Vacation Mindset = Mindfulness

This is the time of year where we are on spring break vacations, planning the summer ?? and fall ?? break vacations and some of us are already thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ve been thinking about how the rest of my year is playing out - when I’ll be home and when I’ll be traveling.?

Sometimes the vacation planning alone can create more stress before we begin the adventure. Hotel or house reservations, driving directions, packing a full family into the car and financing the whole trip have us stressed no matter how much we are looking forward to that time.

Last week, I was on a once in a lifetime vacation to the Galapagos Islands. It was an incredible experience to see birds, lizards, tortoises, iguanas, plants and landscapes found nowhere else in the world. The archipelago of 13 major islands and 7 smaller islands derives from ancient volcanic action and although humans have come and gone in these special places, the endemic species have survived our disruption. It’s even been named a UNESCO Heritage site.

Although I was incredibly excited about this vacation, it was quite the process to unplug from the work pace I had created for myself. Writing columns in advance, preparing the podcasts to go online, and other tasks had my full focus.

Then, I realized I had to put my own advice to use! I needed to practice mindfulness, which I happily came to realize is also a vacation mindset.

Sound interesting?

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and focusing on where you are and what is in front of you. Just what you should do on vacation, right? Right!

Consider what makes you feel like you are on vacation. Is it realizing you hadn’t thought about work all day? Leaving your phone behind and not noticing? Not driving to a single music lesson or sports practice?

It’s different for all of us, but the peace that comes from being fully present is what most of us are seeking.

So how do you do this? Here are a few ideas to help get your mindset ready for vacation.

1. Bring a dedicated journal for the vacation. Before you even leave, write about where you are going, who is going with you and what you plan to do. This will begin the process of focusing on what’s there waiting for you instead of worrying about what you are leaving behind. Then document daily memories of WWWW - who, what, when and where. Use bullets. Narrate. Draw. Do whatever makes you happy!
2. Plan dedicated down time to relax. Sometimes, we make the mistake of over-scheduling our vacations. Guilty! Make time for some fun reading, napping, or just watching the sun rise and set. Just be and truly disconnect. Listening to an audio book or a favorite playlist helps you disconnect from your surroundings.
3. Create a special time each day where you treat your body with care. Meditate, stretch, breathe and be kind to your body while on vacation. The stress of our daily lives leaves our bodies in fight and flight mode most of our waking hours. Training your body to relax while you are on vacation is a practice that can carry on at home and provide a positive habit.
4. Spend one on one time with your fellow travelers. If you are traveling with your children or other families, carve out time to be present with each person. Your companions will remember those moments when you made them a priority and so will you.
5. Try something new. Visit something really new or really old that inspires awe. Adults and children alike remember moments of awe and inspiration. Visit an overlook on the drive to your destination. Watch the sunset together. Visit an ancient cavern or visit a museum of natural history. Find something none of you have ever done and do it together.?

I wish you a beautiful Easter week full of rebirth. Spring flowers, budding trees and green grass remind us of the cycles of life and the continual renewal of life.

Enjoy yours!