You've finally escaped your daily grind, jetted off to paradise, and now you're... exhausted?

Welcome to the modern vacation conundrum. In the words of a well-spoken colleague, this is "where YOLO meets FOMO in an epic battle for your precious holiday time".

The overplanning trap

Many of us are hardwired for productivity because we're pressed for time. Everything from errands to visits to workouts must be scheduled in a bid to save time. At times, it seems like the only goal is to save time, rather than saving time for rest and relaxation.

Naturally, this habit extends to whenever we plan our holidays. Every day of annual leave is precious and must be maximised. Failure to do so leads to time wasted as you frantically Google where to go for your next meal.

Too much planning ruins a holiday. You'll end up just trying to execute the plan as opposed to enjoying yourself. (Image: Unseen Studio, Unsplash)

One of my good friends is a Type A personality who is so goal-oriented that his holidays have no room for spontaneity. I have no plans to ever travel with him (you cannot pay me enough to do so), as his itineraries are planned by the hour.

The result of being so productivity-driven is not just fatigue, but sian-ness, and for the unhappy ones who have no say in the matter, a bitter memory. It's what causes us to declare that we need another holiday to make up for the tiring one.

Do less and do the opposite

Personally, I start by thinking about what I want to see, eat, and do, then use Google to find those places and compare ratings. Like most, I watch YouTube videos to get a sense of whether an attraction is worth visiting. This process alone takes significant time and energy before I've even left.

I make a list of five things I want to eat and five places I want to visit at my destination. Anything else, such as shopping or sightseeing, is left to chance. Meaning I'll consider these if there's time.

A cold drink, a hat, and a pair of shades are great ingredients to unwind with. (Image: S'well, Unsplash)

What about FOMO?

While it's true that nobody likes missing out on things, allowing FOMO to influence your plans is harmful. I get that missing out on a particular dish or attraction means having to travel to that country all over again, but racing from one activity to the next (like in The Amazing Race) is not a holiday.

Unscheduled wanderings and surprise discoveries can create cherished memories. For instance, while strolling through a Seoul neighbourhood in search of lunch, a friendly woman invited us to try her restaurant's dishes. It was a small, five-table place with delicious food and wonderful service.

Why not spend your vacation catching up on your reading? (Image: Link Hoang, Unsplash)

What made it memorable, though, was her seeming disappearance after seating us. Today, we can't help but laugh whenever we recall this, wondering if we'd been invited in by a ghost!

On another trip to Taipei, my wife and I sought out a popular beef noodle shop, only to find it closed for the day. As we roamed, we stumbled upon a humble alternative, where the beef noodles tasted homecooked rather than chef-prepared.

Beyond the warm service, what made this place special was the family allowing their docile dog to mingle with diners, adding to the cosy atmosphere.

Or better still, spend the day relaxing in a pool as opposed to jostling with crowds. (Image: Haley Phelps, Unsplash)

Let go and go with the flow

When it comes to holidays, sometimes no plans are really the best plans. Venture out without a schedule and see what you discover. You can even hop onto a bus or train and alight at a random stop to explore.

After a few hours, return to your hotel for a nap. Constant activity hardly promotes de-stressing. In fact, some friends now travel just to indulge in the luxury of sleeping in, something difficult to do back home.

And instead of constantly updating social media with photos and videos, focus on being present. After all, documenting every moment turns relaxation into another task.

So instead of FOMO, make JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) the goal during your next trip. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you when you return fully recharged.

– Jeremy

Main image: freestocks, Unsplash