Like most of you, I would love to have enough money to be on vacation every day. Who wouldn’t love to be relaxing on the beach in Maui one week, and then jetting off to Paris the next? Given that a permanent vacation is not financially feasible at the moment, I, instead, try to engage in behaviors each day that put me in the mindset of being on vacation. Having a vacation mindset means slowing down and taking the time to focus on me and the things that make me happy. Although, this may sound too good to be true, a vacation mindset is obtainable, even if for just a few hours in the morning.
Not convinced? Try these 7 easy practices to boost your mood and get into the vacation mindset each morning.
7 Ways to Have a Vacation Mindset Every Morning
Rise Early – Now, I fully recognize that rising early on vacation seems counterproductive to the vacation itself. But for me, a critical piece needed to get into the vacation mindset is time. When working a 40+ hour week, while balancing family and other obligations, finding me time can be a challenge. However, by getting up early, before anyone else, I can usually carve out 2-3 hours of time each morning – time where I can just focus on me.
Get Moving – Taking a vacation does not mean taking a break from exercise. No matter where I go on my vacation, I always find time to exercise. And when not on vacation, exercise is still just as important. Whether it’s running three miles, walking the dog or a 30-minute yoga session, movement has a powerful impact on my mood and vacation mindset.
Learn Something New – It’s pretty easy to learn something new while on vacation. New cities, new restaurants, and new environments – they inspire me to expand my tastes, knowledge and how I view the world in general. Even when not on vacation….I’m a huge believer of lifelong learning. It keeps my mind sharp and reminds me that there are still so many places I want to travel, things I want to do and learn more about. From weekly lifestyle podcasts to daily news sources to travel-inspired books…learning something new about the world helps me appreciate it even more.
Add Spa Elements – Spa vacations are immensely underrated. Although I haven’t had many, the few I’ve had have been lovely and leave me wanting more. To bring a little of this spa-like vacation into my home every morning, I make an effort to engage in a few simple, spa-like activities including spritzing aromatherapy mist in the shower; enjoying a refreshing glass of sparkling water with berries or fancy mint tea; and lighting mood-boosting candles.
Embrace the Outdoors – While on vacation, I nearly always find time to embrace nature – whether it’s hiking in Vail, walking on a beach in the Keys, or admiring the architecture while jogging in Rome. I guess you could say that enjoying the outdoors is somewhat of an embedded activity in just about any vacation I have. And even when I’m not on an official vacation, getting outside helps remind me of the many adventures I’ve already had and the many more I plan to take.
Make a Proper Breakfast – For many of us, breakfast during the week may consist of just grabbing whatever is in the pantry or fridge before running out the door to work. But would you really do that on vacation? For me, getting into the proper vacation mindset means taking the time to make myself a full-ish breakfast – eggs, fruit, and maybe a little toast with peanut butter or jam. The ultimate reward is sitting down to actually enjoy the breakfast, served on beautiful plates as a bonus.
Linger with Your Latte – Europeans, especially Parisians, can certainly teach Americans a thing or two about the everyday cafe life. They can spend hours and hours in a cafe, drinking their favorite hot beverage and chatting with an old friend or simply watching the world go by. From my perspective, taking the time to savor your cappuccino or any coffee in the morning has become an elusive behavior and one usually reserved for vacation – or at the most, a Sunday morning. Allowing myself to linger a little longer with my latte takes me back to my days in Paris, helping me to appreciate every last sip.
And there you have it – 7 easy ways to have a vacation mindset each morning. Now, it’s time to relax and enjoy!
Ciao,
Jennifer
