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

---

7 Essential Body Language Tips

The secrets of our body language have been around forever... Read More

Live the Dream

To achieve what you want, what you desire, needs a... Read More

Don?t Stop Asking So Many Questions

A few weeks ago I took my boy on a... Read More

10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace - Wayne Dyer Book Mini-Review

Dr. Wayne Dyer published his best-selling book, "10 Secrets for... Read More

Own Your Success

Are you getting frustrated because the work you continue to... Read More

Raise Your Bar: The Power of Yes

Every one of us lives with a ceiling, a belief... Read More

Top 6 Business Success Strategies

"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More

Persistence and Determination: Golden Keys to Reaching Success

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More

Learning From Failure--What To Do When You Blow It!

Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More

Breakfast of Failures

"If you want to increase your success rate, double your... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Never Settle For What You Can Currently Imagine

Never settle for what you can currently imagine You are... Read More

Job and Life Rules to Follow

Decide which game to play. Is winning that... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Have A Pitch Party

Have a "Pitch Party" Invite friends and work together to... Read More

Tiger Woods Secret to Success

Did you see or hear about 'The Masters' golf tournament... Read More

Universal Success Secrets Shared

Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem... Read More

Business Success Secrets: Improving Yourself by 1% Daily

Hey,Josh here from Investor Wealth Academy sitting 29 stories above... Read More

The Power of Small

Routinely, I rise out of bed before the birds, and... Read More

Do You Deserve Success?

Deep down, where it counts, many people do not believe... Read More

Staying Cool When the Job Heats Up

Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of... Read More

Success Doesnt Always Come Easy

On a raw, cold day in the European Alps, Lance... Read More

The #1 Way to Control Your Mind for Success!

People say: "One can't help one's thoughts." But one can.... Read More

A Century of Hope

What would one initially think about someone who dropped out... Read More

Life Issues Pt. 1 - Success

Hello everybody and a good day (or night !) to... Read More

The Four Key Traits of Highly Successful People

Recently, I was asked to write a Top 10 list... Read More

It?s Sure to Succeed

There are "How to" seminars on virtually every business topic.... Read More

I am my Fathers Daughter-An Optimists Viewpoint

One of the greatest compliments I ever received in my... Read More

Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

They say that if you really want to stretch yourself... Read More

Success Lessons From Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales is an interesting Western that I... Read More

How Close Is Your Fortune?

A farmer in Pennsylvania decided to sell his farm, but... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Have A Theraputic Meltdown

Have a therapeutic meltdown It's crunch time: you're two days... Read More

The Power of Mind-Imagery

Today I feel inspired that I should speak more to... Read More

Succeed By Looking Forward

We all want something to look forward to. The best... Read More

True Success is Generous

"Write checks on a regular basis to those who you... Read More