Self-Care on Family Trips: Therapist Tips for Reducing Stress and Staying Present
We are quickly approaching the time of year where people take time off to go on vacation. For some that means solo trips, for others that means a trip with friends, and for many people that means family vacation. While family vacation can be fun, it is important to know how to incorporate self-care into your family vacation to help your overall mental health. Some people may need more or less of this time and dedicated self-care activities, depending on their family dynamic.
Have your own activities
While for many people vacation can mean non-stop sight-seeing, it is important to prioritize something that you can have for yourself. This doesn’t have to get in the way of other activities you may have planned. It could be something like:
Getting ready for bed alone in the bathroom after everyone else with your favorite music in some headphones
Walking around the hotel early in the morning.
For some however, this can become more of a special tradition like:
Going scuba diving while your family hangs out at the beach
Finding new coffee shops every morning to sit and read in.
Having something to yourself to look forward to can be a great way to unwind.
Set healthy boundaries
Sometimes, vacations can get uncomfortable because our family may try to cross some of our personal boundaries or bring up topics that we don’t feel comfortable with. Whether it’s about our relationship status or job status, or many other things, sometimes our families have a way of approaching those things that make us feel uncomfortable. It is important to set boundaries if this comes up. If your family starts talking about things that make you feel uncomfortable, or push your boundaries, it is important to both set and maintain your boundaries. Phrases like “I don’t want to talk about that on vacation” or “I am not comfortable with doing that” are great ways to set boundaries. Our families may sometimes try to push back; it is important to remember you have a right to your boundaries regardless of how others feel about them..
Allow space for your emotions through the trip
Sometimes things happen on vacation that may make us feel upset. It is important to keep space for our emotions. Sometimes it can feel conflicting to feel sad or angry when we are doing something that is supposed to be fun.Feelings are a part of being human, and letting them exist as they are can be an important factor to taking care of ourselves. Allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling, even journaling or talking to others through text or call if your support system isn’t there. It is still important to pay attention to our emotional well-being on vacation.
You don’t have to enjoy everything
Everyone has different tastes and things we enjoy. If your family decides to go somewhere or do something and you do not enjoy it, that is okay. Some people struggle because of pressure to enjoy every activity. If you do not enjoy something, that is okay, and you are allowed to accept those feelings.
It is okay to ask for time alone on vacation
Some people need time alone on vacations with others. It is okay to request time alone on vacation. Sometimes it can feel like if we are alone we are missing out on time with our family, but taking some time alone may make the quality of time we spend with others better.
Vacation with others can be difficult, so taking time for your mental health can make it easier. It is important to make sure you are taken care of to have the best possible time while you are away.
Ellie Staples
Ellie is an undergraduate intern for Flourish Counseling & Wellness. She is currently a fourth-year student at Colorado State University, majoring in psychology with a concentration in clinical counseling.
Ellie hopes to continue her education in graduate school this fall with a goal of becoming a licensed therapist working with children and adolescents.
Remington is a 2.5 year old medical alert service dog. He has been doing service work for the last year and a half, and he hopes to one day to add therapy dog to his list of skills.
