Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2025
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by AMAC, D.J. Wilson
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0 Comments
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Whether traveling solo or with those you love, it’s thrilling to hop in the car or get on a plane to explore new and spectacular locations. However, planning for vacations, from booking and paying for the trip to arranging home affairs and packing, can be stressful. Here are three ways to minimize stress when planning your next travel adventure.
Even though planning is a hassle, here’s why you shouldn’t skip the trip!
Whether you prefer relaxation time on the beach, excitement climbing a mountain, or observing cultures by visiting city monuments and museums, there’s something exhilarating about breaking free from the rigors of work and daily schedules to experience the world. Science supports the idea that vacations are healthy. In fact, periods of leisure and recreation can lower stress, improve creativity, and enhance overall productivity. To maximize benefits, it’s essential to avoid vacation-induced stress by enjoying the planning process. Here are three ways to minimize vacation stress and increase the fun!
- Don’t go on a vacation you can’t afford. Save up first and prepay so that you won’t have to worry about debt, negative impact on credit, or forced reliance on credit cards. Saving first and creating a cash buffer offers financial comfort and a cushion for unforeseen circumstances. When saving for a dream vacation, also consider larger goals, such as saving for a home. Creating a separate vacation account is a sensible way to save up funds after paying priority bills first. Stash away what you can (weekly or monthly) toward your holiday funds after larger financial objectives are met. Watching vacation saving funds rise is not only pleasing, but it demonstrates power and determination. Facing challenges saving? Review finances and find ways to cut back on non-essential expenses to boost vacation savings.
- Be prepared to compromise. Airfare and hotel accommodations can mount quickly, especially when traveling with a large family. Rather than skip vacation entirely, it’s okay to compromise by downscaling one’s plans. Rather than pay international airline fees to travel to Europe, consider a domestic trip that offers appeal to the group. For instance, visit New Orleans’ French Quarter rather than go all the way to Paris. Or skip the pricey trip to the French Alps and instead head to New York state’s Adirondack Mountains featuring alpine appeal. Alternatively, vacationing off-season to desired locations can equal substantial savings. Not only are airfare, hotels, and activities cheaper, but crowds are down which can add to an improved experience.
- Use lists. Packing for a vacation can feel like a monumental task, even for a quick weekend away. One may worry about forgetting something important, such as medications, swimsuits, or underwear. Packing checklists found on the internet can provide tremendous help organizing to ensure that nothing gets left behind. What to pack may vary based on destination, time of year, activities and other factors such as formality level. For these reasons, it’s optimal to create your own checklist on the computer using a pre-made template geared toward your trip needs. Not only can your list be personalized, but it can also be stored, saved, printed, and reprinted for future travels. Tips for creating your own packing list include breaking down your list into categories such as toiletries, medications, electronics, casual clothing, formal clothing, footwear, etc. Boxes should be provided to check off what’s been packed. What’s even better to know is that use of lists is not confined to packing. Travelers can benefit by keeping lists of important documents, emergency contact numbers, vacation preparation lists such as purchase travel insurance, call bank, pause mail, ask neighbor to water plants, and more. Lists are not only beneficial memory aids, but they also make people focus on what needs to be done – thereby encouraging them to stay on task!
Minimizing vacation planning stress
Vacations have a positive effect on the mind, body, and soul. Not only can people broaden their horizons by experiencing new things, but they can also bond with family and friends over adventures. This makes it an experience that should not be missed. However, vacations mean a change in routine, which can lead to a buildup of anxiety and concerns over what needs to be done. Plus, vacations are expensive and can lead to financial concerns. Finding ways to minimize vacation planning stress is essential. Saving in advance to avoid financial stress, being flexible in plans to create an achievable experience, and keeping lists to maintain organization are three ways to minimize vacation planning stress. These useful tools can boost the holiday experience so travelers can create positive memories to last a lifetime.
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