I just booked a vacation, the kind of vacation I’ve never booked before… a week-long all-inclusive spa getaway. I have almost always gone in search of something; adventure, creativity, exploration (of oneself and the world), romance, culture, learning… but now that I know all of this is available on my own doorstep, I feel less of a need for vacations and strangely I feel like I need to need this kind of vacation!
This got me thinking and in a recent poll I did in my own head, it seems that a lot of people get to a certain point, let’s call it a tipping point, and decide they need a vacation. The ten main reasons for going on vacation, according to the aforementioned survey, are the following;
1) Need to get away from work/life stress
2) To relax
3) To spend quality time with loved ones
4) Habit: “We always run away this time of year.”
5) A break from the norm
6) A new experience/different culture
7) For fun – nightlife, a sporting event or just an adventure.
8) For sunbathing/tanning (so you can feel happy/look healthy)
9) It’s on my bucket list: “I’ve always wanted to go there.”
10) Facebook shows that everyone else is doing it and I need some new photos to make everyone jealous.
The funny thing about vacations is that sometimes booking them seems to add stress. For example, people often book their two-week vacation and then spend months telling others (before and after) that they can’t afford anything else because they just paid for their vacation or have been on it (which of course must include a brand new wardrobe and toiletries). There are also those who worry about their work, either before they leave, desperately trying to tie up ALL the missing ends (they cannot delegate), or while they’re away, or when they return to hundreds of emails. This kind of thinking is what makes some believe they can’t take a break.
So how can you get the same results that vacations give you without going on vacation?
Here are my top tips for getting away from it all, without really escaping:
1) Make the most of your free time: Don’t come home on a Friday night and eat dinner in front of the TV. Plan a date night; A quick drink after work or a dinner date doesn’t affect your downtime, it’s part of it!
2) Schedule a couple of hours on the weekend or a weeknight to do something for yourself. Be creative, read a quiet book in a cafe or just sit in a warm bath. Make sure other people know this is happening and that it’s for you…not to get away from them, but to reconnect with yourself. Similarly, schedule quality time with loved ones – a trip to soccer practice or grocery shopping with your significant other doesn’t count!
3) Think hard and don’t really notice the rain… and share that with others, smile at strangers.
4) Have a theme night at home. Mexico, Italy, France, Asia… get everyone to bring a plate with unusual fruits and vegetables, dress up, find some songs, decorate the dining room, rent a relevant movie… bring the culture to you.
5) Once a month, turn a weekend into an adventure: hop on a random bus, put your finger on a map, make a list of places you want to go and can get to, brainstorm in a hat and choose one, or just take a stroll and get off the beaten track. The key here is to be excited about what you might discover.
6) Night Out With The Girls: Put on a little faux tan and listen to summer tunes while getting glam.
7) Focus on what you have: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, grateful people are much happier than those who always chase something else. Keep a gratitude journal every other day and reflect as needed.
8) Relax: meditate, swim, take a yoga/mindfulness class, lie back…whatever works for you, do it…and do it often.
9) Really look at things around you with wonder: See things differently and you will find many wonders in your world.
10) Be Silly: Letting your hair down isn’t just for kids or when it comes to alcohol. Go dance in the kitchen and sing in the street!