To always feel like sacking of a holiday just as it's approaching?

[daisysurplus]

Does anyone else ever do this?

Book a holiday, really look forward to it, do sufficient planning to ensure it goes smoothly and then about a week before just think 'I can't be arsed'. It's happened almost every time I go away (and I always end up enjoying myself while still slightly thinking 'I'm not sure if it was worth the money / time / effort')

Not sure if it's a combination of pre annual leave fatigue, mental load / admin before a trip, expectation anxiety....or whether I generally just can't be arsed with the holiday anymore.......

I know I will have a lovely time though!

Yup me too.
the organising. The packing, the washing, the laundry, the lists of stuff I have to bring, the cleaning out the fridge, the anxiety over how awful the roads/train/airports will be, the anxiety over leaving the house for a week, pre holiday admin - it all sounds like nothing but it’s just such a faff it’s easier to stay put.
I loved travelling pre kids - now I just find it a headache and stressful. I’ve also developed a hatred for the heat . So for me - holiday are just not worth it now.

Interesting thread.I usually LOVE holidays. This year I feel so indifferent. Even though I'm sick of the sight of my own home I just can't get up any enthusiasm to book anywhere.

Leaving for our holiday this morning and I've been feeling this for 2 weeks now! I didn't like the pre holiday feeling before having kids, but it's much worse now!

I agree it's the mental load/ pressure for everyone to have fun. It feels a bit like Christmas in that way.

Couple that with a job - having to work extra hard before and after you go, planning/ handing over, returning to about 3000 emails.

It also comes after end of term madness where my brain already hurts.

We are staying in the UK and catching up with friends and family we haven't seen since pre covid, so it couldn't be an easier holiday. It's added the shame of seeing friends and being several stone fatter post lockdown for me!

I work in an office full of people who seem to be on a holiday countdown!!! God I'm like no chance I dread it the same as you OP
The making sure everyone's stuff is ready, endless lists - I find it relentless to be honest!!
Then if UK based self catering drives me insane!!! I hate it and self catering is no holiday to me just the same shit different place!!

I much prefer an all inclusive but then I still find it very stressful getting everyone's stuff ready to go, the airport etc etc - all in all a nightmare!

In all honesty I would much rather stay at home and have afew day trips

When my DC were holidaying with me, I felt exactly like this. I dreaded every much looked forward to holiday as soon as it got close.
Now it's just me, or me and adult DC with partners it never happens.
I think it's the fear of the unknown, potentially me just having to look after/ look out for/ entertain everyone.

Ah I have found my people! I definitely have "the dread" when it comes to holidays especially post DC. The mental load is huge plus I try not to build up the idea of the holiday in my head as I know its generally same shit as home just a less convenient location. We are going all inclusive this year and I am already stressing that I'll have to get up at the crack of dawn to get sunbeds.

My husband tends to be like this, and to be honest it really ruins every holiday- it’s surprising to think that maybe he is not doing it deliberately to spoil everyone’s holiday first.

This year I have just refused to go with him and said that we have to have separate holidays. Actually it’s been bliss to be able to pack, get ready, and change the bedsheets before we go without a Moaning Minnie demanding all the attention and looking to get everyone’s back up.

Having said that, how about you just stay at home OP? If you don’t like holidays, don’t go on holiday, and keep away from those of us who can cope with it.

I should have mentioned that any of these weird feelings I have in the run up - I always keep to myself!!

That’s very decent of you. Unfortunately, not everyone can manage it.

I also don't love holidays. I like to be spontaneous, but you have to book far in advance or you get nothing decent. How do I know in March what I will feel like in August?

I thought I was the only one who did the 'x number of nights till we go home' whilst on holiday 😂😂 I always do this, and feel relieved once I'm over the halfway point to coming back home!

I used to love holidays, now I'm much more hmmm about them. We go next week to Turkey for a fortnight, DH, DS and I. Would have much rather kept the 6k towards getting a new kitchen.

I love being on holiday, but haaate the getting-there part.
For me, it’s that there are so many steps to it (going abroad) where something could go wrong.
UK breaks are better, but we went to the USA earlier in the year, and my goodness - get the cat to the cattery, drive to the airport hotel (hoping for no breakdown, hope booking is ok, no one gets ill while we’re there), drive to the car parking (hoping the booking for that has gone through ok, even though I know logically it’s fine as I have confirmations etc), not to mention check-in and security. And this time, add in a covid test the day before we went and I was a wreck.
I’m going abroad by myself later this month for the first time in about ten years, it will be interesting to see whether my stress levels are any different when there’s only me to worry about!

I can't identify with the countdown to getting back whilst on holiday though. Once in there I'm invested and trying to enjoy the moment.

I feel like this and think it’s anxiety. I only ever go on holiday these days in the U.K. so just need to drive a few hours towing the caravan. I’m fairly confident towing so I don’t think the anxiety is that. I always have a good time when I’m there. So really not sure why I’m like this.

In part I agree, but right now we're on holiday in a beautiful country and I've just had fresh figs and honey in the sunshine. To me it's definitely been worth all the effort!i

That said I do sometimes wish the time away on holiday. My strategy, if short haul, is to only book a week. If long haul, then to book multiple destinations. Too long in one place is boring.

I haven't done proper holidays for a while, but tend to find that kids argue and don't enjoy it and you don't have your home comforts. It is fun, but also not relaxing and expensive. Prefer to do day trips and visit friends/family and have them stay over.

I dont really want to go on holidays.. Happy to do stuff in UK but the whole stupidly expensive abroad ones.. nope... they were OK pre kids but now... really would rather not but they re VERY important to DH... we agreed that I would promise not to be a complete grinch if he took my 'must haves' into account.. ( we have 2 children with ASD and there are things that make it doable ). He books it, sorts all the paperwork etc... then I do packing etc.. I'd still rather not go but I can suck it up for him with these provisions 😁

I always feel like this, if it involves flying, anyway.
Packing, all the other things to think of, the ghastly airport business - queueing, all the security faff, etc.
And once we get there, all too often missing my own bed and the convenient comforts of home.
@Dreikanter , I once forgot to pack any knickers when we were going to a wedding in the Czech Rep.
I’ve never been so happy to see an M&S in my life, in Wenceslas Square in Prague.

This is me !
Ive not gone yet, and I don’t want to go now. I’m mentally planning all the nice things I’m going to do when I’m back, to help me get through the holiday. What a waste, I’d rather have stayed at home.

Yes! Every time!

YANBU but as pp put it, I find the transition from theoretical to practical stressful. And I think to an extent it depends on how organised your house and life is before you go, as to how stressful the steps involved are to get away! And the way travel is organised nowadays whether you are driving, on the train, or flying, sometimes sailing, guarantees that it will be miserable at some point!

I know we are very privileged to have been able to do so, and it makes us the spawn of the devil on Mumsnet, but this is exactly the reason we have bought a second home. We shuffle between it. We can leave and depart when we want. All of our holiday stuff is there. Our pets come with us. We can come and go as we please. Yes we still have to shop, cook and clean, and the upkeep can be a hassle, but I am happy to sacrifice holidays abroad to have the flexibility. It's in lovely countryside and we are still discovering new places to visit in the area six years on!

I think it’s the lack of home comforts that doesn’t help, plus the race for a sunbed. If the hotels had a sunbed for every person in the hotel, that would help.

I mind spending a lot of money on something that’s inferior.

Exactly! I'd rather stay home which means holidays are expensive for me.

This is 100% me.
dh is self employed so works like a madman leading up to it. Which leaves the entire thing to me, the animals, the plants, the washing, the packing, the planning.

its fucking tiring. Then the reverse the other side.
he’s finally realised I can’t be arsed and don’t actually enjoy it.
he loves a holiday though “somewhere hot”
i fucking hate the heat.

short breaks are manageable for me and I enjoy them. But not longer.