Have you ever gone on vacation and then said you needed a vacation after your vacation? Every year people complain about the same thing. Everyone has heard someone say this at one time or another and chances are you've said it yourself. The purpose of vacation is to be able to escape for a while, clear your head and break the daily routine. . It's supposed to be something relaxing and fun, an opportunity for families to spend time together or, if you're single, an opportunity to unwind. But every year, many Americans turn their vacations into more work than… well, work! Planning a vacation can be stressful. Arranging your flight, then booking a hotel and renting a car are all stressful. What if the plane is late? What if they don't have my car reservation? What will the hotel look like? Shirley was like that. As a lawyer who ran the legal department of a leading company, every vacation she took turned into a nightmare. Everyone in the family seemed stressed before, during and after the vacation. And so does everyone at work. His secretary, who had to make all the arrangements, was literally shaking in her shoes during her boss's annual vacation. The family found it stressful to do everything they did during the holidays. But Shirley wanted to make sure the whole family had a good time on vacation and didn't want for anything. As the children grew up, they all wanted different things. Shirley's vacation ended up costing thousands of dollars, but no one was having a good time. Shirley's secretary, however, had a different idea when it came to vacations. A single mother, she was...... middle of paper...... matter. Make a day of it. Be sure to bring sunscreen if it's hot and find a shady place to sit. Some parks have barbecue grills that you can use and barbecue food, but when you are on vacation you may not feel like cooking. Some parks also have play equipment for children to climb on to allow them to release some excess energy. The family picnic can involve active games like frisbee or contemplative games like cloud watching. It can be what you make of it. One thing the family picnic is not and it is a stressful time. If you really want to relax on your vacation, plan a family picnic for a day. This will bring the family closer together. And even if you don't have a family, you'll enjoy a peaceful, stress-free day. The picnic is a win-win for everyone - with or without family members.