9 ways to organize a vacation, enjoy them all
Reading Time – 10 minutes
A vacation is a time to step away from all the concerns of your job, an office, a home office and tasks in your home. This break from normal routines and responsibilities lets you rejuvenate and have more energy for the future. Shannon Torberg, PsyD, LP says in The Importance of Taking a Vacation, “A number of studies have shown that taking time away from the job can have physical and psychological health benefits. People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals. The bottom line is, that taking time away from the stresses of work and daily life can improve your health, motivation, relationships, job performance, and perspective and give you the break you need to return to your lives and jobs refreshed and better equipped to handle whatever comes. ”
Now you know why you deserve one here are some styles of vacations to plan.
A vacation from your computer.
Most of your work is on your computer. Close it and put it away. Pretending to be on a vacation by looking at your computer less frequently is a break from work. Put an autoreply message on your email explaining when you will respond to emails.
A vacation from your normal routines
A stay at home vacation might be the perfect solution for you this year. Take time to plan it. “Research shows the biggest boost in happiness comes from planning the vacation. A person can feel the effects up to eight weeks before the trip!” Don’t miss out on the planning. Change your normal routines, bedtime, getting up in the morning, meal times, and activities. Stay up later, get up later, have breakfast in bed, eat out, order in, go for walks, swim, rent a bike, sit in your backyard/balcony, and read. Think of all the things you enjoy doing and make a plan for each day of your vacation. Fill it with things you love doing, things you want to try for the first time and things that are not part of your normal routines. Here is an article that has 100 activities for kids.
A vacation from your town/city
You may not want to stay overnight in hotels. You can still plan a vacation outside of your city limits. There are many communities that surround where you live. Plan day trips to see local sites and visit markets, parks and walking trails. Try googling 5 free things to do in ……. to get ideas of activities and sites to see.
A vacation from loneliness
During Covid19 there were times when you needed to stay home. You may have gotten used to doing your own thing. We are social beings and need to interact with others. Plan on meeting with someone each day of your vacation. Plan a picnic. Each of you brings your own food and meet at a lovely spot to talk. If talking is not your strong suit, meet up with a friend and play a game. It can be a board game, frisbee, throwing a ball or trying kubb.
A vacation to try new activities
There is nothing better about a vacation than doing something new. If you can’t travel somewhere new do something new. Take a week of lessons and learn how to paddleboard, sew, bike, play an instrument, paint etc. Treat yourself to a new spa treatment every day. Eat at restaurants you’ve never visited before. Public golf courses have lovely patios that overlook beautiful green spaces. Try camping. Start in your own backyard and then explore other campsites.
A vacation to support your country
The country you live in has a lot to offer. Too often we don’t appreciate what is right in front of us. Use your vacation to help local businesses and the tourist industry. Whether you want to travel far or close to home, book a hotel or resort and spend your vacation dollars helping to stimulate the economy. Over many years I have visited all the provinces and 2 of the 3 territories in Canada. I am proud to tell people about the lovely places I have seen, the great people I have met, the fun experiences and the delicious food.
A vacation to support your mental wellness.
We all need a break from the stress of work and the uncertainty of the future. Take time to focus on what you need. Plan your vacation so you are only in the present. It may be a stay at home or an away from home location. Enjoy what is around you, interact with people who encourage you, and experience things that refresh you. You may want to try meditation, yoga or exercise. Take time to try new healthy foods and recipes. Experience nature. Plan each day with activities that will renew you so you can handle what comes next.
A vacation to be with family
You may be feeling like you need a vacation away from family. That is ok. Communication and interactions with family members may be strained with more people working from home. Take a break, laugh together, do new things, go somewhere unexpected. Together, plan a vacation. You may decide that each member of the family plans one day and you all do it. Each member may get to pick one activity they want to do and you combine all the suggestions together. Take the pressure off the person who usually needs to make all the plans. Use the time to reset relationships, build new respect for each other and have fun. I have learned when doing family vacations it is really important to plan into each day a time when everyone does their own thing for a while. Alone time is just as important as together time during a vacation.
Plan a short vacation
Plan a number of shorter vacations. Here are some tips on how to pack light.
The trick to packing for a short trip is to take items that can be used in more than one way. Take a large bag or backpack with you for items you want handy while you are in transit. You can use that bag for shopping, hiking or at the beach. Pack a small handbag in your carry-on suitcase to use after you arrive, in the evening and sightseeing. Take one neutral coloured skirt or pants to wear each evening and pack tops that can be worn in the evening and then more casually with shorts the next day. This eliminates separate evening and daytime apparel for a short trip. Sports clothing can take up a lot of space. For running, hiking, and biking take clothes that can be hand washed reducing the amount you need to bring. Although having a wide variety of swimwear may be fun pack 2 outfits you can mix and match to make 4. Reduce the number of jackets you take by wearing layers, and pack a long-sleeved shirt that you can wear alone or over a t-shirt in case it is cool or you need to cover up from the sun. You will need a sweater/lightweight jacket for the evening and a windbreaker for the day. Combine the 3 layers to help you stay, cool, warm or dry. Having a colour scheme so all of your clothes go together well gives you lots of outfits to mix and match. While you are in transit wear the shoes that take up the most space and pack the ones that need less space in your carry-on suitcase. The last thing to do is make a list of what you packed so the next time you go on a short trip the packing is even easier.
Take time for a vacation and let me know what you did to refresh so you will be better able to handle what comes next.
If you want to talk over your vacation plans, book a 30 minute complimentary virtual organizing appointment. It allows me to support you by providing planning and coaching while both remaining at home. https://mindoverclutter.as.me/virtualorganizingassessment
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Yes, this year is just HARD. I think your point about the “boost” from vacation planning is so interesting. The anticipation really is part of the fun, isn’t it? I was fortunate to have both of my grown daughters, and my son in law, home for 3 weeks. This would never have happened if it weren’t for COVID. We really didn’t go anywhere, but had a lot of fun on the porch, playing games, sitting around a fire pit, watching movies, cooking, and being together. It was a real hit of positivity in an otherwise rough year. I had to plan quite a bit, especially the food, for their visit, and I do think that was part of the fun!
It is definitely a mind shift about what is a vacation. In the past, a visit with the family might not have been a vacation. Any break from work can be thought of as a vacation. I think planning the break gives it more of a feeling that it is something special, a vacation, not a day or two off. I am glad to hear you could meet with all your children. I am still waiting for that opportunity in my family.
Julie, this is EXACTLY what I needed right now. We’ve cancelled our usual summer plans, and the thought of two weeks at home really didn’t excite me, so I decided to take a bunch of mini-vacations throughout the summer. I’ve already had one, and to be honest, I got bored fairly quickly. You’ve given me TONS of ideas to keep myself amused during the next one!
I think the key is the planning and anticipation involved in a vacation. The excitement you feel about what is to come is more valuable than we realize. Even for people who say they don’t plan, they have a location and a plan to do nothing and get excited about it. Enjoy your mini-vacations. Feel free to blog about them sometime.
It is super important to take a vacation! I haven’t done it yet. But have been taking Fridays off from work this summer. I think I need more than one extra day though. Thank you for the reminder.
Having 4 day work weeks can make the 4 days you work feel very busy. Having one day off may not feel relaxing if you’re thinking about how busy next week will be. If you are reducing the amount of work you are doing so it can fit into 4 days than Fridays off are great. I do that that in the summer, reduce my workload and enjoy more time off when it happens. Taking a couple of days gives you time to unwind and relax. When you come back hopefully you’ll be energized and able to prioritize the work ahead of you.
I absolutely LOVE this idea. We always save money all year for vacation and we’ve been struggling to figure out what to do! Thank you for helping me expand my parameters of what “vacation” can be. I feel motivated!!!
You’re welcome. I would love to hear what you do this summer.
I’m actually on vacation now. Reconnecting with extended family. It’s definitely a change of scenery and routine that I needed. I hope to feel rejuvenated when I return to work.
I am glad you took the time away. It is so easy to think we don’t need a break or can’t afford the time away. A change of scenery and routine can make all the difference in our lives whether for a day, a few days, a week or longer. Enjoy.
I needed this!! I’m home more, but haven’t really planned anything around this craziness going on right now. Definitely will put something on my calendar. We all need it.
Glad to hear this blog struck a chord with you. Planning an escape from this craziness whether for a short time or longer will help you reenergize you. Enjoy your planning and time away.
My goodness, this is the breath of fresh air we’ve needed. I canceled three trips, including a two week vacation in Ireland, and I’ve been feeling so *deprived* (even though I’m a mask-wearing, social distancing, rule-following gal). These new ways of looking at the concept of vacation are idea — and I especially like the idea of taking a vacation from routines. (If ONLY I could get myself to take a vacation from my computer, social media, and the news!)
I had to cancel a cruise. I am having a small vacation quarantining with my son who moved back from the west coast.
I love this! So far, I booked a one-week vacation in a large vacation home to be with another family. Our family needed to connect with others. But I love the idea that I can take time out of my summer to have a week in my neighborhood getting together with local friends and limiting my computer use. Or even just a few days with my husband. We are home all day together but are often doing work or tag teaming driving kids around. Thank you for your ideas on taking different types of summer vacations. It has really got me thinking!
Let me know what great ideas you come up with. Enjoy your time at the vacation home. Make sure to spread the work around so everyone feels needed, wanted and appreciated.
Last year was a vacation bust, but this year, we have a few things planned. Some happened already. It’s important to get away or switch your normal routines if you choose the stay-vacation route. Just yesterday, my husband and I had a fun day. While it was just one day, it felt like mini-vacation. We went kayaking, dined out for lunch, and took a car drive/audio tour of our area. I’m looking forward to more fun this summer too.
Taking fun days is important. I am having one with my daughter at a local conservation area. I need a change of scenery every now and then to feel like I am getting away. I hope I will have more opportunities soon. Until then it is fun days.
Very timely. We are just venturing out with a couple of family vacations. It seems scarier than ever before but as we get into the planning the anticipation of seeing our family again grows. Thanks!
Enjoy your family and the anticipation. I think planning and anticipation are a big part of what makes an event feel like a vacation. It can be one day or many days in length.
Great tips, Julie. I took a vacation (sort of) in March when I spent 3 weeks with my son & his family helping with the newest addition (a baby boy) to the family. It was wonderful to be away and with family. I have a short vacation planned to visit my siblings in July. I love the way you quoted the research on the good getting away does us physically and psychologically.
I am glad you were able to be with your family in March. I am waiting to be able to see my daughter again. A short or a long break from routine and helps to set new patterns and discover new realities.
Mini vacations save my sanity. We are taking one this coming weekend for a couple days. Escaping to the woods in northern Washington at a friend’s cabin and we are super ready for a little unplug! This is a great reminder that a vacation can take MANY forms.
Enjoy your time in the woods, it sounds lovely. Some people need a long time to unwind from their normal routine and relax. Other people can take smaller shorter and more frequent vacations. It is important to know what works for you and take the time to make it happen. I like the variety of many forms of vacations.
so many great ideas on how you can take a vacation!! Thank you for the reminder that even the smallest change can produce a vacation feel!!
You’re welcome. Small or big a change in routine is healthy.