6 Ways To Have Vacation That Lasts A Lifetime
Making life pleasantly inescapable
It’s been more than half a year since I last visited my birthplace and family. For eight months I am restrained at home, self-isolating, being careful, concerned. I want no contact with any virus that threatens my well-being, and I don’t want you to be at risk because of my own actions either.
It sucks losing our freedom due to circumstances beyond our control.
No wonder why I feel so tired and frustrated, surrounded by four walls, unable to escape. I work, study, eat and sleep within the confines of my small apartment. The daily routine is draining me, killing my mood and imagination, having me daydream of sandy beaches, scorching suns and blue waters.
I need some proper vacation, not a one-hour excursion to the supermarket every day Saturday.
Much like the Queen, I want to break free!
Maybe you feel the same way, in your self-isolation bubble. If you do, stop and pack your luggage. We are going on vacation.
We don’t need to go far
A person dear to my heart recently told me:
What matters is living our every day as if it is a vacation, not waiting for those few days each year to escape the monotony
She’s right, of course. Living a life that is exciting and fulfilling is way more pleasurable than feeling miserable until that change of scenery, once or twice a year. Each and every day can be unique, packed with as many experiences and feelings as possible to make it not just bearable, but enjoyable.
There will be times where circumstances will not allow for a trip to a different country or continent. It is important to create the right conditions so that we make the most out of our days. In the end, this will feel like a vacation that lasts forever, because a vacation is the feelings of pleasure and satisfaction we get out of our life experiences.
Good news is you can transform a daily grind to look and feel more like a vacation! Here’s what you can do to make that happen:
Try out new things
If you’re stuck doing the same things over and over again, try introducing some novelty into your life. Even a change as simple as waking up one hour earlier or later than usual can have a great impact on an otherwise mundane lifestyle. After starting small, you can expand the range of new activities to include things like changing environments or completely reordering your daily schedule.
The point is, you should invest in new activities that will help you escape the rut and recharge your drained batteries. Gradually introducing novel (or even unusual) habits and activities to your life will spice things up and keep you entertained and interested in living to the fullest.
Meet new people
Think about the main reasons why you want to travel to and explore new places. Meeting new people is one of the reasons that crossed your mind, isn’t it? It’s true: there aren’t many things that are as invigorating as getting to interact with interesting people during your escapes.
If travelling to a different country is not an option, don’t fret. You can still join local activities, online groups and events, and get to socialize with people full of fresh ideas and mindsets. You will soon notice their energy leaving a mark on you as well, especially if you interact with someone from a country or background different than yours.
Explore your surroundings
If you think changing countries or continents is what makes an enjoyable vacation, think again! Truth is, you don’t have to travel far to have a great time.
Visiting neighboring areas, or exploring little undiscovered city gems will activate your vacation mode in a flash. If you’re living in a small town that you know like the back of your hand, venture off the beaten path and see what else you can discover in the surrounding area. That way you can simulate a vacation as soon as you start feeling tired of everyday routine.
Do you have a free weekend? Grab your bike, car or use public transport, and venture into the unknown, be it a remote village, a café you always wanted to visit or a futuristic arcade at the heart of the city! Heck, even a virtual tour of a remote island or a museum might do the trick!
Take up a new hobby (or work on an existing one)
Running out of interesting and creative things to do is a strong indication that you need to kick things up a notch. A much-repeated routine is bound to get stale fast, which can make it difficult to manage. There’s no better way to counter this than finding a new (preferably healthy) obsession!
For instance, after days of boredom and a lack of engagement, I picked up salsa, just to combat my lethargy. It was one of the best experiences I’ve recently had, and it felt like I was dancing my heart out on a sandy beach somewhere in Spain!
Revisiting a familiar hobby can also work to get you in a better mood and create vacation-like vibes. To the extent you find interest and joy in the activity, give it another try and see if it has a positive effect on your mood. If not, find something else to get busy with.
Reconnect with family and friends
The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege — Charles Kuralt
To be more specific, family and friends is everything. In good times and bad times, a select few will be there to support, entertain or educate you. Those people can make your life so much better with their presence.
When you feel the need to escape your mundane reality, try reaching out to those people. Seek their fresh perspectives, cheerful composure and loving embrace. If you haven’t interacted with them in a while, make an effort to reconnect. Once you let them in your life, watch as they transform it into a meaningful and pleasant experience, and thank them for being there for you.
Treat yourself well
What do you experience when you go on vacation? Do you feel your stress levels drop, your curiosity peaked, and your pleasure buds in need of stimulation? If so, take all of those and apply them to your every day.
If you want to live a life that feels like an endless vacation, start respecting and appreciating yourself more. Try replacing feelings of self-defeat and blame with those of understanding and self-care, and consider yourself as someone who deserves happiness.
For example, take some time to relax and reward yourself after a hard day at work. Cooking a nice dish, interacting with friends and loved ones, or better yet, inviting them over for dinner can give you a great mood boost.
To sum up
Our lives will, eventually, become boring, repetitive or frustrating. However, there are ways to bring joy and excitement back and make every day seem and feel like a vacation to an exotic and distant place.
Good news is, you don’t even have to board a plane!
Surrounding yourself with the right people, visiting new places and going through novel life experiences is all it takes to lift your spirits and make your life pleasantly inescapable, an endless vacation!
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