How do you prepare when you go on holiday? Me, I make lists. Lists of what I need to take with me. Lists of what I’d like to do when there. Lists of reminders so I don’t forget anything either leaving or returning.
Now that I’m 4/5ths the way through my holiday time I can (again) confirm that we over-plan, over-list, and create unattainable ‘things to do’ agendas. Gosh, for my trip I planned to do more work than I do from my office! How insane is that? Hint…pretty insane…
So now, I’m making a brand new list. The stuff that I’ve learned while here. And I’m jotting it down while it’s still fresh in my mind.
- Pack light. Anything I didn’t bring that I find I need I can get wherever I go to.
- Review my list and edit – remove at least 50% of the items marked down.
- Remember that I’m allowed to take a break and chill. If I’m always worried about crossing items off a list, I won’t get the R&R I so badly need.
- Take time to fully engage my imagination. Visioning my future is the most important part of getting the future I want. Your imagination lets you examine options and explore them to sort of try them on for size. I’ve often gone through a visioning session with the sobering realization that what I thought I wanted wasn’t so. Our lives during regular working time are far too full of interruptions and distractions to really let us explore fully. Vacations are beautifully made for this activity. The most important work I’m doing while here is digging deep into myself and setting my goals for the upcoming year.
- Sometimes even diving into your imagination creates too much noise in your brain. Take time each day to simply be. Be quiet, be calm, be contented in the moment. Give yourself the space to hear what your heart wants to tell you. Then listen.
Do you have rituals, or just stuff you do, to prepare yourself for a vacation? I’d love to hear about it!
Share this post
