Blog
How to Be on Vacation Everyday Part II
by Alison Miller
July 7, 2011
For the last Tiara newsletter, I wrote an article about “how to be on vacation every day.” Fundamentally this article was about waking up out of the trance of thought that compels into believing that we must be doing something at all times convincing us that we don’t have time to pause or take a break. This trance is a bit like being asleep in life only we happen to be awake. We move thought life entranced by our own thoughts unaware of how they are blinding us to the beauty, joy, and wonder of life all around us and the reality that we need a break and that it is far easier to take one than we think! You can read the full article here.
Since I wrote the article, I have been experimenting a great deal with taking mini-vacations throughout the day even when I am very busy and have a long to-do list, piles of laundry, a full in-box and many unreturned voicemails. I have been taking short walks around my neighborhood, reading a magazine for 15-20 minutes, eating lunch outside, listening to birds and noticing the plants in my garden. I had a BBQ party with neighborhood friends and let everyone bring a dish so I didn’t have much preparation to do. I actually swam in the pool during the party and relaxed trusting that everyone would enjoy themselves whether I was an active hostess or not. Here is what I have found in my vacation experimenting. One, sometimes the mini-vacations are very joyful and relaxing and sometimes I can’t seem to unwind and stop my brain from wandering back to my desk or rehearsing mental to-do lists. It seems that one secret to enjoying and being willing to take mini-vacations is to be willing to stink at it sometimes. I don’t give up just because it didn’t work out today. I try again!
A second thing I am seeing is how I can increase my ability to take real and meaningful mini-vacations by focusing on both my beliefs and my behavior. Left unchecked, my brain will convince me that I don’t have time to take a break. It will whip me into action scaring me with imagined negative consequences for failing to act. I can see that I have lots of “anti-vacation” beliefs such as the classic, “I don’t have time” and “I need to make money.” Then there are other more sneaky beliefs such as, “Two more emails and then I’ll take a break” or “I just need to get through this week.” So when I notice that I have become a doing zombie with little time to just be, it is always a clue that it is time to check into what I am believing and how I am talking myself into doing more instead of pausing and deliberately enjoying life. Then I seek to take on a “pro-vacation” belief and act as if I believe the belief. Two of my favorites are “Mini vacations are my access to joy and experiencing the life before me” and “The purpose of life is to be present and enjoy it.” Sometimes these beliefs seem true and sometimes beliefs of the old “I don’t have time” variety crowd them out. What is a key practice for me is to keep taking action, even very small actions aligned with the pro-vacation beliefs. Such action has me wake up to life and enjoy it more. I connect to life more deeply and use my five senses to be mindful of so many of the amazing things about living a human life. As a result of mini vacations, I feel more creative, rested and focused and I am consequently more productive in the time I dedicate to work. By engaging in “vacation behavior,” I can see that my beliefs are changing…I actually believe I have time to vacation in everyday life. And an interesting thing has been happening. I am getting better at moving between work and “vacationing” and they are even starting to blend together where it feels like I am doing both at the same time!
How do you “vacation” on a daily basis?
What beliefs get in the way of taking a break?
What new beliefs/behavior could you take on to practice vacationing each day?
If you would like to learn more about how you can learn to vacation in everyday life, please join us for the upcoming Teleconnect (it is free) on Tuesday July 12 from 1:30 to 2:15CT. Click here to RSVP!
I have been practicing taking mini vacations and agree that when I do it and I relax into taking one, I see the world, am present to all that is going on, see all the colors, hear the sounds, smell the smells. AND sometimes I can’t settle in. It isn’t easy to just BE with that (I really should be working, I have too much to do, someone will be mad if I am not back soon, etc etc) so just as we have practiced about driving the bus, I have a conversation with myself that the “chatter” just is and it’s okay. I am doing the best I can.
This instead of beating myself up.
I know that when I take mini vacations, I am more productive, bring joy to myself and others more easily and feel better. One step at a time!