Vacant for Vacation or Vacuous?
Three steps away from simply good holiday
Have you ever returned from a holiday just to realise you need some time off to pick yourself up? And if not yet in holiday mode (imagine that some governments don’t free people up when the best weather is hitting but wait until it becomes an absolute nightmare so everyone gets a plane to run away from the gorgeous well-watered greenery) do you feel like that after a weekend?
Well… simple, right? If you get into lazy mode so deeply it can be hard to switch back and start to work again. And you know, just as with electronic thermometers, no instructions to follow…
Well, think about it again — it’s quite illogical.
If you sleep well at night, you shouldn’t wake up groggy and fatigued, right? If so, you probably travelled away from home and couldn't settle in a strange bed, stayed on a phone until late, or couldn’t bear the moonlight or noise (I assume you don’t have children to ruin nearly every “single” night of your present life…)
The same is true for holidays and weekends. If upon return to reality, all you think is “it wasn’t enough”, there is a good chance that something didn’t go as it should.
So if the whole point of the weekends and holidays is to get plenty of energy and inspiration for the days to follow, why isn’t it a straightforward ‘easy-peasy’?
Sure, I don’t work as a holiday agent so I won’t play a holiday expert and I am the last to set any rules — who would like to follow any rules on holiday, right?
But, since “holiday” is my favourite topic for contemplation (less frequently accomplished) and I belong to that hallucinating group of romantics — you know ‘return to nature’ and so on, you might actually say “why not?!, say what you have to say!”
What about being yourself?
I assume that, unlikely some of my friends, you haven’t already moved to a spot that gives you the holiday experience every single day of your life (in which case you would have already stopped reading!). Also, you might not be a typical representative of the Gen Z generation, prioritising trendy spots, ideal for capturing stunning Instagram photos. If you’re a skinny-wallet type I can sympathise with, you might be staying at your relatives’ but if you get a chance to get somewhere called a real “holiday”, it might be the cheapest location from that cheapest airline we are all thinking about.
Remember, no shame in “Russian Roulette option”…
Being able to get away is already a valuable experience in and of itself, and every place has something great to see, right?
Of course.
But here is a thing: a holiday is a form of treating ourselves. Let’s say you want to treat yourself to a nice dinner, so you go to the first place you see and order the cheapest thing on the menu…?
To really be happy, you need to know what you want and then get it.
So, to enjoy your holiday, you need to choose the form, company and destination that you really like. Only because everyone else goes on “all-inclusive”, it doesn’t indicate that your choice of an old village house is a boring option.
And the other way round, because everyone around you globe-trots, it doesn’t mean that you are dull going after an easiness of not moving too far from a pool for 5 meals a day (I’m counting desserts) for however long you can go on without choosing a paid trip to actually go and see something.
What about preparation?
I know, it doesn’t sound right… — reserve time to prepare for “time off”. But think about it this way — you are preparing to launch a new project at work, you are going ahead with preparation for the arrival of a baby, visiting friends… — why not prepare for the precious holiday?
I know… — it already took you ages to book flights, hotels, transfers, and packing is still ahead of you.
What about getting your body and mind ready?
No! I don’t mean getting into shape — too late to start sculpting that gorgeous beach-ready silhouette.
As you get to your holiday destination, the body needs a few days to simply recover and return to its regular state following such a race. Just after that, we’re able to truly relax and enjoy. According to expert studies, our body needs around a week to reach a peak of relaxation. And if your vacation is a week-long, you aren’t able to recover and then relax enough to feel a rush of strength and inspiration.
Dr. Megan Jones Bell, a clinical psychologist, recommends getting ready to relax before you leave for the airport. And of course, I am not saying (that would follow too strictly what she recommends) that you need to get into meditation rituals, start journaling about what you hope for or create a personalised itinerary so you can ensure you get to see everything you want to while away.
But what about getting “a bit” mentally ready to rest? Saves your precious holiday…
What about having a real rest, rather than pretending to have one?
All you’d see if you stopped by any tourist spot today would be people posing for photos, snapping shots, or recording videos. The funniest thing is observing friends or couples make scenes about bad snaps or rushing for a Wi-Fi to post on social media about their perfect holiday. On the other hand, it’s not easy to find someone who can put down their phone or other electronic device long enough to enjoy the atmosphere of a place.
But isn’t that how things should be?
We’re so worried about “saving our memories” and sharing them with others that we forget to create them.
What actually helps you relax is switching off, disappearing from your day-to-day location or social media, observing everything down to the tiniest detail, and feeling the environment. Sara Clemence, author of “Away & Aware: A Field Guide to Mindful Travel,” recommended:
“Mindful travel is about disconnecting from your devices so that you can connect with your destination.”
That’s when true relaxation occurs. And once you’ve connected with the scenery, you may snap a photo to remember it!
Not everyone can afford to stay off social media for a month, though it sounds blissful. But picture even a week-long digital detox...
So, to all those who are vacating themselves for vacation, don’t look so vacuous… What about naturally unguided preparation, engagement, and true relaxation?