Need a Mental Vacation? Here’s 7 Things to Do Take Your Mind off Life
Everyone talks about a vacation as some grand escape to the Caribbean islands or taking two weeks off of work to travel. However, while that’s one way to look at a vacation physically, sometimes we just need a mental “vacation,” you know a mini break from life.
If you feel like your mind is spinning in a million directions, you most likely could use a little time off. Here’s how:
1. Hop on the Fifty Shades bandwagon and indulge. You won’t regret it, but when you’re staying up past midnight waiting for the next steamy encounter, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
2. Take a mini vacation close to home, but far enough away that you won’t bump into anyone you know. For me, Cape Cod was the perfect fit. I took off for four days with my family, and wasted my days away at the beach, sipping red wine and treating myself to lobster rolls, clam strips and chowdah.
3. Turn off all forms of technology for an entire day. Yes, that means no twitter, no facebook, no iPhone, no text messaging, and no reading celebrity gossip online. When you unplug for a bit, you may find clarity in other areas of your life.
4. Plan a trip to the day spa, all for yourself. For once, don’t feel guilty about spending money on things you don’t need. Here’s a thought: maybe you do need it. At least tell yourself that.
5. Paint one wall in your house a different color, be it a bright sea green or a modern grey. Adding color to your life is a good way to shift your mood and provoke playfulness. Also, painting is phenomenal therapy.
6. Spend an hour or two on Pinterest “pinning” delectable food items. Oh, and instead of just posting the photos, pick two or three recipes to make this week. Do it.
7. Sign up for a day/week/month of yoga classes. If you can’t afford the classes, keep a look out on daily deal sites like Groupon, LivingSocial and Guilt. Yoga is one of the most amazing mind-clearing exercises, both good for your mental health and your body. It’s a win-win in my book.
What do you do to take your mind off life? Could you use a mental vacation?
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:06 pm
These are great ideas! when I need a little break, a glass of wine or dinner on the patio is a good getaway, we can pretend we are in a far off tropicale locale and just focus on each other, and a delish dinner 🙂
August 27th, 2012 at 1:35 am
Cape Cod sounds like it was the perfect adventure for you, Rach. Love this list. I re-painted my room in the winter when I wanted to infuse my mind with a mood lifter, and painted one wall a different colour from the rest, a jacked up tiffany’s box blue.
Will definitely share this post with my readers.
August 27th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
@Jen It was the perfect escape, indeed! I love that you painted one wall a different color to brighten your mood and change things up. It really does work, huh?