We have become so much more connected in our day to day lives. Everywhere we go we have our phones sitting our pocket ready to disrupt our lives. We squeeze more into one day than what seems possible and we do it with less breaks than is healthy. As school begins to loom over our heads, we need to remember to take a break, relax and most importantly ignore that phone. Recently my family took a 48-hour vacation. By the end of it we were ready to come home. How much can 48 hours really do to help?
The first step is to ignore your phone. Just ignore any texts that come in and keep it around so you can contact your family if you’re separated or to look up obscure facts that come up. Use the time that you would be spending on your phone to instead focus on the people around you, build relationships. Most importantly, relax. Ignore your responsibilities, they can truly wait. If it needs to be done before leaving, do it then, if it doesn't get done and there is no way you can finish it, so be it, finish it when you get back.
Step two is to watch something beautiful, connect with nature again. If you're anything like me and hate the heat, the cold, the bugs or the humidity, you need this. Wake up one morning and watch the sunrise, look at the fish, just slow down. Have a significant other? Share this experience with them if possible. The sunrise is one of the most beautiful things to witness. Enjoy the peace.
Step three is to not control the weekend. Take it day by day and wherever the day takes you, go with it. Have some plans to just walk around and enjoy the day without a schedule. I repeat, do not schedule your day. Focus on spending time with people and try to stay with the same people the entire time. If your boat doesn't work, don’t worry. Find another way to spend the time. Were you planning on going somewhere? Go some other way! Storms coming in? Hunker down in your cabin or tent and just chill out with your company.
Step four is let the weekend continue while at home. Don’t immediately start working, keep it light doing what you want to do. And share the beauty with the world. Post some pictures and tell your friends some interesting things that happen.
How to do this all without breaking the bank? Clear your schedule for a weekend and go somewhere nearby, away from the city. Rent a tent or camper, stay on a boat, bring your own food. Go for walks, go on a trip to a city market. With a mentality swich to vacation mode, anything is relaxing.
Now, as I write this, I'm relaxed and ready to go back to work and school in a month. It wasn't long, but I am glad to be back home. Ready to finish the summer and another semester of school.
