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Avoiding Holiday Burnout

Blog Categories Travel Tips

Written by

Jane Bolton

Holidays are meant to help us switch off, recharge and enjoy a change of pace, but for many travellers, the reality doesn’t always match the expectation. From busy itineraries to long travel days and the pressure to make the most of every moment, it’s easy to come home feeling more tired than when you left.

The good news is the small changes can make a big difference. With a calmer approach to planning, travel days and downtime, it’s possible to enjoy your trip and return home feeling genuinely refreshed.

Jane Bolton, one of our Travel Experts at Erna Low, shares practical tips to help your holiday feel more relaxing – before you go, while you’re away, and when you get home.

Before you go

Avoid over-scheduling your days

It’s easy to over-plan when you’re excited about a trip, especially when there’s so much you want to see or do. But when every moment is accounted for, holidays can start to feel rushed, leaving little space to rest or enjoy the moment.

Building breathing room into your itinerary helps you keep things balanced. Leaving a couple of hours unscheduled each day gives you flexibility, whether that’s slowing down if you’re tired, being spontaneous, or simply enjoying a more relaxed pace.

Chasing the ‘perfect Instagram holiday’

Social media can be brilliant for inspiration, but it can also create pressure to squeeze in every “must-do” spot, especially when TikTok and Instagram are full of highlight reels and tightly planned itineraries.

A good way to keep the excitement without it becoming overwhelming is to treat social content as a starting point, not a checklist. Pick one or two things you genuinely care about (a restaurant, a view, a day trip), then leave the rest looser so you have space to wander, change plans, or take a slower morning if you need it. You’ll usually enjoy the experience more, and you won’t spend your holiday feeling like you’re racing from one “perfect” moment to the next.

Use the 2-2-3 rule for multi-stops

Multi-destination holidays can be a great way to see more, but moving between places too quickly can feel unsettling and tiring.

A simple way to pace your trip is the 2-2-3 rule: two nights in your first stop, two in the next, and at least three nights in your final destination. This gives you time to unpack properly, get your bearings and enjoy each place without feeling like you’re constantly on the move.

Get travel admin sorted early

A lot of pre-holiday stress comes from last-minute admin - pulling together passports and checking latest passport rules, insurance details, confirmations, and transfer information just before you leave.

Taking a bit of time a few days ahead to make sure everything is easy to access, whether saved on your phone, in your emails or printed, helps you start your journey feeling organised and calm, rather than rushed. It can also help to scan through a few common travel mistakes to avoid before you set off, as it’s often the small things that catch people out.

Start switching off before you travel

It’s hard to relax properly if you move straight from work mode into holiday mode without any breathing space in between.

If possible, try wrapping up urgent tasks and muting work apps the day before you travel. Giving your mind a clear signal that it’s time to slow down helps you unwind more quickly once you’re away.

During your holiday

Step back from screens

Even quick phone checks can keep your mind alert, making it harder to settle into a slower pace.

Putting your phone on Do Not Disturb for a few hours each day, particularly in the mornings or around mealtimes, can help you feel more present and relaxed. Even short breaks from screens can make a noticeable difference.

Make long travel days feel easier

Long journeys can be one of the most tiring parts of a holiday, especially if you’re rushing through connections or pushing straight through to your final destination.

Where possible, building in a short stopover can help. Taking time to stretch, rehydrate, and reset between flights often makes the journey feel far less draining and helps you arrive ready to enjoy your time away.

If you’re travelling by car, it’s also worth thinking ahead about the practicalities. Unexpected car hire issues can add unnecessary stress to an already long travel day. Taking a few minutes to familiarise yourself with some common car hire traps before you go can help your journey run more smoothly and avoid problems that can quickly take the shine off the start of a trip.

Feeling tied to your plans

Having a plan is helpful, but sticking to it too rigidly can take the joy out of a holiday. If you need to slow things down, let yourself do so. Swapping a busy day for a relaxed breakfast, a gentle walk or some downtime can make your holiday feel far more restorative.

Enjoy the slopes at your own pace

For many, skiing is the highlight of a winter holiday, and it’s natural to want to make the most of your time on the mountain. But sometimes, the most memorable moments come from mixing things up. If you fancy a break from the slopes, take a day to explore the local town, try a new café, or simply relax and soak up the scenery. You’ll often discover a different side to your destination and return to skiing feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy it even more.

When you get home

Ease yourself back into routine

Returning straight from a trip to a full work day can undo much of the benefit of your holiday. If you can, build in a small buffer when you get home. Even half a day to unpack, rest and reset can make the transition back to everyday life feel gentler.

Do a simple post-holiday reset

Leaving suitcases unpacked and chores piling up can quickly bring back a sense of overwhelm.

Doing a simple reset on the day of your return, unpacking the essentials, putting a wash on and tidying the basics, helps home feel calm again and allows you to hold onto that relaxed holiday feeling for longer.

Our summary

Holidays don’t have to be perfectly planned to be brilliant. In fact, they often feel most restorative when you give yourself space to slow down, whether that’s leaving a little flexibility in your itinerary, pacing multi-stop trips with the 2-2-3 rule, or making your travel days feel less rushed.

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