Career and Kids

Getting into vacation mode

by elizabeth on June 30th, 2007

Summer is vacation season. There all kinds of hints about decompressing after vacation, but, what about if you have trouble relaxing enough to get into a vacation?

I know when I have time off, sometimes the pressure of having to relax because, “it’s vacation” (Relax! Now!) has the opposite effect on me.

Sometimes, I have trouble turning my head off work when I start a vacation, and, the time off is nearly over before I finally give in. What are some ways to settle into vacation mode?

1. Prepare as much as you can before you leave. The things you can’t get done? They will usually still be there when you return, after all, you’ll only be gone a week or so.

The notion of an “ideal” state readiness is a fallacy, there will nearly always be something left to do.

2. Do nothing in “absolutes”, even if it goes against conventional vacation wisdom - For example, if I tell myself I’m not going to call home at all, to listen to the answering machine, then, inevitably, all I think about are the messages awaiting me at home. If I just allow myself to keep up with the messages at home, I am much more relaxed, since there’s no unknown to “fear”.

If you stay at home for a vacation, or, go away, there is always the notion that you have to make every day a “vacation memory” because, after all, you’re only there a short time. Sometimes, the kids have more fun just hanging around the house and vegging, you’re the one with the schedule down to the minute.

3. When you embark on your time off, create a ritual or designate a landmark if you’re traveling that says, “vacation’s here!” Once we cross the state line on the way out of town, I try to use that as my mental cue to relax. Also, when we’re traveling, I can sort of “let go” once we get in the groove on the road during the 20 consecutive seconds of peace we get when all the kids are settled into the car with their blankets, and, a movie, or something.

Again, I’m not very good at the relaxing thing, but, I try really hard when it comes to a family vacation. My husband and kids are worth it, and, I don’t want to blow my time off.

Tell me, how to you get into vacation mode?

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POSTED IN: Time off