vacation

Take a Vacation!

By in Living Well, Travel Tags: ,

Cabin_on_Lake

This has been a difficult year for everyone. There have been a lot of challenges. It’s been stressful and tiring. And I think we could all use a break.

This is one of the biggest reasons why psychologist Art Markman suggests that taking a vacation this summer is so important. After the year that we’ve had, we need to relax. In addition, taking a vacation will make us better employees! Research has shown that when people are rested, they’re better able to bounce back from setbacks, generate creative solutions, and get work done.

But according to Markman, you need to do this right. You can’t just go swimming at a nearby lake for the day. You need to take a truly restorative vacation. Here’s what he suggests:

  • Do some planning – If possible, Markman suggests that you plan to take your vacation about three months from now. Research suggests that you’ll be more likely to commit to taking a vacation if you have some time to plan. In addition, when a vacation is taking place three months or more in the future, you can spend your time thinking about all the fun you’ll have, instead of worrying about specific details.
  • Take a week off – It can sometimes take a couple days to stop thinking and worrying about work. So you should take a week off, if possible. Give yourself the time to savor the fact that you’re truly on vacation.
  • Leave your house – “Staycations” can be fun and they’re certainly economical. But according to Markman, if you spend your vacation at home, you won’t be able to completely relax. You’ll notice the laundry that needs to be done, the dishes that need to be washed, etc. Getting away from all of that will give you the break you need.
  • Prepare your coworkers – Talk to your manager about the time that you’re planning to take off and the projects that you’re working on. Make sure that your managers and coworkers have the information they need to manage any issues that might come up while you’re away. If your coworkers are prepared, things will run smoothly in your absence, and you won’t have to worry about what you’ll be coming back to.
  • Put that phone away – When you’re on vacation, don’t read your work emails, messages, etc. Remember that you’ve given your coworkers the information they need to keep things running in your absence. So trust them to do their jobs, and stop checking your phone.

Now if it’s just not possible for you to take a week off this summer, Markman suggests using a personal day now and then. Taking one day off isn’t as restorative as taking a week off, but it can still be very beneficial. Just make sure not to spend the whole time running errands. Markman suggests using half of the day to get some tasks done (so they’re not hanging over your head) and the other half on things that make you feel rested and happy, like spending time with a friend, going for a hike, or reading a good book. Enjoy!

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Markman, A. (2021, May 12). We all really need a vacation. Here’s how to make the most of it. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2021/05/we-all-really-need-a-vacation-heres-how-to-make-the-most-of-it

Use Your Vacation Time

By in Living Well Tags: , , , ,

Two beach chairs and colorful umbrella

Working Americans don’t tend to use all of their vacation days. A recent study indicated that more than half of Americans don’t use all of their time off.

These employees often report feeling stressed about the notion of taking time away from the office. They claim that they’re too busy with projects, things would fall apart at the office without them, or their bosses might think less of them.

In truth, however, research has shown that vacations generally have an extremely beneficial effect. People who use their vacation days tend to be more productive and successful – not less.

  • Vacations make you more energetic and motivated – Having time away from the office can help you to feel more energetic, enthusiastic, and motivated when you return. Having the opportunity to rest and relax will help you to be a more creative and productive employee.
  • Vacations help you to gain perspective – If you’re always bogged down in your everyday tasks and worries, you’ll never have the opportunity to reflect on your career and where it’s headed. Gaining a little perspective can help you to adjust your course, if needed.
  • Vacations help you to get ahead – When you return to the office after a vacation feeling relaxed, motivated, and energized, your boss will take notice. And that could make all the difference if you’re working towards a promotion.

So go ahead and use your vacation time! Not only will you get a much-needed break from the office, you’ll also be more productive, motivated, creative, and successful.

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Lastoe, S. (n.d.). Why taking all of your vacation days gets you ahead, according to career coaches. The Muse. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/why-taking-all-of-your-vacation-days-gets-you-ahead-according-to-career-coaches

Transform Any Weekend Into a Revitalizing Vacation

By in Living Well Tags: , ,

Relaxing_on_Weekend

Do you often feel worn out at the end of your workweek? Do you wish you could take a vacation, but you don’t have the time, energy, or money to plan one? Well, here’s some good news! It’s possible to turn any weekend into a refreshing, revitalizing, mini vacation! Just follow these steps:

  • Free up your time – I’m sure you probably have chores that you’ve got to get done over the weekend. But if possible, try to get some of them done during the workweek (either before or after work). Your goal is to free up as much of your weekend time as possible. You need to have time to relax, without a long “to-do” list staring you in the face.
  • Act like a tourist – Once you’ve freed up some time, you can act like a tourist! There are probably a lot of cool places in your area that you’ve never been to. Go see them! Or, if you don’t feel like making any definite plans, just go to an interesting area or a neighboring town, wander around, and see the sights.
  • Get comfy – Is there anything more soothing and revitalizing than comfy clothes? I think not. So put on your favorite t-shirt and your softest pair of pajama pants, sit down in your comfiest chair, allow yourself the luxury of losing track of time, and relax.
  • Do fun things around the house – Do you like to sit on your couch and read? Do you like to garden? Do you like to cut up old clothing and then try to sew it back together in a cool, fashionable way? (That’s probably just me.) Think about the hobbies that you never seem to have time for, and then give yourself the time to indulge in those activities.
  • Eat something new – If you like to cook, try a new recipe. If you hate to cook, try a new restaurant. You don’t have to travel to try new types of food. You just need to be a little adventurous.

Transforming your weekend into a relaxing mini vacation is not only fun – it’s also good for your mental and physical health. So relax and enjoy yourself! If you allow yourself some time to de-stress, you’ll be well-rested and ready for work on Monday.

 

Breaux, A. (2015, June 20). Turn any regular weekend into a refreshing mini vacation: 5 ideas. Apartment Therapy. Retrieved from: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/turn-any-regular-weekend-into-a-refreshing-mini-vacation-220345

What to Do When You Really Need a Vacation but You Don’t Have the Time to Take One

By in Living Well Tags: , , ,

Woman_Thinking

Work can be tough sometimes. Heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and interpersonal conflict can make you feel stressed out, exhausted, and in serious need of a vacation. But what if a vacation just isn’t possible? What should you do when you need to get away but you can’t? Author Kat Boogaard offers three suggestions:

  • Change the look of your office – If you’re feeling stressed and unhappy whenever you’re sitting in your office, just the sight of your regular office décor might be enough to trigger negative emotions. So Boogaard suggests that you change things up by adding a new plant or picture, shifting your desk, changing your desktop wallpaper, or even working outside, if possible. She claims that the new look will give you a more positive perspective on things.
  • Adopt a new routine – Do you have a daily routine? If so, you might want to consider switching it up. According to Boogaard, changing your routine can help you to feel more focused and creative. She claims that doing something new (or doing the same things in a different order) can appeal to your desire for novelty and help you to be more flexible in your thinking. So instead of exercising in the evening, try exercising in the morning instead. Or instead of eating your lunch at your desk, try eating it in the office kitchen. Even a small change could have a positive effect.
  • Take a break – When you’re at work, take occasional breaks. Go get a snack, chat with a coworker, or take a short walk. Research has shown that these breaks will help you to be more effective and productive. In addition, in the evenings and on weekends, try your best to unplug. If possible, don’t work after hours or check your work email. Do something enjoyable and relaxing, and separate yourself from your job.

So there you have it. If you feel like you need a vacation but you just can’t get away, give one or more of these techniques a try. And please feel free to share your results in the Comments section below!

 

Boogaard, K. (n.d.). 3 ways to recharge when you can’t just “take a vacation.” The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-ways-to-recharge-when-you-cant-just-take-a-vacation

Travelers and Tourists

By in Travel Tags: , ,

Lesvos

There is nothing I like more than traveling — everything about it. I enjoy airplanes (even the food), strange hotels, languages I don’t understand, long airport layovers, and meeting people with different perspectives on life. I even like the smell of jet fuel!

Sometimes people talk about the difference between being a tourist and a traveler. I don’t want to be judgmental about this — I sometimes like to be a tourist. Last year, we opted to go to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. We had a wonderful time playing in the pool and enjoying cool drinks when the sun went down. But we didn’t really interact much with the local community. We were definitely tourists.

We did something a little different this year. We decided to go to Lesvos, a wonderful Greek island in the northeastern Aegean just five miles across the sea from Turkey. We stayed in a family-run, locally-owned hotel, and ate our meals in little, out-of-the-way restaurants where most of the customers were Greek. Whenever we could, we explored the island, hoping to simply get lost and enjoying everything the island had to offer.

The Greek economic crisis was at its height, the banks closed for a week, and everyone talked to us passionately about their perspective on the crisis. We rented little scooters and explored villages so far off the beaten track that we were amazed that there were still villages in Europe so cut off from the real world. Lesvos was also facing another crisis. Every day, dozens of rafts arrived from Turkey filled with refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The village where we were staying was a little divided. In the true tradition of Greek hospitality, most people wanted to do everything they could to help these people who had given up their homes and jobs to find safety in Europe. But the huge numbers of refugees worried them. How much could they do when they were facing a terrible crisis themselves? Some people were less sympathetic, and wanted the government to take steps to protect their shores. We sympathized with the people who wanted to help, and we stocked up on food, water, and other provisions when we had our rental car to give to the refugees as they undertook their forty-mile walk to the island’s capital, Mytilene. We gave a ride to a wonderful Afghan woman and her daughter. This time we fitted into the traveler category.

I have lived in several countries, and it’s easy for me to be a traveler rather than a tourist, but I advise everyone to take small steps in this transition. If you do it, you will gain so much more insight into the countries you visit, and it will be easier to discover the truth of the saying that travel provides the only opportunity to spend money and become richer at the same time.

Here are a few tips that I believe can help enhance the travel experience:

  1. Do business in the community. It is sometimes amazing how people repair things in developing countries rather than replace them. I used to travel with an old pair of shoes in need of repair. In the countries I visited, I would find a cobbler to repair my shoes! (I have had shoes fixed in Iran, Indonesia, Peru, and Mexico!) If you don’t have a broken pair of shoes, try taking your laundry to a local business. It’s much cheaper than using the hotel laundry and a lot more fun!
  2. Learn just a few words of the language. You don’t have to be good, but you will find people will appreciate your efforts. They might even laugh at you — and laughter is a form of communication that seems to cross borders more seamlessly than anything else.
  3. Don’t worry too much about people overcharging you. On the whole, you won’t be cheated. But even if you are, it’s usually a question of only a small amount. Relax and enjoy the place rather than getting bent out of shape. (That said, be very careful about real theft. Sadly, pickpockets and petty thieves thrive in major tourist spots.)
  4. Make a point of observing. Avoid worrying about how things work better at home. Instead, make a point of noting things that seem to be done better in the places you visit. Write about them and tell your friends about them. This exercise really helps you to thrive when you travel. For example, many escalators in Europe have sensors on them. Instead of being active all day, they work only when someone steps on them. Not only does this save a lot of energy, but it also provides you with some amusement when you see a cross tourist taking the stairs, assuming the escalator isn’t working.
  5. Eat something you’ve never eaten before. You may love it; you may hate it. Either way, you’ll have a story to tell.

With these five tips, I can guarantee that you will make your experience a richer one — and you will become a traveler rather than just a tourist.

 

Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit — The Quick and Dirty Way

By in Travel Tags: , , , ,

Themometer

When you’re on vacation, it’s often important to know what the weather is going to be like. International travelers from the United States often become confused because in almost any other country (apart from the USA), weather forecasts are given using Celsius rather than the Fahrenheit scale that is so familiar to us. We are almost conditioned to understand Fahrenheit but not Celsius!

Using the Fahrenheit scale, we know that 70s means fairly warm and pleasant. 20s means really cold — and we don’t have to think about it. But imagine waking up in an Irish hotel and you’re told that the temperature “is expected to reach a high of 16 today.” Are you going to wear that heavy sweater or is it a day to stroll in the countryside in your shorts and T-shirt?

Most people know the formula to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit:

°C  x  9/5 + 32 = °F

So let’s say you have 16°C.  You’d convert it as follows:

Multiply by 9:  16 x 9 = 144

Divide by 5: 144/5 = 28.8

Add 32: 28.8 + 32 = 60.8

Three steps! It’s not very difficult, but hardly the kind of activity I like to do when I am waking up on a vacation morning. So I have a quick and dirty way of estimating the temperature. I keep two “magic” numbers in my head: 16 and 28. I simply reverse these numbers to convert. So, 16°C = 61°F, and 28°C = 82°F. That’s pretty easy. Not totally accurate because I am .2 degrees off at 61°F and .4 degrees off at 82°F. But it’s certainly accurate enough for vacation time!

So, how about the numbers in between: 21°C, for example? Well, I know what 16°C is 61°F. 21°C is five more than 16°C. I double the difference (5 x 2 = 10). So, my quick and dirty method gives me 71°F. It’s only about one degree less accurate than doing it the old fashioned way, but simple to do while I am half asleep listening to the weather forecast in my Irish hotel.

Or if I have my handy smart phone with me, I simply type “21 C to F” into Google. The answer pops up as 69.8! Perhaps the fastest and most accurate way of all!