Powering up
For many, summer hopefully means a chance for some much-needed R & R. Everyone has their own dream vacation destination — that special place to escape the daily grind of work, errands, and chores.
Funny how one person’s perfect getaway can be another’s purgatory. Take the beach, for example. Lots of folks flock to the sands of their favorite seashore. They relish soaking up the rays, listening to the endless loop of calming waves, admiring breathtaking sunsets on the water, and scavenging shells. What’s not to like?
Ask the mountain lovers that question and they’ll provide an earful. Itchy sand in their hair, tender sunburned skin, and creepy predators like jelly fish or sharks come to mind. They much prefer the serenity, beauty, and challenge of a hike in the woods.
But the beachcombers might complain about a trail where eyes need to be rooted on the ground more than the scenery to avoid tripping, joint pain on the descent, and the very real possibility of being lost without GPS in a dead cellphone zone.
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Additional destinations like museums, cycle trips, cruises, and tours of far away lands fuel additional wanna-be sight-seer fancies. No matter the locale, the common denominators of all these retreats include:
- Empowering the body: According to the American Psychological Association, getting away from stressful environments reduces the risk of heart attacks. (source)
- Resetting the brain: “When we do the same thing over and over again, it can make life feel tedious. When we get stuck in a rut like that, it reduces our cognitive performance, focus and ability to be fully present in the moment.” (source)
- Avoiding burnout: Productivity and job performance improve after unplugging. (source)
- Improving relationships: Spending quality time with family and friends rekindles close bonds.
If travel is not in the cards this year, staycations can provide similar benefits. Take time to shake up routines, go device free, and fill buckets to refresh body, mind, and spirit. Only 87 days ‘til fall. Get out there!
“Vacations mean a change of pace, a gentleness with ourselves, a time of rest and renewal, and a time to stretch ourselves and encounter new people, new lands, new ways, and new options.” ~ Anne Wilson Schaef
