In the last couple of weeks, I managed to get in 5 out of “My Top 10 Suggestions for Vacationing at Home”, which originally appeared on my blog on October 23, 2018. In light of the break time needed to refocus on my book writing task at hand, I truly enjoyed reviewing my suggestions over a year ago for how to “renew, recalibrate, rejuvenate, and reinvigorate” my mind and body. It’s important to note that these suggestions can be safely used on a regularly temporary basis. In other words, you don’t want to get too comfortable in “rest and relaxation” mode to where you want to stay there permanently. You just want to use it enough to get your activity juices flowing again. So, sit back, relax, and read my replay on “R & R” . . .
My two oldest children, Toodlez and Junior, had their fall break from college the other week; and please believe me when I say that my children (all three of them) enjoy their downtime when they get it. I have clearly witnessed how their daily routines can be incredibly hectic for being so young, between obtaining their educations, working, doing extra curriculars, cultivating their interpersonal relationships, and taking care of responsibilities at home. So of course, Toodlez, Junior, and Little Man can appreciate a much needed day off from school and/or work when those opportunities arise and Dad and Mom are undoubtedly of the same perspective.
Since many parents (dare I say, moms in particular) don’t get an opportunity to focus much attention on themselves because of their hectic schedules which involve doing for everyone else, I’m a huge proponent for getting in an occasional old-fashioned R & R (rest and relaxation) vacation. You know the kind I’m talking about. It’s the kind of vacation that is boring to some and absolute bliss to others. I comfortably reside with the opinion taken by the second group. I feel that the most ideal vacation package you could possibly get is the one in which you are in total control of your fun-filled agenda and don’t have to spend a small fortune to experience it. For instance, you could jam pack your itinerary for the day with activities to do from sun up to sun down; but why not simply choose to do nothing at all but to sleep, eat, binge watch some episodes of your favorite shows or watch a thought provocative documentary or two on Netflix, and then eat and sleep some more (all things you can do locally).
I personally get more out of vacationing in the comfort of my own home, doing those things that I enjoy in the timeframe in which I choose to do them. No pressures, no stressors, no tugs for attention from this way and that way. Just leisurely moments to soak up as much “me” time as is humanly possible before it all vanishes away. I’m sure you can tell that I’m rooting for the “boring” getaway, where no travelling or additional expense is required on my part and where my every wish is someone else’s command. (Okay…that second part only completely happens in my ideal alternate universe and only partially happens in reality). But seriously, I believe that everyone should have an opportunity to renew, recalibrate, rejuvenate, and reinvigorate themselves at their ultimate vacation destination. My preferred form of R & R just happens to take place at home-sweet-home.
My Top 10 Suggestions for Vacationing at Home:
- Get caught up on reading a book that you started but didn’t finish, or start reading a brand-new one.
- Get caught up on your favorite tv shows or watch a movie or documentary or two on Netflix.
- Get caught up on some much needed sleep and sleep in as much as possible.
- Delegate the work that you would normally do to other family members to complete.
- Take as long of a relaxing bath or shower as you want to.
- Eat…Eat…and Eat some more! (Of course, healthy consumption is preferable the majority of the time with infrequent splurging sprinkled in).
- Participate in some family game nights, playing friendly card and board games that you’re prone to winning.
- If the weather permits, take a refreshing walk and get your vitamin D. (No power walking allowed)!
- Do warm-up and stretching exercises that relax the muscles not cause them to shriek out in pain.
- Do some therapeutic writing in your diary, journal, or blog. R & R vacations are some of the best times to reflect.
In conclusion, please don’t let anyone guilt trip you into feeling bad about taking a stay vaca. You deserve the occasional “non-productive” time to veg out; and the older I get, the more I realize just how productive periods of non-productivity can truly be. After all, there are those times that you need to stay still long enough to recharge your batteries for optimal performance, right? It’s said that those who work hard tend to play hard; but I like to think of it as, “those who work hard deserve moments to rest hard.”
Jana’s Quotable:
Those who work hard deserve moments to rest hard.
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