Five Ways To Take A Vacation Without Taking A Vacation

Last month Along The Purpose Path was about how to identify and stop the energy drains that leave you feeling exhausted and out of balance. I outlined how energy is one of your most valuable resources and invited you to start thinking about how to reserve more energy for yourself.

Now, I'd like to offer a suggestion on how to actually build energy and begin to create energy reserves.

One of my favorite ways to recharge my batteries is to take a vacation. Vacations traditionally are defined as a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation especially when there is suspension of school, or business activities. Vacations are usually, unfortunately associated with travel and a commitment of time and money, making them not easily achievable without a lot of planning.

All a vacation is really is a break in your routine with the accompanying positive mental shift that helps you fully absorb and receive the benefits. The key to success is to be as present as possible and remind yourself to fully soak in what you need whether your vacation is for one hour or three weeks. Begin by making sure you clear your space and maximize your ability to receive.

How can you receive the energy building benefit from a vacation without actually taking one? Can you achieve the desired result of rest, pleasure and relaxation within the day-to-day structure of life?

Here are some delicious suggestions:

1. Take a vacation from your thoughts. Your mind is a wonderful, essential part of life. Have you noticed how it likes to work on overtime? Perpetual thinking, worrying, and planning can be exhausting and often counter productive. Give yourself permission to take a vacation from thinking. Periodically, set aside some time to let it all go: perhaps, meditate. Put your thoughts on paper, they'll be there when you return to them. An added benefit is, by taking a step back, you'll gain fresh perspective and come back even stronger.

2. Take a day off and plan your favorite activity. If planning a week or two of vacation time is not realistic, plan a day. Clear your schedule of everything and either plan to do nothing, (if that's heaven to you) or plan a day of "I've always wanted to?" and do it.

3. Plan a special weekend. Be a tourist in your own town. Try new restaurants, explore neighborhoods, or attend a cultural event. One of the ruts it's easy to get into is "same old, same old". Challenge yourself to see your world through fresh eyes.

4. Spa night. This is a personal favorite. It was a much-loved activity I shared with my daughter when she was little. Now that she's grown and creating her own rituals, it's a retreat I enjoy as solitary time. Lock yourself in the bathroom with all your favorite hair and body products and do it up. Light candles, play your favorite music, soak in the tub until you're wrinkled. Pamper yourself.

5. Change it up. Here's where your creativity comes into play. The idea is to make your normal routines new. For example: sleep in a different room, take a break from TV and read engaging novels, (not self-help books). Create themes around mealtimes; bring Mexico or Italy into your kitchen. Spend a rainy Saturday watching old comedies. As Milton Berle said, "Laughter is an instant vacation".

I'm off now to take a vacation from my own full life. Dinner with my husband in our favorite end ?of-the-week Mexican restaurant, I'll wear my favorite jeans and imagine we're in Mexico?It's all in the attitude.

It's YOUR life?live it completely!

Helaine Iris is a certified Life Coach, writer and teacher who loves her life. She works with individuals, and self-employed professionals, who want to thrive in their business while crafting a life that's in absolute alignment with their highest ideals, deepest values and gracefully masters the complexities of modern living. For a solution focused, free initial consultation visit her website http://www.pathofpurpose.com or email her helaine@pathofpurpose.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Overcoming The Fear Of Money

Many people, it seems, have a fear of money. Does... Read More

What Is Your Legacy of Success?

Success! Easy to talk about, but difficult to achieve. Or... Read More

Do You Know Whats The #1 Success Secret Is?

How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More

Discover Your Path to Success - Part 3

If you have read this far, we both know you... Read More

Changing Your Luck

In this week's New Age Notebook, I am going to... Read More

How to Succeed for the Rest of Your Life

I spoke recently with the owner of a large clothing... Read More

Taking Responsibility

Everything you are or ever will be is completely up... Read More

Clues for Success: Finding Answers Right in Front of Your Face

An old fable tells about a religious man and a... Read More

You are a Genius - Unlocking the Power of the Mind

(Excerpted From The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan - Pillar... Read More

Who Else Wants to Keep Failing?

Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More

What Do You Need To Do To Be Successful?

What do you need to do to be successful? If... Read More

You Are What You Believe

The most important quality you can ever develop is having... Read More

What Are the Nine Bodyparts of a Better Life?

Your Head, think about what you want and move towards... Read More

What ARE the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind?

If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?Becoming a millionaire... Read More

Top Ten Success Strategies

1. Believe in yourself and what it is you do.... Read More

Plants, Herbs and Roots For Prosperity

Plants of all kinds (including trees), herbs and roots have... Read More

Top 10 Miraculous Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal

In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary... Read More

Authentic Success

A More Effective WayI own a stack of self improvement... Read More

Become a Dreamer!

Cool Facts: Walt Disney went bankrupt several times before he... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Throw A Success Shindig

Once you've made it...throw a Success Shindig! Of course you... Read More

Success Formula Revealed - How You Can Apply The Ultimate Success Formula?

When you analyze the traits of successful people, you will... Read More

17 Extraordinary Human Capacities

People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are... Read More

The Curse of Success Geniuses

Don't talk to me about how to succeed! I've read... Read More

Nothing Comes Easy

I am constantly approached by people when I am speaking... Read More

The Fuel That Drives The Ultimate Lifestyle

In a recent article (What is The Ultimate Lifestyle), I... Read More

Why Questions are so Important for Self Improvement and Success

Asking questions is one of the most basic ways that... Read More

The Amazing Success Secret Anyone Can Start Using Today

However there is one success secret that costs nothing. And... Read More

Three Gratifying Ways To Add Abundance To Your Life

Abundance is intangible, spiritual and attracts energy. To attract this... Read More

Elements of Success

There are twelve necessary elements involved in achieving success:1. Spend... Read More

Success - Overcoming Bodily Conditions Which Seem Impossible of Change

Conditions differ from circumstances. Circumstances are changeable conditions which merely... Read More

How to Lose Your Money, Fake Your Destiny with Great Success

Everyone talks about how to be successful through hard work... Read More

Why Many People Fail to Succeed

You are never a failure until you accept defeat as... Read More

Succeed !

Are you successful? What does that word mean to you?... Read More