The Secret to Leaving Vacation Feeling Refreshed
Updated: Aug 31
Leaving vacation feeling more drained than when you arrived? Practicing creativity can help you make the most of the little time you have off.
When work burns us out and leaves us ready for a break, oftentimes, that’s when we whip out the “best places to go on a budget vacation” Google search. Then we head to the beach, eat and drink our hearts out, read that book that’s been sitting on the side table for a month, and come home still feeling drained. Luckily, with a few tweaks to the way you vacation, you can leave your vacation feeling refreshed and ready for a new week.
In the episode The Real Cure For Burnout Isn’t Rest—It’s Creativity from The Liz Moody podcast, Moody discusses implementing creative expression into daily life with her guest, Katina Bajaj, a creative health scientist and the co-founder and chief science officer of Daydreamers. They dive into how creativity can have a hugely positive impact on your mood and future productivity; the U.K. is even using creativity as a social prescription.
There are a few pillars to keep in mind when looking for the perfect ways to embrace creativity on your vacation, whether you’re fighting loneliness on a solo trip or trying to stay sane while traveling with family. Hitting each of them will increase your chances of getting true, effective rest while traveling.
Take control of tension
Traveling naturally introduces autonomy, as well as difficulties. There’s no way to completely avoid stress and tension while traveling, but you can control your reaction when plans don’t go your way. Reframing the situation helps, but so does taking control of what you can from the start, and I mean from the very start. Having something to ground you all day can make setbacks seem much smaller.
Let go of the status quo and dress in a way that makes you feel good, even if you don’t completely blend in with the locals. If you’re traveling with a buddy, be sure to see the things you want to see, even if your friend is interested in something else. It’s okay to split up for an afternoon and go solo.
The opposite can also be true; adding tension to little situations you always have fun with. If you’re staying in an Airbnb and have access to a kitchen, buy the ingredients for a simple local dish and try cooking it without the recipe. It’ll be hard, but introducing constraints to tasks you’re used to develops your resilience.
Flexing these mental muscles sets your mind up to let inevitable disappointments and stressors roll off your back a bit easier.
Initiate fresh habits and ideas
Introducing novelty into your life sparks excitement, and keeping an open mind improves mental flexibility. If you’re an adventurous traveler — curious about new ideas, experiences, places, and ways of being — you’re hitting those points naturally.
Fight autopilot on vacation by listing 10 kinds of food you could eat in the area, and pick something you wouldn’t normally go for. Instead of sitting on the beach the entire trip, add one new activity or adventure to the itinerary each day. Even taking a new route to the coffee shop you walk to every morning can offer a bit of novelty.
If you signed up for a paint and sip, allow yourself to release perfectionism and say, “I had a good time, so it doesn’t matter if my painting is perfect.” Take a class where you learn how to make five different kinds of pasta, to learn something new while opening your mind to the numerous possibilities.
Slow down, take it all in
Being fully absorbed in what you’re doing is easier said than done, but it’s worth it. Especially while traveling. Just sit back and take in your surroundings with a sense of awe and wonder. Doing this may make you aware of how small you are in this big world, but reframing that idea into gratitude for the opportunity to be part of it makes a huge difference.
Put the camera away for a bit and just appreciate the beauty of the ocean — or museum, or chapel. Sit at a cafe without your phone, even without a book, to go a step further. Focus on a painting or flower for a touch longer than you would normally, and see what stands out. Notice little things that amaze you. Find gratitude for the bustling foreign city you’re in, or ground your feet into the surf and feel the ocean lap over your ankles.
Find what leaves you feeling refreshed
Getting your mind off the life you’re escaping for a bit is the best way to refresh. Take your time while you’re on vacation, force yourself to slow down, and appreciate the little things you’re experiencing.
Do some expressive writing or doodling to cognitively offload at the start of each day.
Go on a walk with no headphones, take time to notice the leaves, the wind, and the people.
Sit or stand on the edge of the ocean and ground yourself — feel the coarse sand shifting underneath your feet, notice the noise of the water pushing against the sand, listen to the seagulls, feel the sun on your face.
Sit at a cafe without your phone. Read instead, or just sit with an espresso, people-watch, and make up life stories for the people who walk past.
Experiment with the fashion style of the country or town you’re visiting.
Break away from the group for a small solo adventure one morning or afternoon.
Walk a new route to the spot you’ve been visiting regularly.
Experience a museum or cathedral tour without your phone or camera. Just listen to the guide or read the plaques in silence. Take it all in.
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