By Joseph Mercola
     with Rachael Droege

Vacations are supposed to be about resting, relaxing and relieving stress, right? So why is it that often when we return home from a trip we end up feeling more exhausted than when we left? According to a 2002 survey of 1,000 Americans, 54 percent of people feel tired after a vacation, and 19 percent said they felt "very tired" or "exhausted."

Let’s face it--vacations can wreak havoc on your stress levels and health. Planning and packing for the vacation can be stressful enough, but even once you’re out the door car troubles, traffic, airport delays and jet lag can wear you out before you reach your destination. Once you’re vacationing, it’s common for people to splurge on junk food and alcohol and get little rest while they try to fit in too many activities.

But vacations can be a great way to restore your energy and vitality, all it takes is a little planning. The following guidelines offer some tips to ensure that your next vacation leaves you feeling renewed--not burnt out.

Choose Your Vacation Destination Wisely

If your goal is to relax, your destination should reflect that goal. Many people find natural environments such as the beach or mountains to be particularly revitalizing. Another option is a health spa that specializes in pampering and relaxation getaways.

There are countless other spas to choose from as well, ranging in specialty, price and location. A good place to start your search is by typing in "spa vacations" on www.google.com.

Most importantly, choose a destination that will balance out your life: if you’re constantly running around choose something laid back, but if your lifestyle is slow-moving, a more active vacation may do the trick.

Don’t Overindulge Just Because You’re on Vacation

Be careful not to stray too far from your normal eating patterns. Overindulging on junk food, fried foods and alcohol will not only make you feel sluggish--if not outright sick--for your vacation, but the effects will linger long after you get home. Curb the temptation to sabotage your diet by choosing more health-conscious restaurants (stay away from fast food joints and snack stands) and bringing along some food from home. Hard-boiled eggs, sliced vegetables, cherry tomatoes and raw coconut slices make great snacks for car rides or long waits in airports.

Whether you’re traveling by boat, train, car or plane, it’s also important to stay hydrated. Make sure you have plenty of pure, filtered water on hand and stay away from drinks with caffeine or sugar (this applies when you’re at home too!).

Eating healthy foods while on vacation will ensure that you have the energy and strength to enjoy your time off. Check out my nutrition plan for some advice on how to get your diet on the right track.

Get Plenty of Rest

You’re on vacation, there are new places to see and new things to do so it can be tempting to stay up late or wake up extra early. However, many people go into a vacation with a sleep debt and come out of the vacation needing even more sleep. Getting too little sleep will compromise your health, so it’s important to budget sleeping time into your vacation time. Your time off will be much more enjoyable if you feel well rested and fresh.

Plan Ahead

From packing your suitcase to booking a rental car, planning ahead will ensure that your vacation runs smoothly from start to finish. You can save yourself a lot of stress by packing little-by-little in the week or so leading up to your vacation, rather than leaving it all for the night before. You’re also less likely to forget something this way. Making to-do lists can also help you to sort out other needed arrangements ahead of time, such as asking a neighbor to water your plants.

Additionally, before you leave become familiar with your destination. Learn the basic area and have an idea of what kinds of places you’d like to see. This way, your vacation time can be spent in those places instead of in your hotel room trying to figure out where to go.

Vacationing should be an enjoyable experience, not something to add more stress and strain to your health. Our bodies take a beating during the daily grind and all that wear and tear can lead to chronic health problems down the road. If you can, take some time out of each day to revive yourself. Little things, such as going for a walk, playing with your kids--even a short "mental vacation"--can do wonders for your spirit. And when you do get a chance to really get away, use that time to renew your body with exercise, healthy food, fresh air and plenty of sleep. Now that’s giving your body a real vacation.

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