THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023 VACATIONS CONTINUED

 THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023, VACATIONS CONTINUED

This week I’ve been writing about vacations.

Yesterday I said, “Make your plans, do your research, prepare a budget.”

The following are from various internet sites:

*****

OPT FOR QUANTITY OVER “ONCE IN A LIFETIME”

“A once-in-a-lifetime trip, like a month in New Zealand, would be amazing. But such vacations’ “once-in-a-lifetime” aspect limits their overall contribution to happiness. Research increasingly finds that we return to previous happiness levels reasonably quickly (we spend life on the “hedonic treadmill”), and so more minor pleasures experienced frequently contribute more to overall well-being than major but less infrequent ones. Another study found that a vacation’s health and wellness benefits peaked about eight days in. So look for already-shortened workweeks for getaways so you can plan several eight-day vacations (weekend plus workweek plus weekend) in a year for the price of three to four vacation days a pop.”

**
Not that you can’t do the super memorable things. One friend went to Mount Everest for a vacation. She didn’t climb to the top but reached the base camp and first camp on the mountain. That was memorable in my mind.

If your budget is tight, a trip to the Himalayas probably would be out of the question. I know a couple that went to Tahiti for their honeymoon. Obviously, finances can make a big difference.

*****

TRY SOMETHING NEW

“Adults stick to routines. A vacation is an excellent opportunity to plan new experiences consciously, be they kayaking, zip-lining through a rainforest, learning to make cheese, or whatever.

**
I write about getting outside your comfort zone. Try something new - try some fresh foods (they tell me chocolate-covered grasshoppers are good). Go on a fishing expedition (even if you don’t fish, they’ll show you). 

*****

FILL YOUR DAYS WITH ENJOYABLE THINGS

“Researchers who asked people to report their moods throughout the day found they were happiest when relaxing, socializing, exercising, doing spiritual activities, and eating (oh, and when engaged in “intimate relations”).

**
I think this expression comes from the 1960s - “if it ain’t fun, don’t do it.”

OUTSOURCE THE NOT-FUN STUFF

Hey, you’re on vacation. Eat out. Find activities for the kids - drop them off and do some adult things. Hire a babysitter. Don’t just rent an ABnB and do the same as you would at home (that is: Mom cooks, cleans, and does the laundry - just like home)

MANAGE WORK

“Some people believe happiness comes from doing no work on vacation. I am not one of those people. The key is how much control you have over the situation. But if you work for yourself or otherwise have autonomy in your schedule and want to do half an hour of work each morning before the rest of your family wakes up, there’s nothing wrong with that.

**
I take my laptop and write blog posts in the morning. It’s not quite work, but with a cup of coffee, I enjoy my writing.

END ON A HIGH NOTE

Built to a climax. End your vacations with a bang. If you’re only going to upgrade once, splurge on the business class seat on the way home, not the way there. Plan your big dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant for your final night, not your first.

MANAGE THE TRANSITION BACK TO THE ROUTINE

“While you can squeeze every last drop of vacation time by coming back late Sunday night, this can make Monday morning feel even more frantic than usual. If you hate that hopeless feeling, then come back Saturday or early Sunday so you can check on anything urgent that happened in your absence, get groceries, and get the laundry going. Let yourself down easy by planning something low-key but fun for Monday evening. A quick drink with a friend after work gives you something to look forward to during what may be a brutal day.

CONSTRUCT YOUR STORY

“Memories get shaped over time in how we choose to recount them. Tell people your funny and enjoyable anecdotes to make sure you remember your vacation positively. Show the beautiful pictures. The more you say, “I had the best vacation ever,” the more it becomes true.

**I can even make flops fun. When I went to Big Bend National Park and set up my tent, I realized I didn’t have all the tent poles!! So, I tried the top of the tent to tree branches. (Yes, it wasn’t as stable as my regular tent, but it was fun.

*****

THINK OF YOUR VACATION AS A RETREAT

**Take off your watch. Guys, if you don’t shave every day - who cares? Ladies, who cares if you get a spot on a blouse or skip your make-up? (Of course, if you post on social media, it’s up to you how you look.) 

ENJOY
(and, give thanks for being able to get away)

LOVE WINS
LOVE TRANSFORMS
VACATIONS CAN TRANSFORM US TOO

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JULY 20, 2023