Thursday, July 28, 2011

raise your hand if you're going on vacation!

oooo, me! me!  i'm going on vacation!!
we've tried several times over the past couple months to do the vacation thing, but with new jobs and no spare money, we've had to sit tight.  come september, however, and we're off on our very own mini vacation {"mini" in that we'll be sticking to parts of the state that we know very well}.  the plan is to take a week off just after our 1st year wedding anniversary.  half of that time will be spent somewhere just north of san francisco, where we can relax by the ocean, roam through the headlands, and preferably soak in a hot tub/hot springs at night.  we've had a pretty rough past year so we decided we deserve to soak up the joys of doing absolutely nothing!  the other half of that week will be spent with friends in san francisco and a weekend wedding near santa cruz.  yup, an entire week full of love!!

{photo}

while i've been planning this trip, i've been thinking a lot about vacations in general.  they're so necessary aren't they?! and for those of us who are no longer in school {nor work at a school}, we don't get multiple breaks built into our yearly schedule.  in the post-school world, we might get a couple days off in december, or maybe we take a couple days off in the summer, but is that really enough?  if you ask me, we would all do a lot better if we continued to take multiple vacations - april! september! the end of january!
be wild and crazy and go nuts with some self-care!

{photo}

what i've learned...

take plenty of time for your vacation.  it takes most people a couple days to destress and forget about work, so make your vacation long enough to get over that hump and fully enjoy the time away.  you'll be far more energized if you take a week or even two {two? you're so wild!}.

include one day before and after your vacation to be at home.  you'll have a much better time on your vacation if you had a full day off from work to get ready, and a full day off to settle back in at the end.  you don't ever want to feel like you need a vacation just to prepare for and catch up from your vacation.

embrace the almighty staycation.  can't afford to travel?  still take that time off from work and regain a sense of sanity.  explore all the places you've never experienced in your area {hikes, museums, restaurants}, pamper yourself {long baths, reading in hammocks, play with homemade scrubs and masks, paint your nails}, or take up a new hobby you've never had time to do {painting, sewing, bird house making, tai chi, cooking. you can look up workshops/classes at your local community center or library, or check online for free web classes}.

protect your vacation with all your might.  remind everyone you will be gone and out of reach, set up those out-of-the-office messages on all your technology, ignore calls and emails, even lie if you have to.  your vacation, including a staycation, is sacred time away, so set those boundaries to actually have time away.



so there it is.
vacations are really good for you and you should take them,
even if you are no longer in school, even if it's not december, even if you are super poor.
go ahead, you deserve it!

29 comments:

  1. I am so excited for you!!! After the year you've had, you definitely deserve some rest and relaxation. Great tips- having an extra day after you get back is sooo needed. Mentally and physically.

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  2. yay for you!!! i love staycations...it's the only time i can really get away.

    thanks for your idea for my cross tee!!

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  3. Awesome! That's exactly what every couple..wait, no.. what EVERY PERSON needs! I'm embracing the almighty staycation but am dying for a good vacay-tion. I think I've convinced Michael to take a good one sometime in December,after he's done with school and before I start mine. My fingers and toes are crossed.

    Thanks for the pep talk!

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  4. I absolutely agree! Vacations are SO important and if there's something I'm trying to learn, it's ignoring emails and any other commitments while on vacation! It's actually harder than it sounds! Have fun on your holiday! :)))

    Belly B :)

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  5. ahh have a wonderful wonderful vacation. this year due to lack of funds i shall be experiencing the staycation but in a way thats nice. ive been travelling the last 3 summers so time to save the pennies for graduate school this autumn! xxx

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  6. Oooh me too, me too! I'm going on vacation as well! I love your last point about unplugging from the "real world". It is so important to leave all that work stuff at home...otherwise, it's not a true vacation!

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  7. awesome! I'm so happy that you and the Mr. can take a vacay finally :) you both deserve it fo sho!!!! I really really want to vacay to cali. Looking at going to San Diego this fall! I go on vacay all the time (hahah even more than I blog about!) I think i've gone to the beach (like a 4 hr drive from here) for 3 long weekends already this year... so i absolutely agree vacays are a MUST!

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  8. awesome! I'm so happy that you and the Mr. can take a vacay finally :) you both deserve it fo sho!!!! I really really want to vacay to cali. Looking at going to San Diego this fall! I go on vacay all the time (hahah even more than I blog about!) I think i've gone to the beach (like a 4 hr drive from here) for 3 long weekends already this year... so i absolutely agree vacays are a MUST!

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  9. Enjoy your vacation! It sounds like it will be a very enjoyable time! :).

    I've actually been looking into maybe taking a long weekend. Definitely need a refresher!

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  10. We're leaving next week and I reached the phase (I go through several before landing in my destination) where I would pay double for NOT going.

    It doesn't make sense but after some travelling I realised why I think like this, one week before the so much coveted vacations - it has to do with the fear of all my expectations felling short so I'd rather not go. Doesn't make sense, I told you.

    Love your vacation plan. There's some comfort in rediscovering your homeland and we always save a few days for that, further in the Summer.

    Enjoy. Have Lots of Fun. Love. Take Lots of Pictures.Seize.Take Care.

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  11. Awww, you're so cute, Kim! And so right - vacations are soo necessary sometimes! Have a really fun weekend up north!! :)

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  12. Oh yes, vacations are so necessary. Its so funny you write about this, I have been thinking about taking one impulsive vacation on August before the fall semester begins, I am still considering it.

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  13. I could not agree more! If we were smart like other countries in the world we would allow everyone to take six week vacations to unwind and relax. In my opinion that would make us all more relaxed and willing to work harder when we're not on vacation. Instead we just work ourselves to the bone and try to squeeze in long weekends when possible, which is what I'm doing this wekend, haha!

    Love your travel posts lately!

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  14. Gosh you are so right! I couldn't agree more! I think everyone should take little vacations all year long! I try really hard to do this. It's so important for me to get away... Even if it's just for the weekend or a long weekend.
    I'm glad that you guys are getting away for a week in September! Are you headed to Sea Ranch or Fort Bragg or somewhere like that? either way... yay! =)

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  15. I think my favorite vacation was my honeymoon. We went on a cruise and there was absolutely NO WAY for anyone to reach us. We were completely unplugged for a week and it was AMAZING.

    Have an amazing vacation!

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  16. have a great time! I thoroughly agree with the part about taking extra time off to "cushion" the blow of packing/ going back to work, etc.

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  17. Have a fabulous time! I was just up in Napa and Santa Cruz last weekend! We are heading to London and Rome in a few weeks and are so excited! xxoo :)

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  18. How very right you are, girl. And have a wonderful time on your vacation--sounds like it will be fabulous.

    It's funny... I've actually been terribly sick lately and I think it's because I had to basically BEG to take my vacation time off. Like, the days that I am owed! Totally ridiculous. But I'm off all of next week and another in August. There may be a trip to Chicago later in the month, but this coming week I'll catch up with old friends who've recently had babies and I'm just excited to be away from here for a little while. So necessary!

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  19. Love this! It is so true about needing a vacation. The hubs and I do 1 big trip a year and it's our yearly adventure. I also think the world is such an amazing place and there is soo much to see and do and life is so short. Get out of town and take lots of pictures- I can't wait to hear all about it.

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  20. I wish I was! Yesterday was a bit of a vacation for me as I pretty much took a break from everything for my birthday. I try and make breaks within my day so I'm not overwhelmed. BUT.. I really need to go on a vacation soon. I say this when, I know, my life is going to be so full come this September, ha! Good for you two for planning something!

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  21. Yay for vacations! I am planning one too! I am so excited about it.

    You're so right about getting over the hump of being stressed out on vacation. that's so key for me!

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  22. Take it from someone who hasn't taken enough vacations: they really are a necessity. That new perspective, the new place, it wakes you up. I'm so glad you're planning this little getaway, Kim -- you definitely deserve it.

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  23. I love setting a vacation date and waiting for the excitement to build up as the date gets closer :-) Taking an extra day off after you get back is the BEST advice ever - I always need extra time to unwind at home!

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  24. Vacations = beautiful. I'll be heading to Nashville for my only real vacation this summer and I'm quite excited! I am excited for you to get to have one in September!

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  25. That is so exciting!!! You are going to gave the most wonderful time :) I know what you mean, vacations are so necessary. They keep us sane!

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  26. Lovely, insightful post - great wisdom/advice! I'm looking forward to our vacation in the middle of August! It's been a long time coming...
    Ronnie xo

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  27. there's nothing better like vacation no matter where it is... wish you tons of fun... i won't be going anywhere because everywhere is way hotter that Miami so I'm staying away... hahaha!!!

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  28. lol...i totally agree and I could totally use one. I am going to take at least a weekend off once I get settled. BTW us I hope that is very soon.

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