The Restorative Power of Vacation

My blog will be taking a short hiatus for two weeks while I take a vacation. I’m going to Italy for my 35th birthday. I’ve been planning this vacation for ages and I’m so excited for it to finally be here.

I am a firm believer in retreat and vacation. I read a study a while ago, so I’m sorry I can’t reference it, that said people are happier with their job when they have an upcoming vacation to plan! Doing good work is, well, good, but your soul wasn’t meant to be stuck in 8-to-5 every day. Use your vacation time and do something to renew and refresh yourself!

Even if you can’t do two weeks in Italy or somewhere else you’ve always wanted to see, you could take a long weekend and go camping, or plan a day off mid-week with a few friends and visit a museum or gallery when it isn’t so crowded, or just take a drive out in the country and see what new discoveries you make. It’s thrilling to visit a new city or new country, but you can be a tourist in your own town, too. If you have two weeks of vacation with your job, you can take a day off here or there, or take it all in one chunk, but be sure to take it!

By vacating your normal routine, you open up your senses for discovery. You notice things more vividly in an unfamiliar place, which is one reason I always feel more awake and energized on vacation.

Start planning your next vacation now! (I’ve got four more vacations in mind over the next 16 months!) Make a list of all the places you want to see, both domestic and international. Decide what you can afford in 2013 and pick your destination accordingly. Tell your friends what you’re planning; maybe they’ve been there or know a good resource and can help you with the details. Slowly put the pieces together and save a little money every month. Put a photo of your destination in your wallet with your debt or credit card so you remember every time you go to spend money that you’re trying to save for your trip. Every little bit helps. Celebrate when you book your lodging, when you buy your airfare, and when you have your target savings met. Then go, take lots of photos, and have a great time!

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off