Family holidays are supposed to be a treasured time of love and connection – a chance to make memories and build on close bonds. And they can be all those things but they can also be stressful, frustrating, and even painful. And the reasons for that might be as simple as a lack of planning and consideration for all the parties involved. If you dream of having a happy holiday, then you need to take the time to consider what will make it so.
Five simple ways to enjoy happy family holidays
1. Ask yourself what your family wants from a holiday
Before you pack everyone up and dash off to a holiday location, consider your family’s needs. Is relaxation at the top of the list? What about new experiences? Or just good old fashioned fun? Would some of your family members prefer to be outdoors or on the beach while others crave luxury accommodation with all the comforts of home? Know what you want from your holiday and then select a place that can give you that, staving off feelings of frustration and boredom.
2. Get away for a bit
Speaking of frustration and boredom, family holidays often don’t pan out as planned because there isn’t anything planned. If you’re staying home for the holidays, be sure to include a range of fun activities and new experiences designed to get your family out of the house (which can soon become a confined space primed for conflict). Better yet, get away from home for a few days (research shows that short trips tend to be more successful than long ones). There’s no need to go far but a beach retreat or a new town with facilities different to what you have at home can be a great way to break up a long holiday (especially if you have out-of-town guests) and is sure to be the shake-up everyone needs.
3. Cater for everyone
Your family (especially the extended version) is probably made up of different ages, stages, and preferences. It’s impossible for an entire family to love all the same things and have all the same needs, especially if you have young children in tow. To ensure a happy family holiday, each family member needs to feel that their needs are fulfilled at least some of the time. Choose a holiday and accommodation plan that can do just that. If your family is big and young, a self-catering cottage (like ours!) might be the perfect solution, allowing you to cook for and interact with your children on your own timetable and in ways that best suit them.
4. Unplug and focus on the now
Family holidays can be stressful enough without the added pressures of work and social media. Put your phone down, don’t switch on any screens, and decide to live for the moment. Focus on family activities. Family holidays should be about connecting and creating beautiful memories, not answering emails and trying to get the best picture for Facebook (though one or two family snaps are always a good idea for memory’s sake). Set a great example for your family by leaving your phone in your bag and heading out for a family walk or nature adventure which is a great way to relax and connect with your loved ones.
5. Give yourself a little me-time
Family holidays can be demanding and leave you feeling like you have little to no personal space. Be sure to fit in a little me-time along the way or select holiday accommodation that allows your family to be together while enjoying separate activities. A beach house is great for this kind of holiday – let the kids build sandcastles while you read a book on the sand, or choose a place that has a cleaning service so that, once you’ve whipped up the day’s main meal, you can relax knowing that the kitchen will be sparkling again before you know it.
Are you looking for self-catering accommodation to help make your next family holiday a success? Look no further than Ramsgate Beach Cottage. Secure, self-catering, surrounded by nature and yet close enough to a wide range of facilities, our haven by the sea is the perfect family retreat. Book our cottage for some quality time away and get started on those happy family memories!