Let your adventure begin

I leave in just a week for a trip to Oahu with some amazing friends. We have sun filled days ahead. But getting there is a lot of work. Most of us will work up until the last second we leave. For me I will work 4 12’s M-Th and a few evenings I have appointments. Can I leave it behind? what will it look like?

According to a blog I read recently: One study found that female participants were happier and more productive after a relaxing vacation. Another study revealed that if the vacation is relaxing, participants’ happiness levels will last two weeks after the trip is over before returning to back to their baseline level of happiness. If you want to boost health, happiness and productivity, take a relaxing vacation. The following tips will show you how.

1. Go somewhere where your nervous system can relax. In other words, when you think of a place that creates calm and peace in the mind, where do you go? Is it the beach or a national park? It’s probably not an amusement park with your mother-in-law, right? Find a balance between a place you and your kids (if you’re bringing them along) can enjoy. If you’re bringing the kids, it’s a must to ensure there are activities for the whole family. This allows you some downtime away from parenting.

2. Don’t over schedule it. This means stick to one location for a period of time (a few days or even the entire vacation). Only aim to do a few things each day, such as read by the pool, share a family meal, do something active, etc. The aim is to try not to do too much in one day. If you think it might be too much, then it probably is.

3. Savor the moment. So much of our lives are spent running from one thing to the next, and this is the time to slow down. Set an intention to savor your vacation time, foster connections with your family, and do things you might not normally do (get a massage, take a nap, etc.). This is likely an experience that will never happen exactly like this again. James Baraz, often says, “This is your life, don’t miss it.”

Research indicates that having pleasurable and relaxing experiences on your vacation, and savoring those experiences, are important for remaining happier for a longer period of time after a vacation.

4. Nurture your relationships. When we have unstructured time, we have a greater opportunity to connect, listen, show appreciation, be affectionate, and foster generosity with those we care about.

5. Be flexible. Nothing ever goes according to plan. If you notice you are getting tight around how you want something to go, see if you can practice forgiving and letting go. Can you rethink the situation with an open, flexible mind?

6. Take time for you. You may be sharing time and space with others, but see if you can carve out some me time every day to refill your well. You can go for a walk, take a swim, read, etc. If you take this time, you will have so much more to give to your life. I love audiobooks near the pool so I can people watch and not hold a book all day.

7. Tune into your natural rhythm. The instruction is to get back on your clock, not the workday clock. This means eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full, sleep when you need to sleep (yes, naps are included) and wake up when your body feels ready to wake up. Re-set and your mind and body will thank you.

My job schedule allows for a week off a month. I try to schedule fun trips with friends and family on those off weeks. I am learning to relax. I am learning that jobs go on without us, I am learning to be present, to breathe in the salty air, to linger watching the waves, to listen and to rest. These are hard things.. life has been so heavy these last few years. But we don’t know how many days we have, take time with your family/friends, you will not regret it….

Cheers ~Kristi