10 tips to minimise pre-holiday stress

What do I need stress for?

According to physics, stress explains elasticity, the property of a body that allows it to regain its original size and shape after being compressed or stretched by an external force (Hooke’s Law – 1658).

If you apply this concept to your life, you will easily see that stress has a positive or negative effect. When faced with a challenge that can be overcome (good stress or eustress) there is a positive effect; for example: completing a demanding climb or hike, achieving a goal, etc. On the contrary, when the situation is perceived as being beyond one’s possibilities to deal satisfactorily with it (for example: many hours without sleep, without eating, under intense heat or cold), it generates the commonly called bad stress or distress.

Pre-holiday emotional stress

If for some, the pre-holidays can be a moment of anticipation of everything positive that holidays represent, for others, feelings of sadness, loneliness or aggressiveness may be intensified by confrontation with a reduction in professional activity, by associating holidays with unresolved family problems, by unrealistic expectations about the people with whom they spend their holidays, or by considering it obligatory to always feel well on holiday.

What are the symptoms of stress?

Each person has his or her own menu of stress symptoms according to his or her physical and emotional state, environment, sleeping habits, diet and personal organisation. The stress alarm can be triggered by a drop in blood sugar, in the form of unexpected irritability, back or neck tension generated by exposure to places that require speaking another language, dealing with another culture, or simply by the anticipation of preparing for a holiday when nervousness sets in, all alarms resulting from symptoms of stress and anxiety in the face of the unknown or perceived inability to cope with the situation.

How to minimise pre-holiday stress:

1. Be realistic

You won’t be able to resolve all the issues you have in your hands before going on holiday. Try to delegate so that you have someone in your absence to deal with both professional and personal matters, even if they are unexpected. As a last resort, there will always be some means of contact for a truly urgent matter.

2. Get a quote

Make a spending budget that does not exceed your financial comfort level. Set spending limits, including for impulsive or unexpected expenses. According to the 2015 Healthline Survey, financial matters are one of the biggest reasons for holiday stress.

3. Negotiate with your tribe

Involve others in holiday preparations, divide tasks and make compromises so that the venue and pre-arranged activities are satisfactory for everyone including yourself.

4. Be imaginative

Identify different activities you can do during your holiday period so that it is a change from your work or home routine. Consider alternatives such as volunteering or home exchange with friends or acquaintances.

5. Value what you have

Deixe de comparar as suas férias com as do vizinho, colega, ou das séries de sonho da televisão.

6. Organise yourself with flexibility

If you like to plan what you are going to do on holiday, leave some leeway for unforeseen events. Try not to fill all the time available.

7. Join with others

If you are alone, try to get together with people who are in the same situation.

8. Relieve emotional stress

Simplify, don’t want to predict everything and only ensure the most important things. If you feel uncontrollable emotional discomfort, do something that will help you feel good; for example, go for a walk in the open air and in the sunshine.

9. Relieve stress by listening to music

Research carried out by the University of Maryland reveals that listening to music you enjoy helps you relax. Many people listen to music as one of the best ways to relieve stress.

10. Pursue physical wellness

Take care of your sleeping habits, exercise and diet, which are very important for you to feel physically well. Before, during and after your holidays.