5 tips to make the most of your summer vacation

Vacation, all I ever wanted…

You’ve been waiting for months and planning for weeks and now the big moment has finally arrived… VACATION TIME!

Most people spend 11 months out of the year dreaming of the perfect vacation. But how can you make the most of your time off in the summer and avoid disappointment? Here are 5 tips on how to unplug and enjoy your vacation.

Disconnect from work

To really feel like you’re truly on vacation, you need to break with your usual habits—starting with work. You can’t enjoy the sun if you’re replying instantly to every email or bringing your files along to the beach! Of course, it’s normal to have trouble disengaging from your job for the first few days, but pretty soon you’ll have forgotten all about it.

And if that sense of guilt is really too strong, set aside limited periods of time to respond to the most urgent requests.

Organize your vacation in advance

Use Beesbusy on your smartphone.

I can already hear you complaining at the thought of having to plan everything ahead of time, even your vacation. But managing this particular project can actually be very simple, especially when you’ve got the right tools.

So to make up for lost leisure time the rest of the year and make the most of your few weeks of relaxation, you’ll need to do a bit of planning: plan a paddle-boat outing, make restaurant reservations with friends, organize a hike, etc.

Think of everything, prepare your to-do list

Vacation reservations: Check. Activities planned: Check. But before you leave, make sure you haven’t forgotten anything! For total peace of mind as you take off on vacation, make your own checklist with all the essential items you need to take care of before you leave.

Shut off the water, check your vaccinations, prepare a first-aid kit and renew your passport—list it all out so you don’t forget anything and can leave without a care in the world.

Don’t overplan

Image of a direction sign.

Planning is good, but be careful not to overdo it. People often tend to overplan their vacations and quickly forget what their summer break should really be all about: relaxing and letting go.

After all, you’re often very busy during the rest of the year, so your vacation is the perfect time to slow things down a bit. Rather than scheduling activities every single day, leave some of your time free and make room for spontaneous fun. You’ll feel much more relaxed that way, and even doing nothing can be good for you once in a while!

Be selfish—take care of yourself

You spend the whole year managing projects and taking care of friends and family. But who takes care of you? Three weeks of vacation is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with yourself and give yourself a break.

Take the time to decide what you’d really enjoy doing: a nap in the hammock, a good book to peruse, a walk in the park… To get the most out of your summer, it’s important to slow down and savor the present moment.

My to-do list