.svg){kind=icon}
Every ordinary day is filled with professional and family responsibilities. In the daily rush, we have little time for self-reflection or listening to our inner selves. Set working hours, extracurricular activities, and picking up the kids from daycare—all of this creates the framework in which we function. It is easier then to push problems aside and drown out emotions and avoid facing unpleasant truths about our lives, relationships, work, and ourselves.
Vacations disrupt our routine. Suddenly, we have to create a new structure for our day. Freedom from daily duties also means having to make decisions. What will we do? With whom? Am I making the right choice? There are so many holiday attractions within reach, and yet it is impossible to do them all! For some, the mere necessity of answering these questions causes anxiety. It happens that during a vacation panic attacks may occur unrelated to any specific event: being pulled out of the daily routine and having "too much time to think" causes previously suppressed negative emotions and repressed fears to "take control."
Don't silence your inner voice!
Escaping into activity is one way of cutting yourself off from your own emotions, desires, and self-awareness. However, this is a self-destructive method! Sooner or later, the repressed thoughts, emotions, fears, and problems will hit even harder. Worse still, this is often reflected in psychosomatic illnesses. Cutting yourself off means you are not the director of your own life. You allow others to lead you. You are unable to wisely plan your own goals and how to achieve them because you don't even know what you truly want.
A vacation is the perfect time to think about how you want to plan the coming year
What do you intend to change, experience, or learn? Clients often come to my career coaching sessions having realized during their vacation just how unhappy they are at work and that they don't want to return. Sometimes, when the daily aches, stomach issues,and allergies disappear during the holidays, it hits them that the source is a toxic company environment, bullying, overwork, burnout, or simply a mismatch between their current job and their actual needs or psychophysical capabilities.
Write down your emotions and thoughts
An effective method recommended in coaching and psychotherapy is putting your feelings and thoughts on paper. The necessity of putting them into words makes it easier to organize, "tame," and understand them, as well as to view them from a distance. From a psychological perspective, it is best if you do this by hand. If that is not possible, write them in your phone or send emails to yourself. You can return to these notes and use them for further self-work or destroy them immediately after writing. The very act of writing (verbalizing your thoughts) is what is key.
Be open to feedback
When spending all your time with loved ones, it is easier to notice when someone has a problem, especially with addictions. There are no more excuses that "I have to be online all the time because my job requires it." It becomes more obvious that a partner is abusing alcohol or spending hours browsing online stores. It is harder to hide depression, panic attacks, or emotional instability. If your partner says they notice a problem with you, instead of reacting with indignation, listen carefully to what they have to say and think about it. The sooner you realize there is a problem, the better your chances of making an effective attempt to overcome it.
Take a test
Are you constantly staring at your phone while lying on the beach? Instead of savoring the beauty of your surroundings, are you only thinking about posting on social media and anxiously counting "likes"? Do you check your work emails several times a day? Or perhaps you accompany every meal with alcohol? Do you overeat every day and feel bad afterwards? Addictions can involve substances (e.g., drugs) as well as behaviors, known as behavioral addictions, such as compulsive shopping, binge eating, workaholism, or internet addiction. During your vacation, test whether you can refrain from these activities for even 1–2 days.
If you are unable to do so, or if it requires immense effort and makes you irritable, causes you to obsess over the activity, or—worse—leads to withdrawal symptoms on a physical level (e.g., insomnia, headaches) or a psychological level (e.g., irritability, heightened anxiety, shame), then you are likely dealing with an addiction. Upon your return, be sure to book an appointment with a specialist in addiction (e.g., a psychotherapist or psychiatrist).
If you are struggling with your emotions—for example, if you feel persistent, unexplained anxiety, sadness, or social phobia while on vacation—have an honest conversation with your partner or seek a consultation with a psychologist or crisis coach. Instead of spiraling into self-destruction, reach out for support! If you feel that a problem is overwhelming you, do not hesitate to seek help from a psychotherapist, coach, or another specialist.
