Dear Dr. Leigh: I love vacations. What I don’t love is the preparation—I get overwhelmed by booking, packing, getting to the transportation, making connections, traveling to and from….how do I get control over this?
Dr. Leigh: The easiest way to keep from being overwhelmed: Do NOT try and multitask! Studies* have shown that multitasking is inefficient and can generate more stress. In addition, doing one thing at a time makes each obstacle easier to handle. Same basic principle as “one day at a time” for people overcoming bigger obstacles in life.
*Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance – David Meyer PhD as well as many others