The 6 Vacation Languages

By Matt Woolley, Ph.D.

Do you often feel like you need a vacation after your vacation? When you vacation with family or friends do you often feel that everyone is having a good time except you? The problem may be that you’re speaking the wrong language, the wrong vacation language that is. In order to reduce stress and increase happiness on your summer vacation this year I suggest learning to speak your own, personal, vacation language.

By knowing your vacation language, and that of your partner, kids, and friends you can speak the languages that make every vacation a winner. You see, what feels like a vacation to one person doesn’t necessarily feel like a vacation to another. Some people feel the need to relax, others may want to dive into something new and exciting, still others may feel the need to increase their knowledge and intellect. Any and all of these are great, but if you’re stuck on a vacation that doesn’t speak your language you’re likely to feel upset, worn-out, and resentful. You can fix that, permanently, by knowing your vacation language and that of the significant others in your life.

Below you will find the 6 vacation languages that people speak. As you read through them try to picture yourself on that type of vacation. The language(s) that you speak will be the language(s) that feels right as you visualize yourself engaging in it. Our vacation language will likely change depending on the needs we have in life at the time we are vacationing. It is also likely that you will want to speak more than one language on a vacation. You may want to speak multiple languages per vacation to optimize the experience.

What about the others that we are vacationing with? Nothing is worse than arguing about what to do on a vacation. It takes only a small bit of planning in order to make sure that everyone’s vacation language is being spoken. This will entail talking with your partner prior to the vacation about what you both need. It may be that you divide up one vacation into multiple languages, or it may mean that you plan more than one vacation so that you’re both getting to speak your language this year. If you learn to speak each other’s vacation language then get ready for a great time!

Let’s take a look at the 6 vacation languages. Remember to visualize yourself engaging in each and then evaluate which language(s) feels best at this time in your life. That’s your vacation language!

Languages:
1. Sleep & Relax: This language focuses on the perfect nap, laying about, getting a massage, dreaming in a hammock. Rest, rest, rest!
2. Unstructured Time: This language focuses on having no plan, sitting at the beach, leisure reading, and wandering. If it sounds good do it, if not, don’t.
3. Adrenaline Junkie: This is the language of extreme sports, theme parks, excitement seeking, roller coasters, a very physical time. Get ready to spend some energy!
4. Learn & Explore: This is the language of museums, historical sites, reading histories & biographies. You’re going to finally learn all about space travel, gourmet cooking, or U.S. history you little professor you!
5. Novelty: This language focuses on having new experiences, new places to travel and new foods to try. You’re putting credits in the life experiences bank and checking things off your bucket list!
6. Projects: Beware! Nobody likes this guy very much so you may be speaking this vacation language to yourself. This language focuses on staying home and getting projects done, chores and more chores. You’ll feel great, but you may be taking this vacation alone more often than not!

There you go! Which vacation language do you speak? How about your partner, kids, or friends? Start speaking your true vacation language this summer and get ready for the best vacation of your life!

If you have a great vacation story to share based on speaking your personal vacation language I’d love to hear about it and maybe I’ll share it on the show. Email stories to Dr. Matt Woolley at ask@theshrinkshow.com

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