Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? I know I have felt that.
OK, Exhale. Let’s talk about how to go on vacation and really be on vacation instead of coming back worse off than when you left for it.
1. Take it slow
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” ~Kahlil Gibran
2. Unplug for part of your stay

3. Make the most of your mornings

4. Find time to be aimless

5. Connect with nature
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” ~John Muir
Fact, nature is good for your health. Don’t believe me? Are you a city-dweller through and through? I feel yea. I am one too; always considered myself a city person and there was a time I assumed nature-seeking was for those hippie tree-hugging types. It wasn’t until I moved to Northern California that I came to appreciate being out in nature in a whole new way. I realized that the cleansing and unclenching that comes from being out in nature even for a few hours.
Ideally, you are able to get out of the major cities and explore the countryside. When I was in Cuba, exploring the small cigar farming town of Vinales was a great break from the hustle of Havana. In Scotland, driving through the vast expanses of rolling hills in the Highlands was a nice change of pace to touristy Edinburgh. If you are in Ireland and around Dublin, head over to the lush Wicklow mountains. In Nicaragua, head to the relaxing, secluded Little Corn Island off the coast. If you are in San Francisco, you can choose between heading north or south for some epic coastal hikes.
If you are not able to peel yourself out of the city limits, perhaps you can find a park in the city. Central Park in New York City, Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, and Alameda Park in Mexico City, all show that city planners know what they are doing when they put parks smack dab in the middle of the city chaos. Of course, there is nothing quite like like the beach to get your soul to relax.
So get out into nature; you might even increase your life expectancy while you are at it!
6. Build wellness into your trip
7. Manage your emotions
“Don’t make a permanent decision for your temporary emotion.” ~Unknown
Don’t get frustrated because things don’t exactly the way you want them to.
I was recently in line for a shuttle bus in Banff, Canada taking us to a beautiful place called Moraine Lake. It was cold and rainy and there was a group of about 40 of us waiting for the shuttle lined up shivering. We were relieved when we saw the shiny, black bus pull up and immediately realized there was no way it would fit all of us in there. The shuttle bus driver told us much the same and a group ahead of us launched into a tirade telling the shuttle bus driver it was preposterous that they didn’t have a larger bus and how ill-organized the whole thing was.
Now, the thing is, the driver has no control over this and while you might think that letting him have it will make you feel better, it’s more likely that the negativity you feel will ruin your morning. I am not suggesting you become Gandhi and absolve yourself of all negativity. Allow yourself to feel frustrated, annoyed or raving mad for a minute or two, then move on from it. You are on vacation after all; don’t you owe it to yourself to fuse it with positive energy?
8. Leave your entitlement attitude behind
This is especially true for those of us traveling from a developed country like the U.S. or U.K. to a developing country. Expecting things to operate just the way it does at home and getting frustrated because they are not is just a gigantic waste of emotional and mental energy.
Remember that the places you visit are not built around you, the tourist. They are built around the people of the place, their lives, rhythms, their culture, and practices. Respect them, take it easy on yourself and those around you, and let some things go. You are much more likely to have an enjoyable time that feels like a true vacation. What’s more, you are more likely to be receptive to ways of life different than your own and truly and empathetically understand the local culture. Isn’t that the whole point of traveling the world anyways – to build bridges of understanding?
9. Ease back into post-vacation reality
OK, now for a super specific and practical suggestion. This is something that truly never occurred to me until more recently. I have always been so keen on making the most of the time I get to spend in a new place that I have never thought about taking an extra day when I return to get adjusted back to the day-to-day. This is especially helpful if you have a long commute back with hours and hours of sitting in an airplane. Needless to say, there is nothing more likely to wipe the memory of a lovely vacation than a 20-hour flight cramped in with minimal leg space eating stale, tasteless airplane food. Now imagine that being the last thing you do before heading back to your day-to-day chores and your work emails? Sounds like a recipe for a meltdown! Baking in a couple of recovery days allowing yourself time to acclimate back, look back at all the pictures you have taken (or better yet all the things you wrote in your journal; see Tip 2) and getting your laundry done might be exactly the buffer you need between vacation and reality.
Another great tip I learned from a colleague was to create a calendar invite for your first day back to work with a summary of where you left things. Believe me, even a long weekend away is enough to erase the memory of the presentation you were working hard on before you left, or that email response you owe your boss. Or perhaps it’s just a reminder to get your Amazon Prime order done as soon you are back so you can restock your fridge.
Send yourself a calendar invite for your first day back reminding yourself of where you left off in real life.
10. Declutter your return

Want tips for a more mindful travel experience so you make the most of your vacation by being present and grounded while being adventurous and curious? Check out my 10 tips for mindful travel.