For the next few moments, picture this. You are sitting under the warm shade at the beach. The crowds around you are slowly starting to disperse – the sun no longer at its peak as it slowly sets. You watch as the waves gently crash over shore. The sand soft, with the perfect amount of warmth, glistens from the pulsing light hitting its surface. You sip another cocktail on your beach bed as you hear afro music lightly playing in the background. In this moment, life feels simple, easy and stress free.
There are several known health advantages that can be derived from taking a break from your day-to-day routine. Your general health and well-being can benefit from a vacation in the following ways: It can reduce overall stress, lower the risk of heart diseases, and reduce burnout. However, we unfortunately cannot take more than a few vacations annually.
Ever noticed that some of our best ideas come from when we are in the shower? Or how when we come back to a paper or project that we walked away from, we suddenly begin to notice small mistakes that we did not catch at first? We’ve all heard of the saying “Mind Over Matter”. This phrase suggests that the mind can be used as a form of willpower to overcome physical problems. The vacation mindset can help you do just that! Simply put, the vacation mindset is a sense of ease, engagement, and enjoyment. So how do we channel this mentality when the workload keeps piling, the deadlines keep approaching, and there’s always a never-ending pool of meetings? Here are 3 ways you can incorporate the “Vacation Mindset” to make every day feel a little more like a vacation, and a little less like work.
Channel Your Playful Side
When we are on vacation, we may sometimes reignite a childlike sense of fun. Due to the change of environment, we allow our minds to rest and not be on full work mode. One can simply transfer this same attitude into the office. You can channel your playful side at work with a simple smile which can improve your mood and brighten the day of a colleague. Changing your environment with creative reminders is also a great way to spark an idea and channel a creative vision. Finally, allow yourself to ask “what if” questions. We always tell children to reach for the stars, but we forget that we too were once these children and the same statement continues to be applicable to us. When we were children, we dreamt of things that seemingly felt impossible then, but are closer within our reach now. It is important to ask these questions and explore the possibilities of the impossible. Just because something seems difficult, does not mean it cannot be done.
Embrace New Experiences
To keep this vacation mindset going, we have to be ready to embrace new experiences. Go try that new food spot in Mikocheni, go to the movies on your own, plan activities with your friends that make you feel like tourists in your country. The best way to learn, grow and make great connections, is by embracing new experiences.
Take Regular Breaks
Never underestimate the power of taking a break. Stepping out of your regular environment might be all you need to keep sane in a hectic work environment. With the workloads piling, taking short breaks throughout the day is an excellent way to increase concentration, reduce stress and boost your energy, performance and creativity. You don’t have to travel to an exotic location to have access to the vacation mentality. However, taking a break from work and other daily stresses is essential for achieving your optimal wellbeing.
To get into holiday mode while sitting at your desk, use the aforementioned tactics and see how they work for you!
Written by: Trust
