Most of us don’t have months where we’re free to frolic and play. We usually get a matter of weeks to do whatever we want. Those few weeks have the opportunity to help keep us going through the daily grind.
Our travel plans matter.
We’re all different, so it makes total sense that we need and want different types of travel experiences. Yet we don’t want to get so compliant and book something just because we want to get away to any place, any way.
It’s time to really think about how you use those vacation days, taking into account your personality, your current lifestyle, and your hopes for the future.
Check out the statements below to see which one resonates the most with you. Then, use our suggestions as a jumping off point into travel bliss.
I’m exhausted! I just need to recharge.
Travel shows and adventurous friends may make you feel like you need to trek the Himalayas to really make the most of your vacation, but when you’ve been working at full speed, you may need to simply recharge.
Your vacation should inspire peace and quiet and be somewhere your phone can’t vibrate. We get it if you just want to kick back on a cruise or at a luxury resort. But another option – and one that may help with the stresses and strains of life when you get home – is a wellness retreat.
These special centres, featuring activities like meditation, yoga, and gentle Qi Gong are perfect for a mental vacation. Let us take you there mentally: picture yourself on a beach with the sun on your back, the sand between your toes, and the waves kissing the shore. Sound divine?
Check out the Present Moment Retreat Centre in Mexico, or the silent retreat at Deerheart Sanctuary in BC, Canada.
I’m in a slump! I want to improve myself.
You feel like you have untapped potential and can’t remember the last time you learned something new. And while you don’t have time to sign up for a ten-week course at home, you’d love to use your vacation to explore your talents and become a more interesting person who has more going for them than a Netflix subscription.
There are so many options out there for you! Obvious contenders if you want to get in shape are yoga/boot camp vacations, but if you’re looking to improve your mind then why not spend two weeks learning a new language? You can also look into cooking classes, polishing your photography skills, or try your hand at sculpture, painting, ceramics, or even woodwork.
This vacation may even create a new hobby.
I haven’t had time for others! I need to work on relationships.
There are tons of romantic vacation ideas out there if you need some quality time with your better half, but don’t forget about the energy and love you get from friends and family. When was the last time you got your old buddies all together or went away with your parents?
Great options for easy adventures include close-to-home glamping (bring marshmallows, wood for the fire, and start digging up those high school memories) or an island getaway that doubles as a family reunion with cocktails on the ready to diffuse any tension.
I’m caught up in my own problems! I want to help others.
When you find yourself complaining about those “first world problems”, it’s time for a serious shift in perspective. The quickest way to do that is to help those less fortunate. Even though it may seem like a tech meltdown isn’t the worst thing that can happen, these vacations will give you a new outlook.
Volunteer vacations have been around for a long time and these days, there are a ton of projects around the world that are safe, well organized, and run in a sustainable way. You can do anything from working in an orphanage in Africa to farming in South America.
Check out reputable sites like Projects Abroad, One World 365, and Global Volunteers for opportunities.
I’m bored. I need a real challenge.
When your biggest challenge is deciding what to wear in the morning, or avoiding your boss at the office, you know it’s time to get out there and push yourself. Skydiving in New Zealand, mountain trekking in Peru, or scuba diving in Thailand are just a few of the activities that will jolt you out of your comfort zone.
But if you’re looking for something totally off the beaten track, there’s always volcano boarding in Nicaragua, ice climbing in Quebec and wilderness survival training in Utah.
The perfect vacation doesn’t start with booking a flight or buying a guidebook. It starts with you deciding exactly what you need, and going after it.
We hope that you’re already packing a bag. Because life’s too short not to take unforgettable vacations.
