It’s time to shed your bulky jackets and celebrate warmer weather! Spring break means cruises, theme parks, and getting back to the great outdoors.
As wonderful as a springtime vacation is, without solid planning, a quick trip can go from restful to stressful.
Try these 11 ways to stay balanced and healthy on spring break. Because every getaway should come with a dose of self-care.
Before You Go: How to Plan a Healthy Spring Break
1. Deep clean your house.
For some, cleaning is an excruciating chore. For others (myself included), it’s the ideal stressbuster.
Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, block off a few hours to deep clean your home before you leave for your vacation. You’ll avoid coming home to sticky surfaces, dusty floors, and mysterious moldy food in the fridge. Even better, you’ll have one less thing on your post-vacation to-do list.
Bonus Travel Hack: What temperature should you set your thermostat on vacation?
Part of getting your home ready for vacation is finding ways to conserve energy (and money). The temperature you set your thermostat to while you’re away depends on the typical weather where you live.
In warmer weather, set your thermostat to a higher temperature, but no higher than 85° Fahrenheit. In cooler weather, set your thermostat lower, but no cooler than 50° Fahrenheit.
2. Go on a grocery run.
First, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of healthy and portable snacks for your trip. Granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, and crackers are carry-on friendly, and they’ll keep you from splurging on overpriced airport sandwiches.
Second, pick up a few nonperishable basics like beans, rice, pasta, and frozen produce. These items aren’t for your backpack; they're for your kitchen.
Coming home from a vacation is hard enough without also dealing with a woefully empty pantry. Be kind to your future self by stocking your kitchen with some ready-to-eat food for your return.
Bonus Travel Hack: Make a casserole.
Before you leave home, make a freezer-friendly casserole. You’ll appreciate having an easy dish ready when you get home — no grocery shopping, no meal prep, no energy needed. Simply transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw when you get home and dinner is almost ready.
3. Tie up any loose ends.
It’s all too easy to lose momentum on the days leading up to spring break. Work projects, school projects, and even social commitments feel torturous when you’d rather be daydreaming about a tropical destination. Don’t let yourself fall into a pre-vacation slump.
Make it your goal to get as much done as you can before your trip. Make a physical to-do list and enjoy the high of crossing things off.
Then, think about how you can organize yourself so you can hit the ground running when you return from your vacation.
Bonus Travel Hack: Delegate as many tasks as you can.
Whether it’s errands to your partner or work tasks to a colleague at the office, delegate and share responsibilities. Not having to carry the entire load yourself will help you ease into vacation with less stress.
If you’re worried about projects at work slipping through the cracks, prepare handover notes — detailed notes for your manager or teammates so they know the status of projects, next steps, and what they might need to cover for you while you’re OOO.
4. Check the weather.
Even if you’re headed for a perpetually sunny destination, keep an eye on the weather before you go. Springtime temperatures can be unpredictable, and the last thing you want is to be shivering in your sarong.
To be safe, pack a warm layer that you can throw on top of your vacation outfits, a waterproof jacket, and a pair of closed-toed shoes in your carry-on before you go.
<h4> Bonus Travel Hack: Pack light, but pack for comfort, too.
We tend to get hyper-focused on fitting everything into a carry-on. If you can do that and still feel confident you have what you need, great. But if packing light for spring break has you breaking out in hives, give yourself permission to pack a little extra. It’s not worth the stress.
5. Create goals for each day.
You might be one of those travelers who thrive under a down-to-the-minute schedule. Or, if you prefer spontaneity, you might leave each day of your vacation completely open. The best trips balance the two approaches.
Rather than crafting the perfectly packed schedule — or shunning one altogether — come up with a goal or two for each day of your vacation. It could be something as simple as capturing a great picture or as ambitious as learning how to windsurf.
Goals will give your vacation structure while still giving you plenty of time to relax and take it all in.
Bonus Travel Hack: Don't be afraid of slowing down.
Slow travel is a great way to catch your breath. Instead of rushing from one destination to the next, you set up a home base in one location and intentionally choose a few activities that appeal most to you. Your schedule might look more like a menu of possibilities than a checklist.
While You’re There: Spring Break Like a Pro
6. Don't skimp on sleep.
Late, boisterous nights can be part of a memorable spring break. To ensure that your vacation is as refreshing as it is fun, make sure to prioritize sleep along the way.
Give yourself permission to sleep in a few mornings or take an afternoon snooze under a big umbrella. With enough rest, you’ll have the energy you need to fuel your sense of adventure.
Bonus Travel Hack: How do you beat jet lag?
It can be hard to feel well-rested if you’re jet lagged. Try to get on your destination’s schedule as quickly as possible — wake up, eat lunch, be active, go to bed when everyone else does, not when you would have at home. The first day or two might be tough, but you’ll enjoy the rest of your trip much more.
7. Embrace healthy eating.
Quinoa, acai bowls, and the latest “superfood” are popping up on more menus wherever you go. Take advantage of the prevalence of fresh, nutrient-dense snacks to eat well while you travel. Bonus points if it’s a local food you can only get on spring break. You may as well make the most of it!
Eating healthy on vacation doesn’t need to be anything extreme. Simply aim for balance. If you start your morning with an all-you-can-eat brunch, for instance, try replacing your afternoon ice cream with a fresh smoothie. The occasional healthy swap will keep you looking and feeling your best throughout your vacation.
Bonus Travel Hack: Why can’t I poop on vacation?
If you get constipated when you travel, it’s likely because of a change in routine. Our digestive system works on natural rhythms, so when we eat different foods at irregular times, change how we sleep, and alter our activities, our stomachs get bound up.
You can prevent travel constipation by staying hydrated. Drink plenty of water and consider adding a few glasses of tea, prune juice, and clear soups. Also try to get some additional probiotics in your diet, either with a supplement or through foods like yogurt.
8. Take meaningful pauses.
No matter how relaxed your vacation might be, take a moment to appreciate your experience. It’s easy to get caught up in activities without realizing their bigger impact.
If you’re traveling with family, think about what you’ve learned about them. If you’re with your friends, consider how your relationships have grown and changed. And if you’re traveling solo, think about the new perspectives you’ve gained.
Meaningful pauses will help you practice gratitude and reflect on how your travels have changed you for the better.
Bonus Travel Hack: Keep a journal.
Many people keep a gratitude journal to help them think mindfully about their day. You can do the same when you travel, or simply jot down some of your favorite observations.
This reflection time is important for identifying the most meaningful moments of your trip, not to mention it gives you a nice way to remember the highlights later on.
9. Unplug and enjoy.
There’s nothing wrong with occasionally checking your inbox or posting a picture on Instagram when you’re on vacation. When your technology becomes a distraction, however, you’re missing the benefits of your vacation.
Try to limit your screen time to once or twice a day. If you’re on vacation, your followers, colleagues, and newsfeed shouldn’t be a priority.
Bonus Travel Hack: Do a digital detox on vacation.
Going cold turkey on electronics is hard for some people and a relief for others. You can either go off-grid or simply be more intentional about when you do use your electronics. Maybe you only use your phone for directions. Or tablets are only for movies on the plane, after which, they get stowed at the bottom of the suitcase for the rest of the trip.
Learn how to unplug and do a digital detox on vacation.
When You Get Back: How to Recover from Spring Break
10. Give yourself a buffer.
It’s always hard to leave your favorite destination, but if you can, schedule your return home one day early. This buffer between vacation and resuming everyday activities can be used as a catch-up day to unpack, start on laundry, and make sure you’re organized for a return to work or school.
Rushing back too quickly might leave you feeling like you never left home in the first place.
Bonus Travel Hack: Know what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed.
Giving yourself extra time can also help if your return is delayed for some reason. Cancelled flights and delays are stressful enough. Don’t add to the anxiety by wondering if the disruption will keep you from making it back to work on time.
Check out these tips for avoiding cancellations and delays, and learn what to do when your flight is cancelled.
11. Maintain your spring break mindset.
Getting back to class or the office can feel especially painful after an amazing spring break. Fortunately, there’s nothing stopping you from incorporating a bit of your vacation self into your work life.
It can be as simple as treating yourself to lunch out instead of eating at your desk, a midday ice cream, or spending more time in the fresh air. Breaks are about taking care of yourself and seeking out activities that bring you joy. Why not prioritize that year-round?
Bonus Travel Hack: Put vacation photos where you can see them.
With the rise of digital photography, so many of our pictures never make it off our phone. Print a couple of your favorites and display them where you’ll see them often (or add them to a digital picture frame).
The more reminders you have of your vacation, the longer you can hang on to those good getaway vibes.
Stay Sane with Seven Corners Travel Insurance
Part of having a sane spring break is not having to handle all the chaos yourself if things go wrong. Travel insurance is part of that.
Choose a plan that protects your money, health, and belongings so you don’t have to stress about how you’re going to pay for things like rescheduled flights, missing luggage, or an unexpected illness.
Choose a company with a strong track record of taking care of its customers. Seven Corners Assist helps you navigate medical emergencies and more while you’re on the road, making scary situations feel much more manageable.
Get a quick quote or find out more about how Seven Corners travel insurance can cover you when trip happens.
