How to Make Your Next Vacation Feel Longer

The whole point of a holiday is to take a break from your daily routine. That means leaving work behind too, or you’ll spend precious time answering emails and phone calls or dealing with crises instead of relaxing.

Need more motivation to leave the work at home? Read the 10 scientific reasons why you need a vacation.

Let your clients and colleagues know that you’ll be unavailable for the duration of your vacation and ask someone you can trust to deal with anything urgent that may come up.

Having your phone turned on and charged all the time is almost a guarantee that you’ll get sucked back into the little problems of daily life that you’re trying to escape in the first place. You’ll soon want to check messages, call people back and reply to emails.

Not realistic for you? Maybe you need these 20 hacks to save your phone's battery while travelling.

You don’t need to leave your phone at home. After all, it can be useful to have a phone when you need to call a taxi or make reservations. However, leave it switched off until you need to use it.

You know how it goes: you quickly want to check your Facebook and then you start opening links to articles or liking everything your friends have been doing. Before you know it, you’ve spent two hours on social media.

If you really can’t live without your social media fix, set aside an hour before bedtime to post those fabulous vacation pictures on Instagram. Don’t feel tempted to share pictures as soon as you’ve taken them but instead, enjoy the things you’re photographing.

Also, resist the temptation to think of every experience as a potential status update.

If you spend all night vegetating in front of the TV, you’ll miss out on unforgettable experiences like salsa dancing until the wee hours, meeting new people or spending quality time with your travel companions.

For some ideas on incredible trips you should take now, see the 20 best trips to take in your 40s.

Turn off the TV and enjoy everything your vacation destination has to offer. You can always stream your favourite shows later.

Of course you want to rest so you want to sleep in a little while you’re on vacation. This is perfectly fine but getting up early gives you more time to explore your destination. Sleeping until noon means you’ve wasted half a day.

For more expert tips on making the most of your precious vacation, check out 19 tips to make travelling easier.

To avoid vacation fatigue, try to get to bed at a reasonable time. You can also take little naps during the day. For example, around midday, when it’s too hot to do anything, catching some shut-eye while lazing in a hammock will help you feel rested later on.

Hotels employ people to clean your room, make your bed and, if you ask, do your laundry. Why then would you spend your precious vacation time doing chores?

If you’re staying in self-catering accommodation or you’re camping, get everyone involved in doing the chores. This way, everything will get done more quickly and you’ll have more time to enjoy your break.

Driving, especially in an unfamiliar place that may have strange traffic laws, just adds stress that you don’t need. Instead, enjoy the adventure of navigating public transport or rent a bike and get some fresh air while sightseeing.

If you can’t avoid driving during your vacation, turn it into part of the vacation experience. Take the quieter back roads and discover places you didn’t know existed, stop often and enjoy the scenery.

Shake up your routine by not doing the things you normally do. For instance, if you usually go for a run in the morning, try going for a brisk walk at sunset. Have a leisurely breakfast out on the balcony instead of wolfing down some cornflakes while leaning on the kitchen counter.

Related: 20 wellness trips that will make you a healthier person.

Another way to get out of your rut and make the most of your holiday is to try new things. Go for a horseback ride, eat an exotic dish, have a pampering spa treatment or take surfing or cooking classes.

A little planning can help you use your vacation time more wisely. Make a list of the things you want to see and do and then decide to fit the ones that are situated close to one another into the same day to save time and transport costs.

See more: 10 ways you're probably paying too much for travel.

However, don’t over-plan. Some of the best vacation experiences are the ones that happen spontaneously.

If you decide not to check out that interesting-looking shop or restaurant or you say no to that hike with the people you met last night because it doesn’t fit into your schedule, you may regret it later.

Few things can ruin vacation plans quite like having to forego the long-dreamed-of swim with dolphins because you’re curled up on the bathroom floor, clutching your stomach. Staying healthy will help you make more of your time away so try to avoid these 10 common travel illnesses.

You don’t need to give up experiences in your quest to avoid getting sick on holiday. By all means, try the street food but be sensible about it: eat at places frequented by many other people rather than choosing a dodgy-looking eatery where you’re the only customer.