Vacations are a time to unwind and relax, which is exactly what many TMJ patients need. But the actual planning and preparation before a vacation can lead to the opposite. Getting everything lined up, spending hours researching hotels, figuring out what to pack – it’s enough to make you want to stay home.
Vacation planning might not be as fun as the trip itself, but it doesn’t have to trigger stress and aggravate your TMJ symptoms. Here are our top 3 tips for stress-free vacation planning.
Utilize Tech Tools to Make the Process Easier
Vacation planning help is just a click away. You may already be familiar with travel site apps like Expedia that keep your itinerary handy on your phone or tablet. But that’s just the beginning of how technology can be used to make planning easier.
Packing – PackPoint is a great app for organizing your packing. Start out by providing basic information like where you’re going, when and for how long. You can then select the types of activities you plan on doing or list custom activities. From there PackPoint will generate a list of things to bring. It’s a quick way to get your packing lists started and keep them all together.
Road Tripping – If you plan to take a road trip, the RoadTrippers app is a must. This app helps you create maps based on where you want to go and what you want to see along the way. On their website you can also find road trips that other people have created, which can make your planning a lot easier.
Automatic Itineraries – TripIt is a time-saver if you are booking hotels, flights and car rentals. The app keeps all your confirmations in one place for easy access. All you have to do is forward your emails to TripIt, and it will create an interactive itinerary.
Get Plenty of Rest
Planning a vacation adds a lot of tasks to your already full to-do list. You figure a few nights burning the midnight oil is no big deal, since you can make up for it on vacation. Right? Finding the time to plan may prove difficult, but skimping on sleep isn’t the solution.
Sleep helps keep us healthy and running at full steam so we can handle everything that life throws our way, including TMJ symptoms. Being sleep deprived is one of the quickest ways to let stress get the best of you. The National Sleep Foundation also reports that severe sleep deprivation can create an immediate stress response that affects the immune system. The last thing you want is to get sick before going on vacation.
Pay for Things in Advance
Money is a serious source of stress. Whenever possible, pay for things in advance so that the financial matters are taken care of right from the get-go. Saving up and budgeting for your vacation can also help build anticipation and motivate you to spend more wisely in the weeks leading up to your trip.
If you have a TMJ disorder you will definitely rest easier during your vacation if you’ve scheduled a checkup beforehand. TMJ patients living in the Houston area can trust the team at MedCenter TMJ to provide thorough diagnosis of TMD problems and a variety of solutions for finding relief. Book your appointment before your vacation by calling or scheduling online today.
Original Source: https://www.medcentertmj.com/healthy-living/3-tips-for-stressless-vacation-planning/