Last month, I took a nice, two-week vacation.
Before you know it, youre stuck in the same grind you were in before you left.
This time, I wanted things to be different.
When Im traveling, I almost feel like a different person.
I want to learn more.
I can laugh at myself more.
And I hate to say it, but Im happier.
Sure, vacations are lazy and indulgent; they make you happy by design.
But I wondered if there wasnt something more to it than that.
I wondered what exactly it is about traveling that puts you in a totally different state of mind.
So during this trip, I paid attention.
My goal was to pinpoint the benefits of vacation and sneak them into my everyday life.
This is thanks to the mental distance of a proper break.
Breakshelp you stay motivated, creative, and efficienta growing number of studies support this.
Weve already told you whyrelaxation is importanttoo, so I wont get into it much more.
The point is, a break is mental distance from everyday bullshit.
Breaks, downtime, distancewhatever you want to call it, it works wonders for your brain.
Thats why vacations feel so necessary.
Take Better Breaks
I already use thePomodoro techniqueto remind myself to take breaks.
I always anticipate getting back to my desk, and I keep a close eye on the clock.
Basically, I half-ass my breaks.
I dont distance myself from anything, which makes them useless.
Mental distance is easier on vacationout of sight, out of mind.
But when your everyday life and your work are in front of you, its harder.
Its easier to take a break when Im detached from the office area.
I have to keep track of time on my own, though.
For me, it just helped to redefine my breaks.
I had no problem remembering to take them, but I had to learn to take them properly.
When I do, its like taking a mini-vacation, as far as my perspective and mental performance goes.
Yes, proper vacations are still important.
But so are breaks.
We know five minutes easily turns into an hour.
Have a friend or family member call you:This serves as a reminder.
Similarly, you could set an alarm.
Schedule a daily task review: I like this because it offers closure for your workday.
Creating boundaries between your work and home life is hugely important.
It gives you distance, and with distance, a new perspective.
The key word here isnew.
And novelty is what makes travel so enjoyable.
Even the smallest activities, like eating lunch, are fun, because theyre new experiences.
Typically, day-to-day life doesnt feel very new.
Harvard University professor Ellen Langersays its about being mindful.
Its become a buzzword, butmindfulnessis a useful concept.
Wevewritten about it in detail, but its basically about being more aware and focused on the moment.
This way, you notice new things.
And in noticing, you experience your everyday life in a novel way.
It sounds silly, but it helps.
Meditation lets meconcentrate more and pay attention to every experience.
So I upgraded it to force myself to be more mindful.
For example, I start my day writing in a journal, and not a digital one.
Pen to paper makes me focus better.
I disconnect (sometimes): We all know our devices can be distracting.
But sometimes I dont realize how bad it is.
Its a reflex for me to mindlessly pick up my phone and browse Instagram.
Sometimes, I dont even know what Im doingIm just tapping stuff!
On vacation, I had to remind myself to stop doing this.
I remind myself in my everyday life, now, too.
I turn off my phone more, and I recognize my stare at my phone triggers.
Resisting that urge makes me more present.
Aside from mindfulness, embracing novelty is as simple astrying new things.
Not everyone has the luxury of traveling to faraway places to do this.
That doesnt mean new things are off-limits.
I wanted to see more of the world, but unfortunately, I couldnt afford it.
So in college, I took weekend trips to nearby small townsGalveston, Lake Jackson, Humble.
A lot of people would scoff at calling this travel, but I focused on the novelty.
I looked for ways those cities were different from my own.
I looked for historic sites and new things to learn.
Novelty is good for you.
Ditch the Comfort Zone
Embracing novelty might be as simple as trying a new restaurant.
Or going to an event you wouldnt normally go to.
And remembertrying something new doesnt have to be comfortable.
Youre still experiencing or learning something new.
Keep in mindits still important to return to your comfort zone.
I like exploring without a schedule or an agendaits freeing.
I love how liberated I feel on vacation.
I do a lot of stuff I dont like doing because Imafraid of saying noto people.
Maybe they were boring.
Maybe I didnt have time for them or couldnt afford them.
The list was mostly stuff I was dreadingobligations that, when I thought about them, altered my mood.
I found ways to do itwithout being an asshole, and of course, people understood.
Its great to fill your weekends with fun, exciting activitiesespecially if theyre new activities.
You have the freedom to be spontaneous, which is part of what makes a vacation so fun.
Of course, theres nothing quite like a true vacation.
Illustration by Tara Jacoby.
