I recently had the opportunity to step away from my usual routine for an extended adventure with 13 of the people I love the most. This was not a lavish vacation spent next to a pool at a fancy resort or a sightseeing extravaganza in a big city. Instead, it was a break from basic elements of modern life that I take for granted such as shelter, electricity, indoor plumbing, and internet service. It was a journey that demanded exceptional teamwork in order to meet the various daily challenges we encountered in a place of overwhelming natural beauty.
Freed from my normal routine and the continuous barrage of information present in my daily life, I was able to gain new perspective and learn some new things about myself and those around me. Taking a break often brings a temporary reprieve from our worries, heartaches, and painful situations that we may not be able to change. It can also help remind us to appreciate the things we wouldn’t want to live without in our regular life – in my case my dogs, my bed, and indoor plumbing.
On this trip, my older travel companions demonstrated strategies for coping with discomfort and physical challenges – important lessons we all must learn as we age. My younger companions used ingenuity and creativity to learn how to manage without the technology that is a continuous presence in their lives. And a new friend, one who embarked on his journey after his preferred travel companion had to cancel, taught me something about being brave enough to go for it even when it means going alone.
I returned with a renewed commitment to create more opportunities to recharge. Like most people, it’s rare for me to take an extended break. There are many days when my time and energy run out long before I’ve completed everything that seems critical. But, ultimately, it’s important to find the time to take the type of breaks that will leave me feeling renewed and better able to care for myself and everyone around me.
While a big break like a trip almost always results in some time to decompress, smaller breaks are important too. For me, a small break might include spending a few minutes reading or sitting outside while I enjoy a cup of tea. Sometimes I challenge myself to carve out a few hours for lunch with a friend, a nap, or a game with my kids instead of cleaning my house or attending to some other chore. Learning a new skill is another great way to take a break. When your brain is focused on learning something new – a foreign language or how to cook a new dish – it requires all of your attention.
We all have different ways to decompress. What you choose to do is likely to be completely different than what I choose. Not only is it essential to know what helps you recharge, but it’s also important to be aware of the types of breaks those around you need, so that you can support their efforts to take care of themselves.
So what exactly constitutes a break? The answer is unique for each of us and depends on several factors – what you like to do, how you normally spend your time, and what opportunities you have around you. A good starting point for those of you who are out of practice is to pick something small that is not part of your usual routine. If you work in an office, an outdoor break might be just the thing. If you spend a lot of time caring for others, a bit of alone time to engage in a solitary hobby can be an excellent way to recharge.
Of course, if you’re feeling exhausted or stressed it can be overwhelming to consider doing anything that requires a lot of planning. Start with something simple that takes just a few minutes. We often rely on easy distractions like playing a game on our phones or scrolling through social media, but they don’t allow us to fully decompress. A true break should be intentional and a departure from our usual routine. Getting into a new environment, even if it’s just a different room, and picking something that requires enough attention to give your mind a break from your daily tasks can help. Ideally, you should cultivate a list of feel-good activities that don’t require much time or money. If it’s been a while since you’ve made an effort to take a true break, start small and practice often. With repetition, spending a little time on yourself by doing something that feels good will become a new healthy habit. Then, once you’ve established some confidence in your ability to take short, healthy breaks, you might plan something a little longer or more complicated.
Thank you to everyone who accompanied me on the trip of a lifetime. I’m so glad I got to share such an unforgettable adventure with all of you.