Improved productivity
Lower stress
Improved health (mental & physical)
There is a large body of research that shows the above benefits of a vacation.
I wrote a blog a couple of months ago on the topic of recharging my batteries in absence of a vacation. One of my conclusions was that I have made changes in my life in response to our changing world and yet I hadn’t up to that point made any changes in this area of my life.
Step 1 – I scheduled a week of vacation – a staycation. I have had several staycations at my own home as well as at the home of family members over the past few years. Sometimes they have felt like a vacation and other times not really.
Step 2 – I did a little informal research to satisfy my curiosity on how to enjoy a vacation that is designed to provide me the benefits of greater productivity, lower stress, and improved health.
Key things to consider when planning a vacation include
- Plan ahead
- Identify the activities that recharges us
- Leave work behind – really, really behind
- Disrupt our routines
Since my upcoming vacation is staying home, I have given thought to what I can do so that it feels like a vacation.
- I enjoy staying at vacation rentals so what can I do to make home feel like a get-away? Clean before vacation begins. I nearly always clean my house before leaving on vacation so duh…clean as if I were leaving on vacation. I am also going to buy myself a “welcome to vacation” gift (hmmm wine or flowers…).
- Plan what I am going to do & disrupt my routine.
I am looking forward to my vacation next week and I am taking the advice of the research. No working! I will be back the week of July 11th.
