Live like you are on vacation. Several years ago I decided that I always (or as much as possible) want to feel like I’m on vacation. I can’t think of anyone who actually likes being stressed out by Mondays or likes dreading to get out of bed in the morning.

I was always one to push as hard as possible, with a hundred things on my plate, until one day I just couldn’t do it anymore. I found myself lying on my couch unable to get up and this became a pattern. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and started trying to get some answers. After I couple of years, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. For more about that read: Health Fitness and My Thyroid.
It was then that I realized that I needed to change my habits and patterns for getting stuff done. What once worked for me just wasn’t going to cut it anymore.

LIVE LIKE YOU ARE ON VACATION

Stop doing things because you have to do them but rather because you want to. Sure there are some things that you will still have to do because life dictates them, but be honest with yourself. If you really don’t want to do something then don’t do it. For the things that you have to do, be mindful while you are doing them. Household chores kind of suck but they need to get done. Instead of doing everything at once and hating every moment, do a little bit here and there and focus on the activity. By being present, you’ll learn to enjoy everyday tasks much more and by default they will be less annoying and stressful.

Workout regularly and stop giving reasons for why you aren’t. When I was still a trainer (and even now, if we are being honest) I heard so many excuses disguised as reasons for why someone isn’t being physically active. Instead of having the mindset that you “have to” workout, tell yourself that you “want to” workout with no expectations. Imagine the feeling you have after a great sweat session when your muscles are sore and you feel a certain accomplishment. It may be a challenge at first, but this mindset is one that will quickly feel natural. Besides, if you don’t have your health then none of this really matters.

Stop crying about the life you wish you had and start living your life you have. Always living through others is not going to get you anywhere. This is about learning to appreciate and savour the little moments before working on changing the big picture.

• Get outside every single day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Close your eyes and focus on breathing deeply.
• Spoil yourself by buying some luxurious bath products that you use everyday and don’t save just for special occasions.
• Don’t look at your phone before you’ve had your morning coffee. Take this time to yourself, savour the first sip and inhale the aroma. If that means you have to wake up 15 minutes earlier then so be it.
• Instead of dreading Monday mornings, focus on all the good/fun things that you will do during the week. This could be anything as little as buying a guilty pleasure magazine or as big as going for a spa day. There are no rules.

Surround yourself with things you love. I get it, you might not be able to lounge outside all day but you can create a work space that makes you smile. Whether you are working from home or at an office, a cluttered desk will always stress you out.

• Buy some fresh flowers or a beautiful potted plant and keep it in your line of sight.
• If you like inspirational quotes, hang one or two on your wall or just some beautiful art that relaxes you.

Make “no” your go to word and be okay with it. For many of us this is the hardest thing to do, but it’s necessary to learn if you want to feel that vacation freedom. I think that all too often we spend too much time doing things that we really don’t want to do and that aren’t necessary to life.

Plan mini vacations. This can be an hour in the park enjoying the sunshine or a day trip or a whole weekend away. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s just a way to remove yourself from the daily grind. The more you do this the easier it will be to leave your work at work because believe me when I say that nothing is so important that you need to be thinking about it all the time without a break.

I get that not many of us can afford to actually live like we are on a perpetual vacation, but if you start adding the small things into your daily schedule you’ll find yourself getting less stressed or at the very least, handling it better. After all, the best part of a vacation is that feeling of freedom.

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