19 July 2012

Conscious Living: Vacation Day

This post is written by contributing author Shelly Kerry. 

I had the great pleasure of spending last weekend in Portland attending the World Domination Summit. All weekend we were surrounded by big movers and shakers in the creative world, listening to awesome lectures on how to live and work with meaning and meeting incredibly inspiring people from all over the world. The weekend left me with a full heart, a racing mind and utterly exhausted. After returning to a very busy week of work, I need another vacation.

Do you ever find yourself in this situation?

After a vacation spent discovering a new city or visiting relatives you come home needing another week to yourself? I only recently discovered my personal meaning of a true vacation – lying on a beach; phone-less, computer- less and with a stack of really good books. Well right now I am unable to jump on a plane to Mexico but I have discovered a great way to achieve the same results in the comfort of my own home.

I call it Vacation Day and I take mine tomorrow. Tonight when I fall asleep, I will turn off my phone, put in my ear plugs and wake up whenever I want. There will be no plans made and the entire day will be spent doing whatever I want. 

Photo: Shelly Kerry
For natural planners like me, this is much harder than it seems and it has taken me a whole week to mentally plan for it. I know that the rewards will be great.
You definitely deserve a little vacation day too
I would love for you to join me and I have some great advice on giving yourself the space to let it happen.

First, if you live with a husband, wife, partner, family etc. ask them to help you make this vacation day happen. Let them know they can have their own sometime soon but this one is yours. Before your vacation buy them some awesome food, maybe pack their bags, hug them and then send them on their way for a day. Promise that you will love them even more when they return! Just kidding? Not really.

If instead of a household of people to worry about you are like me and you are concerned about appeasing the over-achiever, planner side of you then guess what? You can do everything later. Sadly, yes the dishes will still be there tomorrow. So will the laundry and all the other projects you want to get done when you find spare time. If you wake up on your vacation day with a burning desire to play all your old records, open all the windows and clean the house for the next 12 hours AND can honestly say that you are cleaning because you really, really want to then by all means do it! But if there is any chance that you are doing it because you think you need to then stop. Vacation Day is for only doing things you want to do.

This all may seem incredibly self-centered to you but honestly there is NOTHING egotistical about self-care. I wholeheartedly believe that not taking care of yourself is one of the most selfish things you can do to your family and friends. It might take up to a week to plan for your vacation day. So don’t waste any more time. Go ahead and mark that day on the calendar.


Shelly Kerry is co-owner of Lightbox SF. She is an artist, designer, and motivator. Since 2006 she has been working to build her own jewelry design business, em’s studio, and she wants to share all she’s learned. Shelly knows that building your own art or craft business can often feel lonely and overwhelming. She also understands how much of a struggle it is to balance a “day job” with a budding creative business. Read more about her here. Connect to Shelly via twitter or facebook.

28 comments:

  1. great post, and I can totally relate to this and need this! I am actually doing something similar, but instead of staying home (since I currently live at my husband's grandparents place), I am packing up and going to a local state park that is on Lake Erie (Maumee Bay State Park) with my dog, and am going to do some hiking, swimming and sleeping (literally) under the stars. At first my husband was against it since I was going alone, but I said it is something that will be good for both of us (and it is only about a 30 minute drive from where we live!)

    I just found your blog and am following it now too! Can't wait to read more :)

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    1. Good for you! Taking a break by simply changing the surroundings is so effective!

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    2. Thanks Emily! That sounds lovely. I am from Ohio originally and love love Lake Erie. Enjoy and soak in those stars. Thank for reading Lightbox too!

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  2. That is a good idea! I should try taking a vacay day too! I spend all day catering to everyone else and it'd be nice to turn the tables once in a while!

    Blogging Buddies Team

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    1. I think it is part of the female nature (or were we made to believe so?) to take care of everyone else and put ourselves in the last place but it is good to know that we too need a break and to give it to ourselves!

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    2. I agree Sonya! That's why women are so amazing. But Heather yes, take a little Vacation Day even if it is just a half one. It's amazing, I swear

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  3. Love the idea. I'm thinking about having a Spa Day every week. In my own home of course. We all need ways to relive stress. TFS!

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    1. Anything that helps you relax and change the perspective sounds great. Be that the minutest of changes, it will do wonders, I am sure!

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    2. Ohh.. thank for the motivation. I think that a home spa vacation sound splendid. Perhaps followed by an evening of good movies on the couch

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  4. Great post! I keep saying that I'm going to take a random weekday off from work so that I can relax and do whatever I want.

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    1. Don't let it remain just said! Go ahead and plan one such day today, make room in your schedule for next week, I am sure you will feel extraordinary!

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    2. Thank Amy! I hope you do and I would love to hear how you spend it

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  5. I love this idea. I agree it is important to take care of yourself and having a day is the perfect. I hope to incorporate one of these days in my schedule soon!
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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    1. Oh, if you manage to do that, it would be great, I am sure!

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    2. "Everyday Inspired" - I love that!

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  6. Shelly, I've been blessed with a husband who respects my "me time" and in fact encourages it. As a typical woman, I am too like Heather who commented above, and try to cater to everyone's needs and sometimes I leave my emotions behind. I am glad that my husband can totally replace me and I am sure that whenever I a not around he's doing an amazing job!

    Thank you for this very important post. We need to consciously find time to recharge!

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    1. Thanks Sonya. Sorry I didn't check these comments until today. Such great inspiration.
      I am so happy you have found such a lovely husband - you deserve it!

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  7. I don't have kids, but I'm still one of those people who always feels like there is something I'm supposed to be doing, even if I'm just watching a movie and "relaxing," there's always that nagging voice about the things that need doing. I used to be very good at ignoring that voice, but it gets harder as you get older and have more responsibilities. My bf marvels at the fact that I can simultaneously be thinking/worrying/talking about many different things all at once. I think most women have busy brains, and it makes it difficult to just tune out and be.

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    1. Could you be my soul twin? That feeling that there is always something to be done, even while relaxing... I know it so well! Ignoring the voice in the past brought me to a deep feeling of disappointment with myself. Wow. You just made me realize it wasn't my mother's fault all along. Or did we have similar mothers?

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    2. I am with you ladies. It takes a lot of work for me to relax but the more I do it the easier it is for me to remember how awesome it makes me feel. And I am getting closer to being the calm and compassionate person that I really aspire to be.
      Perhaps its about changing habits?

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  8. This is great advice. We just came back from a visit to my in-laws and I feel like I've spent this entire week trying to catch up with my life. And I am happiest when I'm left alone in my own house...that's the most relaxing for me. Thanks for this!

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    1. Same reason for happiness here :) Embrace your alone time and enjoy it! You can be alone outside in Nature too, it will evoke many more positive emotions!

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    2. Love alone time! So essential.
      Thank you dear!

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  9. Great post! I love this idea... Alone time rocks when you can get it and planning for it is essential! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. I can appreciate this idea, specially the part about leaving phone and internet behind! Nothing like putting yourself through a little adventure!

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    1. Wow isn't it amazing that there was once a time in our life that we actually left the house, went to dinner or a show without a smartphone?
      Sometimes I think having internet access at the palm of my hand is incredible and sometimes it makes my head hurt.
      Turning off or whatever one calls it, we all could benefit from that I think.
      Thanks for reading!

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  11. So I actually did spend my Vacation Day trying really hard not to plan anything beyond what I was doing at the moment. I am such a planner and I am telling you, it was really challenging but I loved it. I woke up when I wanted to, laid in bed until I wanted to, walked around the city with no direction and ended up having a magical day.
    One a month is my current goal. I already marked it on my calendar so I don't plan the month away!

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