One Week Vacation or Everyday Indulgence?

The other day, I was chatting with some co-workers at lunch and we were catching up about our summer vacations. I was the only one in the group who didn’t like to go to all inclusive resorts or on cruises. To be honest, I question the practices at most resorts in terms of labour relations, environmental impact and food supply (I’ve written more about this here). I would rather support a smaller tourism company or even a family renting their home. And let’s get real, I may be a tourist myself but I don’t wanna hang around any other tourists. I want to blend in, meet locals and observe the culture as it unfolds before me. I want to go to markets, I want to watch families at coffee shops, I want to picnic and hike.

This was met with some shock:

One very tired coworker: I understand that you want an adventure on vacation. For me, I go to all inclusive resorts to recharge my batteries. Don’t you ever just need to go on vacation because you are EXHAUSTED?

Hmmmmm, interesting point. I mean, yes vacation is an amazing form of rest from the everyday demands of life and I certainly do enjoy it for that reason. But escaping complete and utter exhaustion? I really try to not let myself get so run down that the only way to recover my energy is by getting out of country on a beach getaway.

It took me a while to get to this point. I’ve spent plenty of years pushing myself to my limits and getting burnt out. That stopped when I started questioning why I was punishing my body to such an extreme fatigue. I wanted be more in tune with my body’s needs. I wanted to start doing little things on a regular basis to keep my energy up.  I started questioning why I felt so tired all the time and looking for ways to correct the root cause.

Look, I’m not trying to be an idealist here and wave my disappointed finger at you for not living a life of perfection. I just want to remind us all, as a way to encourage self kindness, that exhaustion is not normal! Barring uncontrollable life circumstances like illness, feeling tired and exhausted deserves your attention right here and right now, not just on vacation. In fact, taking a vacation and then returning to all your same habits and routines that were zapping your energy just keeps you on this vicious cycle.

For me, vacation is about rest, relaxation and adventure. Vacation is a time to reflect and open your mind to new things. By immersing yourself in new surroundings and in a new culture (even if it is still in your own country, the culture of the place will be different than your own home), you gain perspective. Vacation isn’t just about disconnecting, it’s actually about connecting with yourself and taking stock of what you really want when you return**.

Then when you return…do those things. Change your routine so that you add in restorative activities and remove the activities that were sucking the life out of you to begin with.

Here are some examples:

My Greatest Energy Suckers

• Staying up way too late, falling asleep on the couch and then stumbling to the bedroom at 3am with a crane in my neck and unbrushed teeth—eww.
• Not exercising.
• Eating sweet treats, packaged food and just plain crap on the go, because I feel too busy. It makes me feel immediately full and satisfied but just reinforces my energy slump.

My Greatest Energy Givers

• Exercising! Sometimes, I feel too tired to move, but the reality is if I force myself to do lunges and squats I immediately feel better. Blood is pumping, happy hormones are flowing and I feel less tired. My rule is that if I feel too tired to move, I don’t but only for one day. If I feel the same level of tiredness the next day, I get up and exercise and I often feel better. This helps me to make sure that I rest if I truly need it but I don’t because lazy and lethargic.
• Vegetables! Bright green, red, yellow, orange. Eat the rainbow, those vitamins and minerals are life giving.
• Socializing! Sometimes forgetting about your bad day at work, looming deadlines and dreaded meetings is key. Go out with friends or family who love and support you. This always reminds me why I really love my life and puts things into perspective. I’m immediately more energized, inspired and motivated. It’s worth your time to hang out with loved ones.
• Time Alone! While I love my people, as an introvert, I need a lot of time alone. Usually when I’m approaching exhaustion, it’s because I’ve been out in the world too much, scrolling, working and buzzing too much. Quiet time can be so rejuvenating and a vacation in itself.

What about you? What are your greatest energy suckers and givers? Leave a comment below…

**I also recognize the inherent privilege in being able to take a physical vacation. Affording airfare, being able to board a plane/train/bus/boat, the ability to leave work, are not luxuries afforded to us all because of systemic barriers like poverty, precarious work, disability, fear of discrimination, etc. If the term, vacation is neither accessible, nor resonant with you then please replace it with something that is. Perhaps, time alone, window shopping, a picnic in your local park, etc. The point of this essay is that vacation is about more than traveling to an exotic place and sipping on drinks with little pink umbrellas in them. Vacation can be a state of mind–literally anything that rejuvenates you and gives you a new frame of mind. We all deserve that, no matter what.