3 Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Vacation

Sometimes when I go on vacation it takes me a little bit of time to get into vacation mode. I might be thinking of work that needs to be finished, making sure I didn't forget anything, and if the weather is going to be perfect instead of soaking in the moment of vacation from the very beginning.

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.

                                                                                                                                         Getty Images

1. Be In The Moment
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.

My goal is to enjoy the process of everything I do on vacation! For me, enjoying the process means choosing to enjoy the long ride to the beach instead of wishing the car could hurry up and just get there, it is enjoying the wait time for my dinner instead of becoming grumpy because I'm starving!

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

How To Pack Light with Style

Every time I go on a trip or vacation I always dread packing my suitcase. It's not that I don't have a lot of choices in my closet, I have the opposite problem actually. Packing one suitcase of clothing for me means that I have to put my fashion choices in a pre-planned environment, and to be honest that is not so fun for me.

And as I cannot bring my entire closet with me, because that would be just a little ridiculous, ;) I have found ways to make my fashion choices in my suitcase fun, stylish, and something that I get to look forward to.

Here are 3 tips I use for packing light with style.

1. Pack Your Favorites
This may seem like an obvious tip but there are many of us who save our favorite clothes for special occasions only. There is nothing wrong with this, but over the years of being a "favorites saver" I have found that I enjoy my closet much more if I wear my favorite clothes more often than just for those very special events.

When you pack your favorite clothes it helps you look forward to what you have packed and makes you feel confident and amazing during your trip. This tip can even apply to trips that are less glamorous, such as camping, where you can still pick your favorite hiking pants, boots, and your favorite outdoor jacket. You will be amazed at how wearing what you love can really brighten your day no matter where you are.

Your favorite clothes usually are the ones that fit you the best, and we know we feel good in clothes that fit us well. :)

Some of my favorites that I like to pack include a fun maxi dress, cute heels and flats, and my favorite and best fitting shorts.

2. Use A Small Suitcase
For the longest time I always wished I had a larger suitcase to pack all of my clothing options in for trips. But I have learned over the years that using a small suitcase is actually better than using something large because it makes you have to pre-plan your outfits.

Pre-planning your outfits is a great way to pack light because it helps you pack only what you need and what you are going to wear. Yes, it does take a little more time and effort but it really does feel great to know that you will be using what you are bringing. And this way there is extra room left to bring home a couple souvenirs!

Try putting your outfits together at least one day before you need to leave for your trip. This way you have plenty of time to figure out what clothes you need for what events such as if you are planning a hiking trip or a nice dinner out.

Having time to plan out your outfits really does help minimize the space you need in your suitcase. When I pack right before I have to leave for a trip I always end up packing more things than I need and packing items that I don't really want to wear. And an extra perk to having a small suitcase is that most airlines will let you bring it on the plane as your carry-on bag!

3. Pack Versatile Pieces
Packing pieces from your closet that work together is a great way to give you more outfit options and gives you a safety net for those unexpected events that might come up! This also really helps with packing light because you end up packing less pieces but having more outfit options.

Now it might seem difficult to try to pack versatile pieces AND your favorite pieces (tip #1), but you might be surprised at what items actually can be versatile pieces.

When I say versatile pieces I'm not thinking of a white t-shirt, I'm thinking of pieces like your favorite jeans or shorts, a brightly colored dress that can be casual or dressy, and a unique sweater or jacket that is comfy but stylish. Packing basic tops like t-shirts is a good option if that is what you like to wear, but there are a lot of other options for tops that aren't t-shirts that can go with so many things!

One of my favorite types of versatile tops is a sheer, button-down blouse with long sleeves or no sleeves. This top can be worn in so many different ways. You can wear it casually with jeans and flats with the sleeves rolled up, or you can switch out the flats for heels, roll down the sleeves, add a fun necklace and you are ready for dinner! You can also wear this type of shirt in different styles. You can wear it buttoned, you can wear it as an over-shirt unbuttoned, or you can even tie it at the front for a cute summery crop top. Just because a piece is versatile doesn't mean it has to be boring or lacking in style. :)

Another way to bring in versatility to your pieces is to pack fun shoes and accessories. Pick your favorite pair of heels and your favorite pair of flats and see how many outfits you can make with these. You might be surprised at how just changing your shoes and putting on jewelry can make your outfit look completely different. And you don't need to pack a lot of jewelry either, all you might need is two necklaces and 3-4 pairs of earrings and you're set! It doesn't take a lot of pieces to make a lot of outfits. I actually do an editorial on this every month called 10 Pieces-10 Outfits on my website trendeing.com! Here is a link to our most recent editorial. You might be inspired to make your own 10 Pieces-10 Outfits. ;)

Hopefully these 3 tips for packing light with style will come in handy for your next summer adventure!
...or your next business trip ;)

Happy Travels!

~Hannah