I know that I am not the only one who has an overactive mind ;) so here are 3 simple things I do to help me enjoy my vacation from the very beginning.
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Being in the moment is such a powerful way to bring your mind into a state of relaxation. We are not thinking about the past and what happened before, or the future and what will happen tomorrow, instead we are thinking about what is happening right now.
This is a great tool to remember when you are on vacation if you start feeling stressed about what needs to be done when you get back or even what the plan is for the next day. Bring yourself back into the present moment and think about the enjoyment you are having right now. It will honestly make you feel amazing!
Sometimes being in the moment can be hard, especially if you are trying to watch your kids while protecting your lunch from hungry seagulls while still trying to get an even tan. ;) Thankfully there are simple and easy ways to help us refocus our minds on the present.
One of my favorite ways to pull myself back into the moment is to just watch. This means I might look at the trees and the water and the sky and let its beauty impress itself upon me. I try not to think about too many things, but just allow myself to be in the space I'm in, recognizing my surroundings, appreciating the gentle breeze and the sounds that are happening. There is a new level of relaxation I feel when I just watch.
2. Enjoy the Process
Enjoying the process of a vacation is key to having a happy and peaceful trip. Many times we tend to wait until we reach our destination or our wish is fulfilled before we really begin to enjoy a situation. I have found that finding ways to enjoy the whole process of a situation or expectation makes my vacation so much more fun and actually increases my ability to be in vacation mode.
Sometimes enjoying the process is not the first thing that comes to mind when the car breaks down, or the show you want to see sells out, but finding ways to make these situations more fun will leave you with a happy memory and a good story rather than disappointment and frustration.
I like to leave my phone in the car or in my hotel room when I am on vacation to help me enjoy the process. This helps me to really focus on the situation I'm in and enjoy it for everything it is and takes away the distraction of social media and work. It also helps me interact with the people around me and ask questions to people on the street instead of using my phone to google the answer. For me, these interactions are part of the adventure and the experience I am going to remember from my trip, and I don't want to miss out on an experience for the sake of reaching my destination quicker. All the interactions, the situations, the food, everything becomes something we can choose to enjoy and make a good memory from during our vacation.
3. Be Willing To Experience
Being willing to experience new things will tell you new things about yourself, teach you more about the world around you, and enriches your own life experience. It can be hard sometimes to want to try new things while you are on vacation because you know what you like, and having and doing what you like makes you happy. But, stepping out of your comfort zone every now and then really does create amazing experiences.
For example, the first time I went to Hawaii I was quite afraid of the ocean and going snorkeling and kayaking (don't laugh). Because I had lived in Northern California for the past four years I hadn't been to a swimmable ocean for a while so I wasn't super comfortable in all the waves and I was very worried about sharks.
But during that first Hawaii trip I tried snorkeling and kayaking and I swam in the ocean and by the end of the trip I began to really enjoy being in the ocean. I was still afraid of trying all of these things the first time I tried, but after doing it a couple of times and having people around me who helped me learn, I began to really enjoy everything. And now, a couple of years later, there is nothing I love more than being able to swim in the ocean, kayak in the ocean, and do everything in the ocean I can (as long as it's not freezing lol).
That is just one example of trying something new but there are so many more that have happened! I don't think I have ever regretted trying a new experience while I'm on vacation. So don't be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone, or even something that might seem a little challenging. The experience of trying itself is something that many times you don't get to have everyday, and it brings out new parts of yourself that are so worth discovering. :)
I hope these 3 tips for enjoying your vacation help you relax, rejuvenate, and discover more about yourself during your next trip!
Happy Summer!
~Hannah
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