As fun and festive as the holiday season is, it can also be stressful and hectic. There are gifts to buy (and wrap), parties to plan, events to attend, cookies to bake, guests to host, and multiple meals to prepare, which can often mean very little downtime to deal with it all. Now that the holiday season is upon us (after all, any time after Halloween is fair game and can be defined as the “holiday season” nowadays), you might already be wishing you were relaxing on a beach somewhere. Here are 20 signs you’re going to need a vacation from your vacation this year:
1. You’re dreaming of a blue and white Christmas
Never mind snow, you’ve been dreaming of white sand beaches and crystal blue water rather than hoping for fluffy white flakes falling on Christmas morning.
2. Your only New Year’s resolution is to travel more
Some people vow to hit the gym more, others to start eating healthy, or stop being chronically late. The only resolution you have on your mind right now is to book a trip as soon as humanly possible.
3. You’re behind on shopping due to travel daydreaming
You know you should be at the mall shopping for holiday gifts, but you’ve been too busy planning your next vacation. In fact, from now on you’re probably just going to shop online so you can shop and surf travel blogs at the same time. It’s a win-win.
4. You wish you could ask for air miles for Christmas
If you believed Santa was listening you’d ask him for one thing and one thing only: enough air miles to book a fabulous vacation.
5. You’ve been researching flights rather than cookie recipes
Even though you know all that holiday baking is on the horizon, you’re finding yourself spending more time researching flight options to dream destinations than zeroing in on your cookie recipes for the year.
6. You’ve been browsing more travel gear than gifts
Shopping for friends and family is fun, but you’ve caught yourself drifting into stores that sell travel gear when you know you should be shopping for gifts.
7. You’d gladly trade eggnog for a daiquiri
While you usually get sick of eggnog mid-way through the holiday season, you’d never turn down a frosty, tropical drink (and hope to be sipping one on a beach somewhere soon).
8. You just know you’ll talk your guests’ ears off about travel
Despite the fact that you haven’t even hosted your first house guest or holiday party yet, you’re pretty sure every story you’re going to tell will be about your last trip.
9. You forgot to wrap gifts because you’re too busy vacation planning
Gifts definitely won’t wrap themselves and there are more than a few to wrap, but this year, you can’t seem to keep your focus on anything but your next flight.
10. Your wish list is made up entirely of vacation destinations
Never mind clothing, or gadgets, or jewelry – if anyone asks you what you want to see under the tree this year, it’s tickets to places you want to go for your next vacation.
11. You wish you could have a palm tree and a Christmas tree
Though notoriously difficult to decorate, you think your house would look that much more festive if you could find space for both a palm tree and a Christmas tree.
12. Your guest bedroom looks like a hotel room
After looking at so many hotel websites you’ve managed to make your guest bedroom look almost identical to some of the rooms you’ve been browsing (and hoping to stay in).
13. The only Black Friday sales you’re after are travel-related
Black Friday might still be a few weeks away, but if any signs for sales happen to catch your eye, your mind automatically goes to post-holiday flight sales.
14. You’ve considered a tropical theme for your holiday party
Even if you end up giving in and going traditional with garlands and tinsel, you’re secretly wishing your holiday party could have a tropical theme to remind you of the vacation you wish you were on.
15. You want to deck your halls with seashells
Every time you peer into your box of holidays decorations and pull something out, you wonder why you don’t have any beach-themed ornaments.
16. The only movies you’re watching this season are those with a travel theme
There’s nothing wrong with Rudolph or Frosty, or any of those traditional holiday movies, but you can’t tear yourself away from “Around the World in 80 Days” and “The Motorcycle Diaries.”
17. You regret not pushing for Christmas in Hawaii
There’s no doubt you already have vacation on the brain when you’re wishing you’d tried to convince your family to spend the festive season in Hawaii. Next year for sure.
18. Your holiday tunes of choice all involve destinations
There are tons of choices when it comes to holiday music, but the only songs on your Christmas playlist are the ones that feature your fave travel destinations.
19. You’d like to add some tropical hues to your holiday color scheme
There’s nothing wrong with red or green, or even red and green together, but you’re also considering tossing in some colors that remind you of the fabulous island vacation you went on last year.
20. You’ve been pinning travel hacks – not Christmas crafts
Instead of pinning DIY gift ideas, cute decorations, or holiday recipes, you have several Pinterest boards dedicated to your next vacation (which will ideally be happening very soon).
Lead photo: Cliff
