Why you NEED to take a couple trip...like now!

Sarah here, and today I'm here to talk about the importance of taking couple trips! Now by couple trip I don't mean multiple couples, I mean just you and your spouse, no children, no obligations, just the two of you somewhere that is NOT at home getting to enjoy each other.

Why is taking a couple trip so important? Well, because life kinda sucks! It's true! The daily grind of work, parenting, cleaning, cooking leaves one feeling a little lost. EVERY time I take a trip with my husband I feel so much lighter and younger it really is magic! Being a mom has completely overtaken my identity. I am Rachel and Jackson's mom, and have been for the past eight years. Every day is feeding them (Constantly! I mean how much can they really eat???) taking them to school, doing their laundry, helping them with school, trying to teach them to be decent human beings some day. All this has made me forget who I am. When I am lucky enough to take a trip away with my husband, I get to REMEMBER who I am, and who my spouse is!

We are reminded of who we are and why we fell in love in the first place. Kyle and I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world. We have been on several cruises to Mexico, the Bahamas, Canada. We've been to England, Scotland, Ireland, and several places here in Utah. That being said, you really don't need to cross oceans to go on a trip with your spouse. A couple trip can be just the two of you, leaving kids with grandparents or even friends, and just staying at a hotel nearby will work wonders for your feeling of self worth and rekindling your relationship with your spouse.

Here are some couple trip guidelines that you should follow if you want to be able to enjoy the experience to the fullest! The first guideline is to be prepared! I can't stress this enough! Before you leave make sure you've left no stone un-turned. If you have children, make sure you have packed them ANYTHING they will need, left numbers for doctors, insurance information, ALL of it. Even if you're just leaving them with Grandma for a night or two, being prepared will help you and your secondary caregiver to be able to relax and you won't be constantly worried about them. Now I don't necessarily have this problem when I travel without my children, but I know that several couples (mainly moms) that really struggle leaving their kids, even for a night. Now I'm going to be a little blunt right now but...you kinda need to get over it. They will be okay, promise. It is good for everybody involved to have a little break from each other. You need a break from you kids (and DON'T feel guilty about that) and honestly your kids need a break from you. If I was on a trip and my spouse spent the whole time just fretting about the children, think how important and loved I'd be feeling...not. So for you're own enjoyment and peace of mind, just be prepared before you go. Make sure you bring a little cash with you just in case! There was this whole Euro debacle the last time we went to Ireland, which I won't get into here, but just know that you should ALWAYS bring cash with you.

The next guideline for a successful couple trip is to not over-plan your trip. Say you are going to Cancun for a couple of days. Now there is A LOT to see and do there, there's Chitzen Itza and other ruins, cenotes to swim in and explore, the ocean calls you to snorkel,

scuba dive, and just swim in, there are adventure parks and shopping and a whole myriad of other activities to partake in. However, don't plan on doing it all! You won't be able to fit everything in and if you have different activities planed for every minute of the day you will just get burned out and end up not having as much fun as you could be. Remember the whole point you went on this trip is to relax and reconnect with yourself and your spouse. Plan maybe one or two activities at the most per day and spend the rest of the hours just enjoying each other. Walk on the beach, watch movies in your hotel room, eat at some exotic restaurant, just let yourself relax and enjoy your spouse (wink, wink) yall know what I'm talking about. Now I don't mean to let yourselves get bored, though a little boredom won't kill you, but it's all about balance.

Another guideline to follow, is to disconnect. ABSOLUTELY disconnect from social media! In fact little life tip, NEVER post on social media when you are on vacation, no need to alert anyone that your house is empty. If possible just delete all social media apps from your phone, you really don't need to be checking Facebook while you are on a couple trip. Pretend it's 1994 and just talk to each other. Don't answer the phone except for whoever is watching you children and then resist the temptation to keep calling and checking up on the kids. One phone call a day is sufficient. Remember it is okay for them to miss you a little bit, and even for you to miss them. You'll all be reminded of your love for each other and be all the more happy to see each other again.

Take pictures! Especially with you in them! You are constantly taking pictures of your children, and it's okay to take pictures of yourself. Take SO many selfies of the two of you, and take pictures of the beauty around you.

You don't have to spend a lot of money!!! A couple trip can be as simple and cheap as you want it to be. Don't want to spend a lot of dinner? Make a picnic. Don't want to have to pay to travel anywhere? Stay somewhere near you. Don't want to spend money on activities like movies or shopping? Than don't do those things! Be creative in what you decide to do together, and I know that sounded dirty and those things count too, but I mean that you really don't have to go out and spend a lot of money to enjoy a trip together.

So there you have it, Sarah's guidelines for a successful couple trip! Now do yourself a favor and just plan something! You don't need a special event like an anniversary or birthday to justify it. You are worth it, you deserve it, and so does your marriage. ENJOY each other, and enjoy being able to relax and be yourself, and I promise, you won't regret it!