What would you say if I told you that you can feel like you’re on a holiday today, and you wouldn’t have to spend the 800 euros on all the arrangements?
You would love it right? Keep reading then.
Me and my husband used to go to hotel breakfasts some time ago. As background information you need to know that our daughter only sleeps well in her own bed, so to actually spend money on getting a hotel room, sleep badly and then be cranky for the rest of the day didn’t sound like a mini vacation to us. So instead we spent our money on three different Saturdays in a row, thoroughly enjoying a hotel breakfast. In our hometown!
We specifically chose hotels we had not visited before. And I am not kidding you, it really felt like we were on vacation. This choice set a totally different tone for the whole day.
I started to think why is this?
First of all, why do we go on vacation? It’s to have new experiences, to relax, to not work.
Lets dig a little deeper, what is it that we get from new experiences? Maybe the feeling of excitement, to feel alive. Relaxing gives us the feeling that everything is well and we do not have to worry about all the usual stuff. Not working makes us feel, well, just different. No obligations to our usual routines, perhaps even a sense of freedom?! So I think we have a common nominator here. It’s a feeling we are after! Surely we can get the same feeling from something else as well! What are the key components that make and brake our holidays?
There’s plenty, but here is my simple ”Three Hackable Things” list:
Place:
Think about your environment? Hotel, beach hut, cabin in the woods?
You are still the same person, but changing your habitat makes a huge difference in your ability to relax.
How can you bring this into your Saturday, today, right now?
Think about your home, car or office. Is there something you could add or subtract to make you FEEL better when you spend time in that place? Buy a new Wunderbaum that has that new car smell? Maybe dim the lights and create a steam spa in your bathroom with those smelly candles. Or why not bring the cabin in the woods feeling in you apartment by putting ”a log fire on the TV” and opening up a window (to actually make it realistic with the draft).
People:
Is there a certain group of friends that give you that holiday feeling?
Or maybe calling a friend you haven’t seen
in a long time would get you excited? What about having a conversation with a total stranger? Or maybe just put in that extra effort for your special person and create the holiday feeling with him or her….
Things:
Are you one of those people who only go to museums abroad? Why not try it back home too? Or do you need to have a cold beer in the middle of the day and hear people talk in french? Well, crack open a can of beer, close your eyes, put on some french music on Spotify and enjoy (note: everyday beer is not what we’re after here).
Sometimes all we have to realize is that it doesn’t have to be a big change in order to get that desired feeling and to change our mood.
There are of course times and situations where you need to make those big changes too. But perhaps today isn’t one of those days! So I am now inviting you to think about what you could do today to create that holiday feeling.
You can start with these:
-> No work, ok that’s easy —> do not work today!
-> Pick a place you never go to in your hometown. Museum, restaurant, cafe, forest, spa, hotel.
-> Do this with a person you would love to spend time with on a holiday (this person can also be just you)!
-> Put on clothes you want to wear on vacation.
-> Think of something you always do on a holiday and find a way to experience the same feeling today
Have a blast and enjoy your Saturday!
Renja is an ability and transformation coach who inspires people to live lives true to themselves.
Her strengths lie in listening and problem solving. She is the founder of Ahaa Helsinki, that aims to save the world by bringing down to earth coaching available for everyone. She believes in the power of the individual decisions, creating visions and taking action. She absolutely loves what she does, and she is always open for individuals who are willing and committed to create better lives for themselves.
Renja is a clinical hypnotherapist, life coach and a work supervisor who has a master's degree in Economics and is a proud alumni of Mentor Masterclass life coach training program.
She takes private and business clients. Her other pages in FIN you may find www.kitkagroup.com & www.renja.fi.