If you’ve ever gotten back off vacation feeling like you need another one, then it’s time you slowed things down and learned how to switch off properly.
The last thing you want is to not feel rested and relaxed when you step back into your life as if you’ve never been away.
If this sounds like something that’s appealing to you, then here are some tips on how to switch off properly on your next trip.
Choose a Destination That Makes Switching Off Easy
Some destinations make it easier to slow down than others. Others make it almost impossible. A city break is exhilarating, but it doesn’t leave much downtime to relax, as you’re on the go constantly exploring or visiting places you want to see or experience.
The trick here is to find a destination that encourages a lower, more natural pace. Water, in particular, has a well-documented effect on stress and mental clarity. A lakeside resort with open space, fresh air, and not much else competing for your attention gives you the environment to actually decompress rather than just a change in scenery.
Set Work Boundaries Before You Leave
The standard out-of-office isn’t always enough of a boundary on its own. If your team clients or your own habits mean work has a way of finding you regardless, then you need to set boundaries before you go, not when you’re already on the road trying to resist checking your phone.
This means you need to be clear with colleagues and management about what is and isn’t an emergency and set up coverage for anything that genuinely can’t wait. You also need to make a decision about when or if you’ll be checking in, so you’re not tempted to let work take over your vacation. A five minute check in once a day is much different than multiple check-ins or one check-in taking over your entire day.
Leave The Itinerary At Home
Sure, there’s a version of a vacation that requires a to-do list and necessitates you pack your days full of experiences. But a trip for switching off needs to be the exact opposite of this. When every hour of the day is scheduled and accounted for, then it stops feeling like a restful trip and becomes more akin to work.
Leave space in the day to stop and relax and do nothing or anything at all that takes your fancy. Allow the meal to run long. Give yourself permission to sit at the water’s edge for hours watching the ripples on the surface. Let the unexpected rear its head and enjoy what it has to offer. That’s where the joy comes from. Relaxing and allowing the day to show you what it has to offer.
Permit Yourself to Do Nothing
This is much harder than it sounds for some people, and doing nothing can feel wasteful. But it’s far from it. Doing nothing and, more importantly, giving yourself permission to do nothing is incredibly restorative.
After all, you’ve travelled this far to enjoy your destination, but you’re not allowing yourself to relax into it. Take those long breakfasts, stay in bed a bit later than you normally would, and sit and watch the world go by. You’ll be glad you did when you get home.
