Vacations are a relaxing time meant for fun and rest. But for some, whether it’s the stress of holiday times or not being able to wind down, vacations can become a nightmare in paradise. So if you’re going away with your partner, friends, or family – here’s some advice to stop the bickering in three simple ways. Vacations are a relaxing time meant for fun and rest. But for some, whether it’s the stress of holiday times or not being able to wind down, vacations can become a nightmare in paradise. So if you’re going away with your partner, friends, or family – here’s some advice to stop the bickering in three simple ways.
Have a chat about expectations before leaving
This is especially important if you are going away with your partner. They may want to chill out and catch up on the latest series, but you want to explore and partake in as many activities as possible – or even vice versa. This is a guaranteed fight waiting to happen. So, sit them down and tell them what you want from this vacation. Then, earnestly and open-mindedly listen to their expectations too. It’s way easier to meet in the middle and split time between your wishes than to be stuck in a hotel room with a disgruntled partner. These expectations could also be about how much money you wish to spend, what you want to do, and even down to how much you want to pack. Honesty is key for a good vacation.2.
Give each other space
When on a vacation, we land up in a small room together without the distraction of everyday activities. In day-to-day life we take the time we spend away from each other for granted and often wish we could spend more time with the people we love. But it’s simply not possible to be in a good mood all the time, so when you feel a little cranky or stir-crazy then take some time for yourself. You can take a walk or read a book. This puts you in a good mood for when you do spend time with others and makes the time spent together more valuable to you. It is also a good way to get in some activities you know your vacation-partners might not enjoy as much as you do. It’s also a good way to blow off steam at the all-too-familiar cramped family holidays where you find yourself on holiday with cousins you haven’t seen in years.
Plan activities that are new to everyone
We often make the mistake of relying on each other for entertainment, but this will definitely cause an argument. There’s only so much talking you can do before you’re all suddenly bored again – this is true for even the best conversationalists. Doing something new is a great way to tick things off the bucket list and learn new things about the people you are with. New experiences are an opportunity to make shared memories with those around you. If no one has done something before, you could learn something new together. You’ll gain insight into the people you are with – you may even find a hidden talent of theirs. They are also great conversation starters for the rest of the holiday. You can talk about the observations you made and compare your experiences. And if the new activity is a bust it can become a great inside joke or funny party story.
With these three things, even rainy vacay days become fun. Keep an open mind about who you’re with, what you are going to do and the places you’ll go. New memories are waiting with the people you love.
