Sometimes getting away from the day to day is the only cure for the blues. Often, we allow ourselves to get carried away with work and caught up in our daily obligations, and we become so overwhelmed it’s difficult to shake anxious and worrisome feelings. The thought of dropping everything and running may sound appealing at first – then, causes our minds to fill with even more stress as we envision our responsibilities piling up while we’re unable to tend to them.
There’s never really a good time to up and leave, though, is there? Does that mean we should bypass every opportunity we have to enjoy some much-needed R&R? Of course not. If we continue to deny ourselves the ability to break free for a few days and return refreshed, we’ll blink one day and over lives will be over. We’ll be left with regrets and what-ifs, and our memories will be filled with petty obligations rather than memorable experiences. What’s more, we’re destined to be trapped by exhaustion and the depression that stems from feeling stalemated.
So, first thing’s first. We need to clear our schedules. Easier said than done, right? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Have you tried?
Take an inventory of your daily to-dos. What’s on the list? What absolutely has to be done every day and what can be pushed aside for a few? No need to fret about the things that can be left unattended. Those things that require a daily commitment, however, ask yourself who might be able to fill in for you while you’re away – feed the cat, take the kids to school, cover for you at work – and solicit some help. You could be surprised. If you have some close friends and family members who know how well-intended your get-away is, they may happily jump in.
In this day and age, you may also be able to bank up your work hours or schedule things in advance online that will drop the days you’re away. Are you a blog writer in dire need of some island inspiration? Schedule posts a few days in advance to publish on the days you’re gone and soak up as much inspiration as you need. Or, bring your computer with you and write on the beach – there’s no better way to get the creative juices flowing than switching up the scenery.
Are you a teacher who can find a sub? Are you an independent photographer who can reschedule shoots? Adjust your schedule wherever you can the best you can. Maybe you’re a nurse who generally only works weekends. Can you get away Monday-Friday without anyone at the office even noticing?
You see, oftentimes we are only limited by self-imposed restrictions. We become trapped in a limited mindset, automatically believing we can’t do something simply because it takes some work to achieve. This goes for many different things in our lives. Those who are most successful have learned to quiet their inner critic and believe that anything is possible if only we set our mind to it. The trick to overcoming nay-saying, internal or external, is learning to flip the switch so we can begin to think more positively.
Once we decide to set the wheels in motion, the rest always seems to flow seamlessly. But, we have to initiate our goals and take action. We can’t stagnate for fear we’ll fail. Our world won’t fall apart if we’re away from it for a few days. Our life is many years long. Taken into perspective, it seems silly to think it will collapse before our eyes within a day or two.
Make a mental note about where you’d like to go and what the best dates are to do it and start making arrangements well in advance. This way, you can rest more easily knowing you’ve put some safeguards into place and have secured accommodations. The more you can plan in advance the better, so you won’t feel as frazzled the day your plane is scheduled for take-off.
It’s wise to follow up a few days prior, however, to ensure your travel plans haven’t had to change due to acts of God and other unforeseeable events. Make some calls to double-check that your fill-ins are still on board with the plan. Then, when you’re certain everything’s ready to go, get ready and GO!