD, is Chief Whole Health and Well-being Officer at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, Ohio and Director of UH Connor Whole Health.
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