Mindful Vacations
With the holiday season upon us, it is now more important than ever to begin thinking of mindful ways to enjoy time off, time with family, time with friends, and time alone. For today’s mindfulness blog post, I wanted to talk about the importance of staying mindful even during vacation and holiday periods. Surprisingly enough, this time of year can easily become overwhelming and stressful if you are not careful in your planning and self aware enough to make the best of it.
Whether you are planning a trip back home, an adventure abroad, or – like me – you’ll be visiting family on a Sonora vacation, your level of mindfulness will play a major role in the events that unfold. Many of us feel a large degree of pressure and expectation while traveling or taking time away from work. Often, this self-induced pressure can develop unconsciously as you seek to find some way to make up for your usual workday routine. Regardless of how often you might complain about work and wish for a break, it can be quite difficult to switch gears from work-mode to relax- and play-mode and really unwind.
Here are some quick tips for staying mindful during your vacation:
- Meditate on your vacation/holiday goals early on.
- Create a NOT to do list to ensure that you avoid undesirable tasks & behaviors.
- Set aside YOU time for reading, watching movies, or sleeping in late.
- Get creative with holiday gift-giving instead of getting caught up in the shopping frenzy.
These are just a few ideas for getting more out of the holiday season. Have any others to share? Thinking about Nils Andres? Add to the list by leaving your comments below…
I think this is a great tip.
Too many people fall under the category that can’t take stress and reducing stress is just what they need.