Hang Onto That Summer Vibe

Labor Day weekend. Summer’s last hurrah.

That final picnic, trip to the lake, lazy afternoon reading a book. Even the last self-indulgent dessert before getting back on track with work, school, and healthy eating.

Or is it?

There’s a reason that all those things that are so wonderful about vacation are part of nearly everyone’s itinerary – they feel good! There’s something about vacation that gives us permission to be a little self-indulgent and allows us to break some of the rules we usually impose on ourselves

So, what’s to say that you have to close the door on those things once the “real world” shows up on the calendar? What if you built in a little “vacation reminder” at various times throughout the year to give you a bit of the boost that you get from the self-care you build into vacation?

Making sure that you replenish yourself, restore your energy, and treat yourself gently is not something that can – or should – wait for those short weeks of summer and then be forgotten. If you spend the rest of the year emptying yourself out until you are depleted, you may not be able to sufficiently fill your tank in a few short weeks in the summer.

That means that you’ll be operating at less than full capacity during the rest of the year. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, does it?

Building in some vacation reminders in the form of self-care moments can make all the difference in keeping you engaged, enthusiastic and energetic even through the demands of your typical business schedule.

Try these mini-vacation reminders to keep yourself going when the going gets tough.

• Have one lazy morning – silence the alarm and wake when your body is ready
• ?Indulge in a decadent dessert…without worrying about counting the calories
• ?Read something purely for pleasure
• ?Soak in a fragrant tub
• ?Go somewhere to just sit and enjoy the natural beauty
• ?Get up to see the sunrise
• ?Buy yourself that special shampoo or lotion
• ?Spend unscheduled time with your family – no agenda, just together time

Vacation is not about the amount of time or money you spend. It’s about the mindset that self-care and personal pleasure is an important part of nurturing you as a whole person – one who is living the best life they can in both their business and at home.

Hang on to those vacation memories. Build a little reminder in every so often, especially if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or depleted or if you start wishing for a get-away, it won’t take much to bring back that lift that you were feeling on your last vacation.

And that’s a good thing – for you and everybody else.

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