Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I need a vacation from my life”?
If so, this article is for you. But first, let me ask you a question.
Have you ever considered creating a life you don’t need a vacation from instead?
Today, I’ll show you how.
Let’s dive right in.
#1 Get Clear on What You Want
If you feel like you need a vacation from your life, it means you probably have made a lot of decisions along the way without first asking yourself what you really want.
Many people believe that life is meant to be hard, but this is a common misconception that our society has created.
There’s no rule that says you have to work a job you hate every day from Monday to Friday in exchange for two days off per week and two weeks off per year.
Not to mention that there’s no rule that says you have to wait until retirement to enjoy your life.
Your life is happening now, and the truth is you never know what could happen. You may never find time for those plans that you’re putting off now.
If you’ve reached the point where it feels like you need a vacation from your life, it’s clear that something needs to change.
But what do you really want? Have you ever asked yourself this question?
If not, now is the time to do so. Take a pen and paper and allow your imagination to run wild — where would you go and what would you do if you had no limitations?
It doesn’t matter how out-there some of your secret dreams might be. Allow yourself to write without worrying about other people’s judgments or expectations.
In order to create a life you don’t need a vacation from, you must first know what you want.
Creating a vision of your dream life is the first step toward making it a reality.
#2 Get Rid of What You Don’t Want
Look around you. What are the things, people, commitments, and responsibilities in your life that make you feel like you need a vacation from your life?
Now that you have a clear vision of the life you want to create that you don’t need a vacation from, it’s time to get rid of everything that doesn’t serve that vision.
This is not always an easy step since it may involve walking away from friends, relationships, or even family members. It might mean quitting your job or moving to a new city.
You don’t have to make big, drastic changes overnight. But when you start looking at your life through the lens of creating a life you don’t need a vacation from, you will quickly see what needs to go.
#3 Make Space
Clutter is overwhelming. When your home is cluttered, your mind is cluttered, which can make you feel like you need a vacation from your life.
Commit to decluttering your home as soon as possible, and you will be amazed at how much better you feel.
And don’t just rearrange the clutter by putting it somewhere out of sight. Go through your house room by room, and look for things to throw, sell, or donate. You might want to try the Marie Kondo method.
When you’re surrounded by clutter in your home, it can make you feel unnecessarily stressed out.
Creating more physical space around you will help create space in your mind so you can feel less stressed and less like you need a vacation from your life.
#4 Follow the Purpose
Some people believe they are born with a single life purpose, and perhaps they are.
But many others (myself included) never feel a strong call toward one particular purpose or vocation.
And perhaps we don’t need to. We don’t all have to change the world at a global or even national scale by carrying out a great purpose.
But that doesn’t mean our lives can’t be purposeful. It doesn’t matter whether you work in a supermarket or are the CEO of a corporation; everyone can do something to make your life more purposeful.
It could be through anything from volunteering in your community to launching a new business.
The point is: you get to define what a purposeful life looks like for you.
#5 Create Meaningful Relationships
Too many of us spend our lives being “busy” — work, children, and aging parents seem to take over, and friendships often fall by the wayside.
This has caused a loneliness epidemic. We live isolated from one another and our communities, which damages both our physical and mental health.
Loneliness can make you think you need a vacation from your life when really you just need some friends.
If you don’t know where to find new friends, start with a hobby or passion. When you meet people doing something you love, there’s a good chance of creating meaningful new friendships with them.
#6 Make a Plan
If you’re ready to create a life you don’t need a vacation from, you’re going to need a plan.
You already have your vision, so now it’s time to reverse-engineer your life and define the steps that will get you from where you are to where you want to be.
Not having a plan is like leaving home to go to a new destination without a map. You might know where it is, but you won’t be able to get there.
Some plans require more work than others. If you’re not sure how to plan your next steps, you might want to consider working with a life coach.
#7 Take Consistent Action
Once you have a plan, it’s essential to take consistent daily action if you want to create a life you don’t need a vacation from.
Taking consistent action while maintaining a clear vision of where you want to go is the only way to achieve your goals.
All too often, people give up on taking consistent action after a few days, weeks, or months. They don’t see the results, so they think it’s not working.
But the reality is that consistent action will, eventually, lead to change — which brings me to my next point.
#8 Give It Time
Creating a life you don’t need a vacation from doesn’t happen overnight.
We often get fixated on our goals and how we will feel when we achieve them — so much so that we forget to enjoy life in the meantime.
Be patient.
If you are taking consistent action, trust that it will yield results. But you must include the magic ingredient: time.
#9 Celebrate Your Wins
Sometimes, when you’re focused on a goal, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come.
It’s important to celebrate the wins, even the small ones. It could be anything from getting the laundry done to getting your dream job.
Recognize how far you’ve come and celebrate it. It’s just as important as focusing on your goals.
#10 Enjoy the Process
Creating a life you don’t need a vacation from is a process. Usually, it’s one that helps you learn and grow in ways you could never have imagined.
So don’t forget to enjoy yourself along the way.
This can be hard if you feel like you need a vacation from your life but look for the little things that bring you joy in your day-to-day. Over time, they will grow.
#11 Focus on Gratitude
Sometimes, when you feel like you need a vacation from your life, shifting your mindset can make a huge difference.
That can seem nearly impossible when you are overwhelmed by your life.
But the reality is that we have the ability to choose how to react to any situation. When you regularly choose a negative reaction, this becomes a mental habit.
However, you can break negative mental habits by focusing on gratitude.
Every morning or evening (or both), make a list of 3-5 things for which you are grateful day.
This retrains your brain to focus more on the positives than the negatives, creating a powerful mindset shift.
It also activates the law of attraction so that you start to attract more of what you want and less of what you don’t.
#12 Prioritize Self-Care
If you are exhausted, burnt out, overwhelmed, and need a vacation from your life, I’m willing to bet that you have not prioritized your self-care.
Taking time to rest, recover, and take part in activities you enjoy are all essential for preventing burnout.
In this fast-paced world, many people believe the only way to get ahead is to be always “on.”
But this could not be further from the truth. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself, your loved ones, and the world.
It also helps you maintain a more positive mindset, which is essential if you want to avoid feeling like you need a vacation from your life.
#13 Get Support
Remember: you don’t have to do this alone. In fact, trying to manage everything on your own is a sure-fire way to end up feeling like you need a vacation from your life.
Your support network could include
- Family
- Friends
- Peers
- An accountability group
- Or even a life coach.
Getting support can help you feel less overwhelmed while creating a life you don’t need a vacation from.
They can also provide you with valuable insights and information that you may not have found on your own.
After reading this list, I hope you will be able to create a life you don’t need a vacation from.
Let me know how it goes in the comments.
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