5 Tips for Surviving Family Vacation

 

I remember the chaotic days of our family’s seasonal vacations just like they were yesterday. Between my parents arguing over directions, my siblings crying and bickering over not sharing the electronic devices enough, or my granddad bringing up uncomfortable, and often times inappropriate, conversations about a distant relative and their yearly dilemmas there seemed to be a never ending list of things which could take our perfectly planned dream trip and turn it into an absolute nightmare. Even though our vacations certainly had moments of pure insanity we still cherish the abundance of fond memories that we got to enjoy with one another.  Looking back at these occurrences I can tell you that even though family clashes and derailed plans are certainly unavoidable, there are several ways to quell the inner chaos we often experience during these moments.

Tip 1: Bring Entertainment

One of the major ways to relieve the stress experienced during family vacations is for each member of the family to bring a variety of entertainment which can fill up the endless hours of potential boredom found during long car rides. A major thing for both parents and kids to remember with this is that electronics alone won’t cut it- especially for when you hit those dreaded dead zones in the middle of nowhere or for when you forgot that one specific charger for your tablet or gaming device. Some of the best forms of all around entertainment for long rides include bringing several books to read, providing both electronic and non-electronic games, and watching family appropriate movies or listening to engaging audio books. If electronic games are an absolute necessity, just make sure that you provide gaming options which are fully engaging and educational in addition to those that are purely for entertainment.

Tip 2: Plan, Plan, Plan

Another tried and true method for helping with the stress of family vacations is to plan ahead of time and make it fun! One of our favourite things to do as a family the day before our vacations was to go out to the store as an entire family and pick out not only all of the essential items for our trip but also to grab our favourite snacks and pick out new clothes together. As kids this was practically like another Christmas for us and we would get so excited during the days leading up to our family trip to the store. For days we would carefully plan out which fun, delicious snacks we would get or go online and find the newest trends for outfits and summer clothes. Once we came home from the store we would be required to pack our bags for the next hour or so until our mother was finished cooking one of our favourite homemade meals for us to share before we would be forced to eat most of our meals in the car the next several days. Not only was this fun for the whole family but it also helped our parents to not worry about leaving anything behind or experience more stress the morning of the drive.

Tip 3: Headphones

An additional item that tends to be the most essential for older siblings and parents includes bringing an extra pair of headphones or earplugs for when you need to sleep or just shut out the rambling of others. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a long car ride and realising that your headphones are broken. Not only can you no longer listen to your pre-selected playlist or watch that awesome movie you just picked out but you’re now stuck listening to the cacophony of ear piercing cries, loud arguing and the occasional snoring that was once drowned out. Make sure that the night before your family leaves for the trip that there are several pairs of headphones and earplugs available so that you can avoid unnecessary fighting over having to share single sets and you can save money from having to purchase them at higher prices at gas stations along the way.

Tip 4: CBD

Something I highly recommend that parents and adult relatives bring on the trip is CBD capsulesor softgels. Not only are they easy to take and can be taken at any time but they also alleviate multiple stress symptoms associated with the hassles found on family vacations, whether its high anxiety, irritability, or trouble falling asleep. Parents and adults alike know that they have their limits for patience or for tolerating nonsense and sometimes they need more than peace and quiet to relax completely and let go.

Tip 5: Take Breaks

A final recommendation for easing the stress experienced during family vacations is to take adequate breaks throughout the trip. After hours on end of being crunched up in the backseat seat or sitting in awkward positions its absolutely essential for the family to stop at least every 2 hours to get out and stretch or use the bathroom. Children aren’t meant to be cooped up in a car for hours on end and even adults have their limits for driving, despite the copious amounts of caffeine they take during the trip, so it’s crucial for the whole family to remain aware of each other’s needs and be respectful if someone needs to stop. Just remember, happy families make happy memories!

These are some of the many ways to help with the dreaded anxiety often faced during family vacations. The good news is that if you and your family come fully prepared for your next trip by practising the above tips and tactics you’ll be less prone to experiencing a lot of the futile arguments that come along with disgruntled, cranky family members and more easily able to enjoy the trip you’ve been waiting for all year. After all, family vacations should be a time of pure joy and excitement and something the whole family can appreciate for years to come

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