6 THINGS TO AVOID SABATOGING YOUR VACATION
your plans loosely. Allow time and flexibility for an unscheduled trip or activity. Expect that some things you hope will take place will be excluded for one reason or another. Don’t fall into the trap of scheduling too much during your vacation. Every day doesn’t need to be jam-packed with outings, activities, special meals, and incredible experiences. On paper, this might look like a fantastic time, but, in practice, the whole family comes back from the vacation more burnt out and tired than when they left. And what’s worse, there was no plan for just being together and growing closer to each other. PENNY PINCHING It’s a good idea to plan your vacation financially. That includes planning how much you’ll end up spending on things like food, shopping, or activities. In most households finances are important, but focusing only on money during a vacation isn’t good either. Vacation isn’t just about money; it can also be a particular time of relationship building and experiencing things that normally wouldn’t happen. That means that any money that we spend on this stuff pays dividends that aren’t usually available. We’re not advocating the idea of spending a small fortune just for fun. But it’s important to acknowledge that vacation is a special time with special opportunities. Plan for these and expect to spend some extra money so you and your family can do some unique things along the way. 6
If your spouse or your kids are expecting a complete focus on fun or relaxation, it’s going to be challenging to get them excited about reading a few verses as a family or spending the time to pray together. Of course, just telling someone about something doesn’t mean that they will suddenly think it’s a good idea, but at least they won’t be shocked when it seemingly comes out of nowhere. NO PLAN The only way to do vacation on purpose is to have a clear, determined purpose in the first place! Having a purpose means thinking and planning ahead. Start by asking some questions. What kinds of spiritual things do you want to take place? What kinds of experiences do you want everyone to have? What kinds of conversations do you want to have? Put a plan together in advance and be specific about it. Do you want to see each family share something that they feel God is doing in their life? Plan when to have that conversation... maybe over a meal or just before bed one night. If you don’t put a plan together, it’s easy to forget, let things slide, or have the whole time go by and realize you haven’t done any of the most important activities you hoped would take place. TOO MUCH PLANNING Of course, it’s also possible to be TOO focused on your plan. We all know people who become like drill sergeants... expecting each detail of their plan to be followed down to the letter and with promptness. In this scenario, a time of joy and rejuvenation can quickly deteriorate into a time of frustration and stress when bathroom breaks become “scheduled” downtime. 4 5
Eventually, no one is having fun. So make sure you hold
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