Planning Your Vacation

All work and no play makes.. well, it makes for too much darn work! Work is good for us. There's no doubt about that. It helps keep us healthy, busy, and growing. Much of the mental and personal growth I've done over the last decade has been due to work or work related issues. Work is very valuable to us as a culture and as individuals.

But when our lives become work, something inside us stops growing. Perhaps it is that sense of wonder developed as a young child exploring the world and seeing new things constantly. Perhaps it is that sense of connection we feel when we are out of our comfort zones and realize that we are indeed part of something greater.

Perhaps it is that ability to...

RELAX!

The Power of Relaxation

Relaxing can be tough work. Our minds get into a pattern where we expect certain levels of activity and stimulation depending on our daily routines. When I was teaching school, I would occasionally get a day off due to weather. These snow days were eagerly anticipated.

But all too often, I found myself a bit anxious during that unexpected time off. My mind had a difficult time switching gears and taking it easy. I was used to getting up, getting to school, and immediately interacting with a couple hundred of my closest middle schoolers. Getting my mind to take it easy with the sudden decrease in stimulation was tough!

The same is true for so many of us when we vacation. We know we need to vacation. We know we need to take a break from work and reconnect with our families. We know that turning off our analytical-workmind is necessary for healthy personal development. It's just so darn hard! Add to this the frustration built when you know what you want to do (relax) but have the hardest time doing it, and your much anticipated vacation becomes a challenging test of patience and endurance.

How do I enjoy my vacation with my mind always in high gear?

Good question. Here's a bit of advice I've developed over the years of vacationing with a mind that seems stuck in high gear.

• Plan your vacation ahead of time. In my much younger years, I would cruise around in my bus just wandering the country looking for adventure. This sort of travelling just doesn't work for me anymore. Not only do I have family I need to entertain, my mind is constantly looking for engagement. A well-planned vacation helps keep things moving and stimulates the mind.
• Look for short adventures once you reach your destination. Cruises use this method perfectly. Once you get to a port, they offer several exciting excursions that take you deep into the location you're visiting.

• Plan each day. Yes, this seems a bit excessive, but if you're a type A personality that needs constant engagment, a plan will help! Would you rather fight yourself, forcing yourself to relax (which doesn't work) or would you rather be fully engaged and at ease with your adventure?

Not everyone needs to plan their vacation in such a structured manner. But for those of us who thrive off of being engaged and need this structure for our mental health, a well-planned vacation makes the difference between a vacation enjoyed and a vacation tolerated.