How I Avoid the Social Pressures on My Vacations

Something as rejuvenating as travel can be exhausting sometimes just because of a few silly reasons, one of which is social compulsions. While browsing for ‘things to do’ at my travel destination, I usually get puzzled by the ocean of information available just for one cozy little place in the mountains. I always want to take a vacation to relax at a calm place in the hills or by the beachside, but the internet makes me lose sleep over the things I cannot do if I don't step out of my resort. Or if I don't want to leave the riverside, someone from my friends would call me up and tell me to get up and get a life! Dude, I do have a life, but I want to live it on my own terms. Isn't it acceptable to you? Well, after years of traveling around India and abroad, I have learned just one thing- If I have to find my peace of mind, I have to travel on my own terms, not by those set by the other travelers.

A solo trip 

Going solo is the best way to fulfill my fantasies and go around places at my own pace. No one is there to disturb my peace, tell me to get up early or late in the morning, have a drink at 5 pm, smoke up with people just for the sake of it, or have dinner with the hostel mates. I am not an anti-social person, but I want to be away from the chaos of my urban life for a few days whenever I am out of the city. I do not want to be burdened by the thoughts of uploading the pictures on Facebook or Instagram. I talk to people when I want to on my solo trip, but I also have the liberty to stay alone for as long as I want. 

The best part about going solo and staying in a hostel is that I get to meet a lot of like-minded people. I have made several friends on such vacations where I did not even talk to them properly. I just happened to have a word with such people for a couple of minutes, found a connection, exchanged numbers, enjoyed my trip on my own, and then contacted them after I came to the city. I know this sounds weird, but many people like me want to enjoy their lone time on their vacations and connect with people once they feel obliged to do that without any social pressure.

Avoid the coercions 

Another idea to avoid taking the strong-arm tactics of my friends and family is to avoid following the list of ‘things to do' and just do whatever I want. No one can force me to do something unless I let them do it. I have seen people complain that a friend in their group wanted to have vegetarian food at a strictly vegetarian restaurant all the time while the other members were comfortable with any option available. Such a fuss created by someone may become a nuisance if it goes overboard. For instance, someone in my group of friends may want to go by flight, but I want to take a road trip. So I would suggest taking Self-Driven Cars on Rent in Delhi, just because I find Car rental in Delhi cheaper and more fun than traveling in an airplane. However, if I go in a group, I may have to agree to many things I just don’t like. 

Moreover, there are certain things that people are expected to do at every place they go, but it is me who has to decide whether I want to follow the list or not. I prefer not talking about my trips to my friends at all. Whenever someone inquire about me what I did on the journey, I just say it went great and then make an excuse of work or calls that I have to take. It helps me escape the lies I might have to say if I keep on talking about my vacation, which I don't want to do. Avoiding social pressures these days is not an easy thing to do, but I have learned to do it over time and it has made my life much more peaceful than earlier.