Some of you are already on vacation and others are already preparing everything for that “magical” moment that will give us a break from our daily chores, but what about the preparations?
We associate summer with tranquility and stress-free, however, that is not entirely true… Today we want to take a closer look at the vicissitudes that occur in the moments leading up to the well-deserved summer break.
In this post we want to talk about a topic that is little talked about, which is pre-vacation stress and how we can alleviate it.

What is it about?

Pre-holiday stress is the name we give to that state of nervousness, worry and anxiety that can cause the inexorable approach of the holidays.
It is the feeling of being completely overwhelmed by tasks that we must complete before the summer recess.
To this should be added the perception of inability to cope with all the work and family burden that is still pending.

But in any case, the name is not the important thing since the term “vacation” is limited only to specifying the context in which the problem of stress can appear.
As with any other type of stress, it is usually the result of an interaction between the demands of our environment and our own coping skills.

How does it occur?

This type of stress begins when we realize the large number of commitments we have made and the future ones we must face.
Stress is the perception of having a limited amount of time and in which we must group work, family and other issues.
Among the extensive list, in summer, we have to add (if we go on a trip) worrying about suitcases, wearing the right clothes, leaving the house in order, ordering the care of pets, scheduling activities, leaving work up to date and a long etcetera.

This is even more enhanced when already on vacation, we cannot block our thoughts and change them to off-work mode.
By bringing about a change in our environment, our primitive brain feels threatened and that is always problematic.
Like all animals, human beings are creatures of habit.
What we do depends more on circumstances than anything else.
Our daily routine is not only what we do on a daily basis; it is more a case of all those ‘triggers’ that exist in our environment and make us act in one way or another.
When our routine undergoes a change – because we have changed residence or job, for example – it becomes more difficult to maintain our habits until we establish new triggers for our behavior.

When we are on vacation, these signals from the environment change.
There is no longer a fixed time to get up, and other daily routines (such as eating or exercising) also undergo modifications.
This may not seem to cause any kind of problem, and yet stress, like many other problems, is caused by a buildup.

Another source of pressure during the holidays is purely cultural and relatively new: the pressure to have a good time. We live in a culture that seems to force us to always be – and seem – happy.
Our life has to be a continuous succession of parties with friends, productive work, beautiful sunsets and exotic and perfect vacations.
And if our holidays are not like that, we may feel like we are doing something wrong.

How is it solved?

So what can we do to avoid or at least control this problem?
Here are some ideas so that all this accumulation of things does not affect us in a negative way.

1. Plan ahead.
   We know that those days of chaos are approaching and inside us we are accumulating pressure by not knowing what to do.
   It is best to plan your pre-holiday activities in advance, so that when the time comes, you can continue with your routine without any major surprises.
2. Download an app that allows you to organize vacation issues without having to carry emails, reservations, itineraries and other tasks (TripIt, TripCase or Viajes Sygic).
3. Set realistic goals.
   It is useless to try to cover everything at the same time.
   Self-demand is not a good advisor and can lead us to burnout syndrome.
4. Organize your work and learn to delegate.
   You can’t keep up with absolutely everything that happens at work.
   Trust others and delegate responsibilities to your colleagues.

And when we are on vacation, a series of self-demands begin that can also dynamite the well-deserved rest and can even ruin what we have been longing for the rest of the year.
That is why it is advisable to take into account the following tips to enjoy without guilt.

1. Establish an alternative routine.
   Resting does not mean doing nothing but changing what we do.
   You have to dedicate time to the things that bring well-being and happiness.
   If our holidays are merely sedentary and we do not look for interesting stimuli, we will end up tired.
   It is a good idea to create an alternative routine, more relaxed than work but that fulfills the same function: to stay active and fill our lives with pleasant stimuli.
2. Find new hobbies.
   A good vacation can help us reconnect with ourselves, functioning as a vehicle for self-discovery and helping us feel our best again.
   A good antidote to holiday stress is to cultivate interests that we can pursue alone; This way, we will always have a refuge when other things in life don’t go as we would like.
   And if they are really things that we can do alone (photography, reading, painting, etc.) they allow us time for ourselves at a time of the year that usually includes a lot of family contact to which we are not accustomed.
3. Promote your overall well-being.
   One study found that three days after the holiday, the subjects’ physical discomforts, sleep quality, and mood had improved compared to before the holiday.
   These gains were still present five weeks later, especially in those who had more personal time and overall satisfaction during their vacation. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010130
4. Strengthens family ties.
   Spending time enjoying time with loved ones can keep relationships strong, helping you enjoy the good times more and overcome the stress of difficult times.
   In fact, a study conducted by the Arizona Department of Health and Human Services found that women who took vacations were more satisfied with their marriages. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16218311/
5. Take a break from work.
   If you can’t let go of work (and that includes even thinking about it), you’ll feel like you’re alone on part of your vacation, and you won’t be able to really rest.
   It’s best not to take phone calls or emails that have to do with work, or make the mistake of “getting ahead” of work in our spare time.
   You are not so essential for your company.

Supplements can help

Active Stress Control is a dietary supplement with DHA and B group vitamin complex indicated to relieve symptoms associated with stress, tiredness and fatigue.
It contains Omega-3 fatty acids from cold-extracted fish oil (76% DHA in the form of triglycerides) and B vitamins. DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and vision.

B vitamins collaborate with the normal maintenance of vision, reduce tiredness and fatigue, promote the normal functioning of the nervous system, stimulate normal psychological function and strengthen intellectual performance.

On the other hand, a group of researchers in France conducted one of the most important studies on the connection between omega-3 fatty acids and stress.
In this study, the stress response to mental arithmetic exercises and other stressors was measured, which was carried out before and after supplementing the study group with 7.2 g/day of fish oil, for three weeks.
Biochemical parameters such as plasma cortisol, catecholamine (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and non-esterified fatty acid levels were evaluated.

As results, it was obtained that the stress response, including cortisol, epinephrine and fat elevations, decreased significantly during supplementation with Omega-3 fatty acids, concluding that adrenal activation could be inhibited by adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
DOI: 10.1016/s1262-3636(07)70039-3

Conclusion

Taking a good amount of time away from the stresses of daily life can give us the rest we need so that we can return to our lives refreshed and better equipped to handle work issues.
And many of us feel overwhelmed just thinking about summer vacations and all that it entails.

That is why by taking into account some simple tips and adding a specific food supplement such as Active Stress Control, we can fight psychological issues that can work against us in the pre-holiday period as well as during rest.

We hope that you can plan your holidays in advance, enjoy the process and disconnect, even if it is just a few days from work to take advantage of your free time, either alone or with your family.