Why Vacations Can Feel Stressful + 5 Tips On How To Relax & Recover While Away

Imagine this: Putting on the out-of-office email and putting your phone away, for good. Waking up fully rested and with the sun, not because you have to make a meeting but because you want to fit in morning yoga. Looking in the mirror to see that those dark circles have faded and previously drained skin just looks refreshed and golden.

Doesn't that just sound like a dream vacation? And for lots of folks who struggle with detaching from their "normal" life, it's just that: A dream, but not reality.

There are many health benefits of taking a vacation. It improves your mood, improves sleep quality, lowers the risk for cognitive issues with age, lowers cortisol, lessens the risk for heart disease, and so much more.

Issues arise, however, when we have an ability to detach from the responsibilities of our day-to-day lives.

"In a world where technology has created expectations of 'instant response time' and '24/7 availability,' the concept of downtime has taken on negative connotations for too many people today," says Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., LPC-NC. "But our bodies don't keep up with this oddly misaligned perspective—our bodies totally need some time off, or else the health and mental repercussions can be detrimental to our ability to manage any of our various roles successfully."

Well, there are ways to maximize recovery—mind and body—so you come back feeling more fulfilled and ready to go.

Just consider these to be general guidelines rather than a planning guide.

Maybe you're a type-A person while home—always volunteering more at work, shuffling the kids around on a tight schedule, and fitting in hour-plus workouts. Resist the urge to do this while on vacation—it's just an added element of stress, and you might miss out on the joy of spontaneity.

"Don’t schedule each day so tightly that you miss out on unexpected or unplanned opportunities," says Degges-White. "Even if you're the type of person who has to know when and where you're supposed to be at any given time and how you're going to get there, take a breath and let things happen without trying to control."

Another reason to avoid over-planning? Things go wrong, and you need to adjust along the way.

"When this happens, don't let your reaction and response make things even worse," she says. "Just remind yourself that sometimes 'life happens' and the beaten path doesn't always lead to the destination that is best for you and your family, even if you organized the tour a year ahead of time!"

Some people may use vacation as a time to avoid working out—there are plenty of reasons you might not be able to get in a session—but given you're a reader here, you likely make it a priority. And while it's good for you to work your body on vacation, make sure you are giving your body recovery time. This is especially true if your vacation looks like the type that involves physical challenges like climbing, intense hikes, cycling, surfing, or skiing.

In my opinion, trying new foods and indulging is one of the most important parts of vacation. But toward the end of a trip, this can leave me feeling sluggish, bloated, and desperately craving vegetables. So, I've come to some sort of compromise with myself: Indulge, but know that a few plant-based or plant-heavy meals here and there will help me in the long run.

"Recovery, as a whole, is neglected even in the wellness space," says international chef Dan Churchill. "Food is an integral part of recovery. When you talk about recovery foods, we tend to talk about macronutrients: carbs, protein, fat. But what I always tell people is just to stick to some habit so you're not throwing your body off too much."

I am not going to be the first or last person to tell you this: You need to leave work and technology be. It is the only way you are going to declutter your head and recover while on vacation.

And, yet, I know how challenging it can be to actually do this. In normal day-to-day life, I often complain about the creeping ping of texts, emails, and social media notifications. But then when I actually take time off, I never let myself ignore them. So I empathize and acknowledge I'm not perfect. Given this, here's what I will say: You know your job better than I, so if you truly cannot not check email, that's your call and not for me to judge. But if you can, you should: The benefits far outweigh any perceived faults.

"Remind yourself that you are deserving of the time away from your job or your routine. Some people feel guilty if they take time for their own pleasure—but the world isn't meant to be constantly pressing down on the joys of leisure time," she says.