Summer is here, the kids are out of school and vacation season is upon us.
I know I do not have to convince you that going on vacation is fun and relaxing. But going on vacation can actually be much more beneficial to your being than we may realize.
Vacations can actually be very beneficial for our soul, our spiritual health and personal evolution.
So here is a list of 11 (just for fun, as 10 is way overrated) reasons that touch upon the bigger benefits of vacations, where our soul is concerned:
1. Break the Routine
Routine usually equals living life on auto pilot, unconsciously, or like a zombie as some might even say. Vacations usually take us away from our usual atmosphere, and definitely take us out of our routine. Both of these force our minds to snap out of many of the automatic thoughts that take us through life each day, and make us rely once more on deliberate and more conscious thoughts and actions.
2. Make Us Focus On Being
In our lives each day, most of us are swept into a vortex of “doing”. Doing chores, doing the duties of our jobs, doing the duties of parenting, finances, etc. There is perhaps no other time like vacations however, when it comes to being. All of us a sudden there really is nothing to do. Now it is a matter of just being in the moment and enjoying whatever it brings.
3. Expose Us To New Cultures
Perhaps not all vacations are capable of this, but many are able to expose us to new cultures. This is extremely beneficial for the soul, because it isn’t only fun and exciting to meet and learn about new people, but it also fosters our personal evolution. Many of us are racist or prejudice simple because we do not know. We do not know about other people and cultures, and usually as human nature would have it we fear what we do not know, and fear is usually exhibited by negativity and aggression.
4. Expose Us To A New Way of Life
While on vacation we can learn a new way to cook or perhaps incorporate a new activity into our lives. Vacations give us a chance to try new things, which we can bring back to our habitual life and actually bring about changes to make life a more rich and fulfilling experience.
5. Allow Us To Get Back In Touch With Who We Are
In the daily rat race, it is not uncommon for many of us to actually lose ourselves. We forget who we are deep down inside. We forget what really makes us happy and fulfilled. We neglect our needs and set aside our aspirations. The result is usually a sense of bitterness or cynicism about life being a certain way. Vacations allow us to have more time to focus back on us, and remember if only piece by piece, who we really are.
6. Allow Us to Connect To Our Spiritual Self
Vacations, especially those spent somewhere in nature, bring us closer to our spiritual self, as they connect us with the world around us. We have a much better chance of seeing, understanding and appreciating that we are one with all of the beings around us, whether human, animal or other. Many of us on vacations meditate (formally or informally) and have chances to connect to our higher selves much easier.
7. Allow Us To Live In The Present Moment
Nowhere is it perhaps more possible, than on vacations to be in the now. At no other time in our lives perhaps, do many of us have the luxury of really enjoying the moment of now. The past and the future are most elusive here, as we enjoy the excitement of every moment that each day brings. Gone are the past and future, as we stroll along a beach, enjoy a museum or hike up a mountain. There is just this moment. This is instrumental as it allows us to see what is possible, and hopefully that the past and future are just figments of our imagination that take us away from enjoying the moment of now.
8. Inspire Us To Have Fun
As I mentioned to you at the beginning, most of us will no doubt agree that vacations are fun. And it is this fun component that is missing in many of our lives, and vacations give us a chance to experience it, if only for a short time. Some lucky few, will perhaps be so inspired that they incorporate some regular fun into their life when they even come back from their vacation. Fun keeps us young, makes us more pleasant and keeps us connected to the beauty of life.
9. Put Us In A State of Positive Being
For many people vacations mean the absence of thoughts about bills, chores, expectations and obligations. Most of us tend to be our best on vacations and be in the most positive state many of us are capable of otherwise. How is it that vacations do that to us? Is it because there is nothing to worry about? But does worrying actually ever solve anything? So yes, vacations are very good at making us feel positive, or putting us in a positive state of being that allows us to taste life at this amazing level, which by the way is possible when we come home too.
10. Foster Deeper Bonds In Our Relationships
Vacations naturally seem to bring us closer to our loved ones. They can re-ignite love and passion. Even if we are traveling alone, they can help us appreciate our relationships and the people we have in our lives. They can help us express love, kindness and compassion. Kids and parents get closer. Spouses tend to get closer and we are just plain nicer to even the strangers around us.
11. Allow Us To Gain New Perspectives
Vacations have the power to make us change our minds about a lot of things. So many of us hold deeply within us, rooted paradigms and beliefs that do not always serve us. Vacations can provide opportunities to test those and bring us to a new way of looking at things. In fact often just by stopping our day to day thinking and clearing our heads, we gain a new perspective on many things. This is great for our personal evolution because it takes us out of the preconceived boxes so many of us put ourselves into, and allows us to gain a greater understanding about many things in this life.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to take a vacation for a day, a week or a month, they can be highly enjoyable times for our body, mind and soul. Of course the attitude you choose to take with you on vacation will play a big role in how you experience it.
But generally, even the grumpiest of people seem to light up and become a new person when on vacation.
So this summer, no matter what your budget, no matter what your time allowance and no matter what your personal situation, try to squeeze in some vacation time and get away somewhere. No matter how close or far you go, it is guaranteed to transform you in one way or another.
And although one would never take homework on a vacation, I do have a small task I invite you to do on your next vacation. Think about this and answer it for yourself “what would it take for my everyday life to feel like a vacation?” Feel free to start sharing some of your answers below!
*Photograph provided by andrew.napier
About the author:Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is the founder and editor of EvolvingBeings.com – an online publication featuring various topics on spirituality and metaphysics. Evita teaches consciousness expansion and heart-centered living to help people attain deep meaning, peace and happiness in their life. She is also a nutritional science and holistic health expert for optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow her on Twitter.
10 Comments to “11 Reasons Why Vacations Are Good For The Soul”
I look 10 years younger on vacation!!!
Going to Maine and New Brunswick soon. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Evita,
I hope you are thoroughly enjoying your time away, and getting refreshed in life and all it offers!
And your list here is great. And so much I can relate to from a vacation we took a couple of months ago.
The one thing that jumps out at me is connecting with our spiritual self. I hadn’t planned on this happening while we were traveling in April. And yet, this was one of the most powerful parts of the whole trip for me, this deeper connection with “me”. And it felt so right.
So – everyday would feel like a vacation if I could make that (and a few other things) a regular thing. And for me, early morning quiet time is very much helpful in creating that connection. And really from that – if I honestly take that time to connect – leads into many of these other areas just happening automatically throughout the day. So – I guess if I can have mornings be a time to connect with self – this will lead into the day being more “vacation-like”. In the ways vacations can be good for our soul…
Hi, Evita. This is a terrific post, and I LOVE your “vacation every day” angle.
Interestingly, though, you mentioned “some lucky few” might be able to incorporate some fun into all their days. So many of the people I know (family, friends, coworkers) do this just as if it’s the most natural thing in the world; it’s as if it’s part of their DNA. And it’s catching! So my first suggestion to anyone wanting more light-heartedness, more fun in their life is to start befriending such people and begin to feel the fun of life rubbing off on them, too.
Lance’s comment about connecting is so true. When we make the time for deep, honest connection at the start of our day—when we feel as if we are the only ones in the world awake and communing with God/Spirit/Source—the rest of our day flows as smoothly as we’re able to feel/remember our earlier connection. One of the thrills of vacations is in allowing our days to unfold with as little effort as possible. We can do this more easily ANY day just by allowing ourselves a little jump-start at the beginning.
The word “vacation” makes me think of laughter, and one of the easiest ways to make each day lighter, fresher is to learn to laugh at ourselves. Once we start paying attention, we see innumerable opportunities for laughing at our own foibles and silliness! Talk about freeing…! If we can laugh at ourselves, humor will always be a breath away!
For more mundane ways of bringing freshness to our daily lives, we can just add variety to our ordinary activities, break the routine, as you say in your first point. A former supervisor advised this for our team when we had a creative block on a project. She suggested we drive different routes to-from work, and it worked. I took it a step farther and started shopping at different stores from time to time, going to different post offices, visiting different parks, taking mini-drives through different suburbs… Most of us are so busy we feel there’s little room for adjustment in our routines, but that’s simply not true. Our changes needn’t be big ones. We can feel incredible benefits from even the smallest shake-ups!
Me, again. Must be time for my breakfast, because I thought of some food-related things I do that make life feel more carefree and interesting. I try to cook something brand new a couple times a month, and I’ve managed to talk my husband into enjoying breakfast food for supper (yum!), and I’m working on getting him to agree to having dessert before our meal (fun!).
Bottom line: ANYthing you can do to shake up your days instantly adds spice and enjoyment!
Evita, just this post alone—getting us to THINK about everyday vacations—is so uplifting. Thank you! Hugs :) ~Julie
Last idea, I promise! Maybe the simplest thing we can do is something that isn’t even tangible—but it has an impressive effect. We can simply look at our surroundings as if we’re seeing them for the first time: the rooms in our house, the views out our windows, our coworkers faces, the scenery we see along our daily commute… I have fun with this one all the time. In fact, I do it SO often and regularly that I’d forgotten all about it until my drive to the office, today. Amazing results, and it takes no effort whatsoever except that of imagination. :)
Hi Evita,
We travel a lot because our daughter works for Southwest and we go free:)
It sounds like you are having a great and insightful vacation.
How could I make everyday life more like a vacation? Lighten up, laugh more, relax, make special coffee at home, play, visit local farmers market, museums, art shows or whatever is going on in the community. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. Oh and dressing casual would be good as well. Oh and how about visiting the lake or a pool.
Life is what we make it and the biggest thing to give up daily to make it feel like vacation is worry and fear! 2 things I never pack in my suitcase!
Evita, some people say they require a vacation to recover from a supposed vacation. Learning to rest, relax and recouperate is meaningful to the soul.
Evita,
I decided to visit another post and I found an familiar voice I haven’t seen in awhile…Julie! I loved the on-going comment…that’s classic Julie:~)
To follow up on Jannie’s comment…while I may not look ten years younger after a vacation, I certainly feel it. I try to make sure I have days in my week that are only for me and my family.
On these days, I vacate my computer/office and simply enjoy life. I must admit, however, I do much prefer going to the beach:~) Thanks for these tips and this excellent post!
@ JANNIE – LOL Jannie, I have a feeling many of us do too. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes everyday life really wears us down, that is why I think it is really important to remember to take some time out now and again.
And have an amazing time in Maine and New Brunswick!!!!
@ LANCE – Yes, my time away was amazing for the soul to say the least.
I love that you had a chance to connect on your own vacation and how wonderful that you are putting it into practice into your days. You know even on this vacation I said when I get back home I will continue this or that routine, and well… after only a couple of days back, those intentions are not quite working out the way I want. Why, after all there is no one stopping me. But that is just it, we get back home, jump into our routines and soon the vacation is a faded memory seen in photos.
So while this is all still very fresh in my mind, I too want to really put into practice those things that take so little time and yet can make the difference to each of our days! Time to connect is key for sure!
@ JULIE – You bring up such a great point that I think summarizes this whole article beautifully – “anything that can add spice to our days” can make us live like on vacation everyday. That is so true!!! I guess it is as I said to Lance, sometimes it takes so little to make a huge difference and you iterate too with the imagination idea.
Making some new to eat, or driving a new way to work, all those little things actually can and do have profound effects on our days. One of the things I managed to do on the vacation is to try a few new combinations in the kitchen and am happy to say that 4 days later, we are still eating with Markus each day as if we were on that vacation. (I am glad I managed to keep that up for now, cause it is hasn’t worked out so good with the morning meditations.) But that is something I just need to be more prioritized about and it will come too I know :)
@ TESS – Oh Tess, I have to say, lucky, lucky you. Ehm, ehm or should I say how wonderful that you attracted such circumstances into your life :)
That must just be wonderful to see so much of the world!
And wonderful advice Tess, take away worry and fear and all of a sudden life does take on a vacation like feeling. You too have beautifully pointed out that in reality it takes very little, it all just depends on what we choose.
@ LIARA – Yes that is very true. That is why too when we pick our vacations we are conscious of what the vacation will entail and is it what we are looking for at a particular time in our lives.
Last year for example when Markus’ work was slow and stable and I had 2 free months of the summer for myself we chose a busy European vacation, where each day was full of activities. This year as his work situation is much more packed and pressed and I was going through a big change in my own life, leaving behind my career and starting a new one, we knew the last thing we wanted was a busy vacation and so we chose a relaxing nature getaway in Northern Ontario.
@ SARA – LOL, Julie is a one of a kind sweetheart indeed! And I love, absolutely love how expressive she is, as there is so much value that she adds to the world!
I guess taking time out for family and friends and just rest time is alone a wonderful thing to break up our work week and hence the weekend right? But not so much as we all know, for some people work right through their weekends, just perhaps in other ways. Bottom line it doesn’t matter when we decide to take time out, the point is to be conscious and do it!
And as much as I love ALL nature, I like you have a soft spot for the beach… Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts :)
Some people never take vacations and suggest they are a waste of time. Other people talk about needing a vacation to recover from all they did during their last vacation. Its curious to notice how many people stay home and do nothing as a kind of vacation from “doing.” It is always possible to live in a state of inner serenity. A person can realize peace is not only something to be experienced intermittently in an exotic place. INner peace is inside wherever you are. Just open up to it.