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Vacations are more than a chance to relax for a few days. They’re essential for your physical and mental well-being, according to Inc magazine. Still, sometimes a vacation can bring its own kind of stress, especially if you fail to plan for the event. So, before you pack your bags, make sure you cover your bases at work, safeguard your home, adopt the right mindset, and set a budget for your trip. Here’s some advice:

Starting the Countdown to “V” Day

Stay in touch with your boss as your vacation time nears. Send her occasional reminders of your upcoming absence. You and she may want to create a game plan for covering your responsibilities while you’re away. Just before the big day arrives, you should respond to important messages, tidy up your desk, and say “see you later” to your co-workers. Taking these steps will help to prevent nasty surprises upon your return.

Your boss may or may not expect you to check your emails while you’re gone. It’s important to clarify how you plan to handle this issue to avoid misunderstanding. Saying you’ll review your messages “on a regular basis” leaves you wiggle room while showing that you’re devoted to your job.

Securing the Homestead

Nothing ruins a vacation quicker than coming home to find your house in shambles and your belongings gone. So take these precautions beforehand to secure your home:

• If you don’t already have one, invest in a smart home security system. Today’s technology makes it possible to monitor your home remotely, whether you’re a block or a thousand miles away.
• If you have a built-in security system, set it as active just before you leave. Never share the pass code with anyone you don’t trust. 
• Ask friends or neighbors to stop by your home every now and then to check on things.
• Arrange for someone to cut your grass, water your plants, and trim your hedges. A well-kept house deters burglars. 

Telling Your Brain to Relax

Your brain’s stress response mechanism isn’t a light switch. You can’t turn it on and off at will. However, according to the Huffington Post, you can persuade it to disarm itself if you’re willing to give the process a little time. Doing so is crucial if you’re to get the kind of rest you need to recharge your batteries. Here are some time-tested ways to coax your mind into relaxation mode:

• Listen to a little tranquil music; soft jazz and classical are good choices for most people. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let the melody delight your ears and soothe the savage beast within.
• Go for a walk. A stroll as short as 10 minutes can help to calm and focus your mind on pleasant thoughts.

Keeping within Your Budget

You may feel tempted to borrow money for your trip. But while this may seem sensible now, it could leave you with sour memories later on. Here’s why:

• Mainstream lenders are reluctant to loan money for vacations. Most people compensate for this fact by using their credit cards instead. But falling into this trap is a horrible idea, one which will strangle you in debt over time. Don’t believe it? Do the math and see for yourself. 
• A vacation need not take you to remote (and expensive) locales in order to relieve your stress. There are many low-cost destinations that will achieve the same purpose without wrecking your wallet. Keep in mind that staying in a vacation rental is often less expensive than renting a hotel room — plus, you get a private rather than a shared space.
• Vacations are not status symbols, despite what you may have heard from travel agents. All that matters is for you and your party to have fun. If you can accomplish that goal while staying within budget, then all the better for your finances and your peace of mind.

Taking time to smell the roses is important for your body as well as your soul. Enjoying a vacation now and then will help you to look back on things at the end of your days and realize you had a pretty good life. So treat yourself to a little time off. After all, who deserves it more than you?