Editor’s Note: This is first in a series on vacations.
Photo by Warren Talbot
Most of us don’t think we get enough vacation. And most of us are right.
The average American gets two weeks of vacation a year, and if one week is typically spent visiting relatives that leaves just one week for a true getaway. Not much compensation for 245+ days of work, is it?
As part of your overall lifestyle design, you can start working on long-term plans to give yourself more leisure time, such as training for a better job, paying off debt so you don’t have to work as many hours, or starting a side business with the expectation that it will turn into full-time income.
But what do you do NOW to get more vacation in your life?
There are plenty of opportunities to create vacation space within your everyday life. When you have a good balance of work and leisure, you will be more energized and better enjoy the time spent in both activities.
Here are some practical ways you can add more vacation into your everyday life:
- Join or start a Meetup group for your favorite hobby. You’ll meet new people who share the same interests and you’ll be able to regularly participate in your favorite activities, such as hiking, biking, knitting, wine tasting, making/listening to music, cooking, etc.
- Tour your own city (the “staycation”). Why wait for your relatives to visit to see your local landmarks, visit your museums, and play in your parks? Most newspapers or community blogs have a weekly list of local events to guide you.
- Indulge in a massage. No need to wait for vacation for this treat. Whether you like massages, manicures, or facials, scheduling some time to pamper yourself in the middle of your everyday life can be a huge pick-me-up. And if you have a willing partner or friend, you don’t even have to pay for it.
- Try meditation. Learning to quiet your mind is a vacation in itself. No to-do lists running through your head, or worry about work or home. Seattle Insight Meditation Society has free audio on how to learn to meditate.
- Break up your vacation into smaller trips. Instead of one big trip, why not plan several long weekends to replenish yourself throughout the year?
- Use alternate forms of transportation. If you normally travel by plane, try the car or a train for a change. This new way of seeing the world will make a trip (especially a repeat trip), more interesting.
- Exercise. When you get regular exercise, you sleep better and have more energy every day. By committing to regular exercise, you are giving yourself a little bit of vacation in every single day.
How do you get more vacation into your life? Please share in the comment section below.
Related Reading:
How to Unplug for Vacation (and for Every day)
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Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready for a year of travel with her husband.
About Betsy
I go outside – a short escape to the mountains: skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. I come back refreshed and alive.
I visit art museums with friends for fun and visual stimulation.
Great post Betsy.
My favorite "everyday" vacations are a yoga class, a spa visit with facial, a Thai massage, a visit to Huntington gardens (fabulous rose gardens, succulent garden, and Japanese garden, plus a museum), or my very favorite is a long hike in the Santa Monica mountains with views of the ocean followed by seafood and a beer.
Kate, isn’t it amazing how the outdoors can rejuvenate an overworked mind? I’ve been taking my daily walk at a local lake and I just feel incredibly energized when I get back to my desk. It’s like a mini vacation every day.
Paula, I loved seeing the Indian paintings with you earlier this year. To be able to imagine another culture, another time, another place – it definitely takes you away from your current space if only for a few hours. You have been my inspiration to get more of this kind of activity in my regular life.
Angela, having some great self-care activities can go a long way in making you feel pampered and restored. I’ve only recently started getting regular massages, and it has made a huge difference in my life. Why do we always put ourselves last when it comes to things like this? The benefit is so immediate and long-lasting.