Do you ever miss the freedom of getting summers off as a kid? Or only being responsible for homework and maybe doing some chores around the house to earn an allowance? Do you ever feel burnt out and ready for a break from your life? Do you sometimes wish you could take a permanent vacation from your responsibilities and just focus on what brings you life and excites you? Do you sometimes get bored with your routine and wish you could break out of the mold that has been created in your life?
If you have ever seen the show I Love Lucy, one specific episode comes to my mind on this topic. The episode is called Vacation from Marriage. If you have never seen the show, there are two main couples: Ricky and Lucy Ricardo and Fred and Ethel Mertz and they all live in the same apartment building. In this particular episode, Lucy convinces Ethel that each of their marriages are in a rut and the girls decide that they, along with their husbands, need to get out of their ruts. Lucy moves in with Ethel and Fred moves in with Ricky so that they can do things differently than normal. Each set tries to live lavish and fun lives, but the plan ultimately fails and they end up happily going back to their marriage ruts that they had originally been trying to escape.
That is not how things have to go for you, though. When you get fatigued or burnt out in life, it is important to figure out what you need and, if possible, do that. Sometimes you do need a vacation. Maybe you just had a rough day and need to spend some quality time with a good friend who gives you life instead of draining you. Or you may have been spending too much time on social media recently and need to take some time in the real world, away from your phone.
I am very thankful for a job that I love. I also like that I will randomly get a day or two off every so often. It really is amazing how refreshed I feel going back after that. Or when I will get a whole week off, it can feel like I have a new lease on life and can take on the world! Do you feel refreshed going back to work after time off or does it remind you that you do not like the job you currently have? If you do not like your job, are you able to find a more enjoyable one?
Are you stuck in a rut like the Ricardos and the Mertzes? Do you like the rut you are in or is it getting old and tiring just mindlessly doing the same things every day or every week? Are you ready to feel refreshed and enjoy your life more?
If I am being completely honest, I am not the person to go to for advice on how to refresh when you are worn out because I really don’t even know what I need to do to be refreshed. I think my best advice is to try different things to try to figure out what works best for you. I heard some advice on the radio recently (yes, I still listen to the radio in the car, don’t judge me) that said people feel better when they treat weekends like mini vacations. The idea behind this is to get things done off your to do list during the work week so that it does not take over your weekend and you are then able to enjoy your days off. Yes, it does create more work to do during the week, but if you are like me, you are going to be tired during the week whether or not you do those extra tasks. They said that this is not something to do every weekend, but it is a nice break every so often. I really like that! You don’t even have to go out of town to do this, though I am a big supporter of getting out of town when possible!
Do you like getting out of town in order to feel refreshed? Or do you always feel like you need a vacation from your vacations? Do you prefer to stay home and have quiet time alone? How long do you need in order to truly feel refreshed when you are burnt out? Is there a specific activity or hobby that is like a breath of fresh air for you? Do you like to go on a hike or sit inside with a good book? Do you have a special coffee drink or meal that seems to make even the hardest day or week feel a little more bearable? How do you feel most refreshed?
Abbi