The point of a vacation is to ‘vacate,’ to leave or abandon your regular routine. Do things differently, be exposed to new experiences. Yes, even our children can benefit from an irregular schedule. Learning to adjust and re-center is an important skill because, well, life demands it of all of us.
The Benefits of Abandoning Routine:
Circulate New Energy. Eating new foods, awaking and sleeping at different times; seeing and experiencing new places and even wearing different clothes all serve to move stagnant energy in our bodies, minds and spirits.
Consider Possibilities. Once out of our regular behaviour patterns, humans naturally become more observant. Seeing other cultures or even different neighbourhoods offers up other ways of doing regular human stuff, like fashion, food and even acceptable/not acceptable behaviour. I am always fascinated to think that the structures I believe make me civilized here, in my western culture can be considered vulgar or distasteful elsewhere in the world. When out and about, if there’s anything that sparks your curiosity, consider that it may be something you can add to or a way to adjust your way of being.
Eureka’s. Again, when we are out of our habitual behaviour mode, our brain goes to work to make connections where there weren’t any before using the newly introduced external environmental stimuli. Random problems you’ve been previously unable to solve may miraculously get that resolution. A bona fide ‘light bulb moment’ is a very real possibility when your brain gets distracted by new things. Along the same lines, creativity in general is activated when your brain is exposed to new sights, sounds and sensations. How can you use what you are experiencing to create something in your life?
Rest and Renew. I truly agree with the adage ‘a change is as good as a rest.’ Breaking from the usual has a natural restorative element. We usually give ourselves permission to rest more, relax and not worry so much—all great things for our general health—when we are away from home. However, do try not to pack so much activity into your vacation that you return more tired than when you left.
I will be vacating in the next few days and be gone for a bit. I hope to return restored. A recovered desire to care, my sense of humour and some great ideas would be nice too.
I don’t really need an excuse to take a vacation, I am full on aware of the benefits of abandoning set routines and trying new things, but if you need permission for a well-deserved break, remember, you can always call me, I hand out official permission slips!