Vacation is a time to relax and recharge. You work hard, and you deserve it! But, if you’re going on a couples vacation, you might already be dreading the downtime you have together.

Obviously, you’re not going to have every second of your trip planned out. After all, a vacation is about taking it easy. But if you want to get along during vacation, it’s important to make a commitment to doing so.

Whether you’re struggling in your relationship or find it difficult to get along sans a steady routine, you can get along during vacation and keep the trip as conflict-free as possible.

Let’s look at a few ways to do that.

Prepare Yourself for Stress

It seems ironic that you would experience stress on a vacation, but everyone knows it happens. Maybe there was a flight delay for your plane, leaving you both stuck at the airport for hours. Or, maybe your luggage got lost and you have to wait in your hotel room until it’s delivered.

Even the best-laid plans don’t always work out. In fact, you might end up with more downtime than you anticipated. Unsurprisingly, when these stressful events occur, it’s easy to take your frustration out on your partner.

When you both anticipate stress, though, you’ll be better prepared for these unexpected situations. Understand that your partner isn’t to blame for these things and neither are you. It’s okay to feel frustration and stress sometimes. But, don’t take that out on each other.

Don’t Bring Up Serious Issues

If you want to get along during vacation, don’t wait until you’re on your trip to bring up a serious topic. While you shouldn’t sweep things under the rug, try to get everything out in the open before you leave on your vacation.

By waiting until you’re supposed to be relaxing away from home to bring up a sore subject or something that’s been bothering you, you’re setting the tone for the whole trip. This can lead to arguments and can make the whole experience feel like a wash for both of you.

If necessary, have a long talk before you leave for your trip. If something is wrong in the relationship, try to work it out before you leave. That way, you can focus on reconnecting and enjoying yourselves while you’re on your vacation.

Get Some Alone Time

Even if you’re going on a couples trip, that doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment with your partner. This is especially true if you both have interests in different things.

If you want to go snorkeling and your partner would rather go to the spa, make it happen! Spending some time apart can actually make the time you spend together more special. Plus, you’ll both be able to do the things you really enjoy without feeling as though you’re dragging the other person along.

Even something as simple as going on a morning jog by yourself before your itinerary for the day starts can make a big difference in your attitude toward your partner throughout the trip.

Again, it’s not impossible to get along during vacation, no matter how many annoyances might come up along the way. Of course, you shouldn’t expect your relationship to be perfect. Yet, you also don’t want to worry about constantly arguing when you’re on vacation.

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If you’re about to go on a vacation with your partner and you’re already worryied about conflict, give me a call.

I’m in the Berkeley, CA area, and can help you both before you hit the road or take to the skies, so you can make the most of your vacation while enjoying each other’s company every step of the way.

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