Blog
Vacations
Making Your Vacation Work!
3 Okt 2021
Author: Lote Steina
In a previous blog post we explored the merits of taking vacations. To sum up – they are good for your health, happiness, motivation, productivity, and relationships. Vacations are the rare thing practically everyone in the developed world supports – if you want your workers productive, families strong, and societies resilient, giving people time-off is essential.
All seems to be fine as the majority of people take paid days off every year. This, however, doesn’t mean that they always reap the aforementioned benefits. You see, not all vacations are created equal. In fact, there may be some that leave you more drained and exhausted than at the start.
This blog post will aid you in crafting a perfect vacation that benefits you, your family, your business, and the society around you. I won’t be suggesting any destinations, of course. We all have our own circumstances and preferences.
Instead I’ll highlight the main organizational things to bear in mind while planning your vacation and during it to make the most from your dog days.
To tailor my advice to each according to their needs and wants, I’ll highlight the main things to keep in mind for both those who stay home and those who head out for their breaks.
Making Your Best “Staycation”
Just to be clear – in this blog post I use the word “staycation” to describe a vacation that is spent at your place without much travelling (only around the town/city and its vicinity). If this sounds like your next vacation, take the following steps to profit from all the positive effects vacations have on our minds and bodies:
- Disrupt your regular routines. Living in the same, neverending, and repetitive cycle has a negative impact on our motivation and overall happiness. That’s why we have weekends. They let us escape our everyday routines (sleep, work, eat, workout) and thus keep us sane. Vacations serve the same purpose, but on a larger scale. They don’t just add some change in your life. They also allow you to reevaluate your usual routines and see what doesn’t work and requires changing.
- Put your brain to work. This doesn’t mean that you have to jump back in a spreadsheet on your first day off. Sure - rest and switch off from your everyday responsibilities, but do it with a good book or movie. Maybe play that video game you didn’t have time for while at work. Or why not take a Skillshare class? The possibilities to engage and challenge your brain in fun and interesting ways are endless.
- Keep your body active. We’ve already written about the importance of exercise on our moods. Your vacations are there to help you with that. Go for regular hikes, exercise each morning, cycle around the town and explore on foot. Your activities don’t have to be strenuous. Just keep yourself moving. Regardless of the activity, I would advise doing it in nature or surrounded by some sort of greenery for extra health benefits.
- Unplug from everything. Completely unplugging yourself from work goes without saying. Try to have days without social media, TV, news, or all screens at once. Replace those activities with time spent outdoors.
- Treat yourself. You have worked long and hard the previous months dealing with both regular daily tasks and new goals. Some reward should be in order. You don’t have to go on a pricey trip abroad. All too often the things we need are right here. And if it’s your vacation, make it feel like one by doubling or even tripling your “treat yourself” budget category. Eat out, go to events, spend time with friends - money shouldn’t be a concern while relaxing.
Truth be told, our vacations may never be the same as they were before the pandemic. Even now there are still parts of the world that are locked down.
As this may not be the last time we are stuck indoors, here are some tips for those taking vacations when leaving your humble abode is impossible or strictly limited. If there is some overlap, it only goes to show why these things are that important.
- Keep yourself moving. We are all animals - plain and simple. We like movement and exercise. Even if you are caged in for a while, keep yourself active by exercising. Otherwise you’ll be on a one way street towards depression. Remember - a healthy mind in a healthy body!
- Have screen-free moments. Sure, there may be precious little to do while stuck inside. But trust me - you don’t want screens dominating every waking second of your life. That’s another sure way to mental exhaustion. Instead spend an hour or two just laying down with your own imagination. You might be surprised at what your brain is capable of.
- Stay social. If there is something screens are good for during a lockdown, it’s keeping in touch with friends and loved ones. Talk, play games online, visit virtual museums together - the digital world is your oyster. Just share that experience with somebody.
- Get things done. Sure - vacations are for rest. But if you are stuck at home, why not do something that can also boost your morale? Deep clean your place, rearrange your books, fix the tap - whatever has lingered on your to-do list for too long. Getting things done will surely boost your motivation and overall life satisfaction.
- And, of course, treat yourself! Even if you are stuck at home, there are plenty of ways to get that special feeling. Order food, games, and any other stuff that might spark joy or keep you engaged.
Your Best Vacation
The good thing about staying put for your vacation is that it requires very little effort. This, in turn, allows one to focus exclusively on relaxation and fulfilment. If you are planning to go a bit further away for your vacation things become a bit more complicated.
But no worries. Cover these five bases and you’ll be good to go:
- Plan, plan, plan! Do your research and understand what attractions, sights, restaurants etc. are available where you are going. There may be some of you who like a degree of spontaneity in your trips and that’s ok. However, if you want to get the best experience, avoid long lines, and find the best local gems, research is essential. Planning is particularly important for those travelling with friends or family. You don’t want to end up arguing about where you should while sitting by a traffic light. Remember - you went on a vacation to escape stress, not create more of it.
- Know the local rules and regulations. You don’t have to study the Constitution of the USA to visit the country. However, a general understanding of where you are going and how you should behave is advisable. So if you are a German, don’t speed down American highways like it's an autobahn and avoid drinking beer with your 19-year old friends. Knowing the local rules is particularly relevant now with pandemic related restrictions being changed practically every week. Like with the previous point, even a cursory knowledge of local rules and regulations will save you from a lot of unneeded anxiety.
- Mentally prepare yourself for something going wrong. It is almost certain that something will not go according to plan. Contrary to some who say that this is why you shouldn’t plan at all, I would argue that tempering expectations, being aware that something unexpected will happen, and building your resilience towards it is the way to go.
- Prepare well in advance. Start packing a few days in advance. Have a list of all the things you will need based on your planned activities, the duration of your trip, whether conditions etc. Trust me - packing frantically the night before or the same morning never ends well. You just end up being over-stimulated and frustrated with others, not to mention short of a couple of important things.
- Don’t forget to have some excitement. Active vacations that challenge you and your companions usually end up being the most memorable ones. They also help to create stronger bonds and relationships. Of course, if you are a mother of 4 who just wants to sleep by the pool, that’s also fine.
In reality most vacations are a bit of all three types outlined above. Yes, we travel a bit, but we also relax in our town and neighborhood. And when it all just gets too much, we don’t even need a pandemic to shut ourselves off from the entire world.
Regardless of what your vacation will look like, keep the principles outlined above in mind. That way you’ll have a fun and enriching vacation whose positive effects will sustain you for the months ahead.
Commit to it! BePrime!
Commit to it! BePrime!