Important Takeaways from Vacay

I just returned home from 5 nights in Mexico and feel like it was a true vacation. I travel frequently for my job but on work trips I’m mainly touring properties, networking with on-site sales teams, exploring the destination via excursions or receiving training on that product. This was truly a vacation and I’m so grateful to have been able to get away for a bit and be reminded of just how important vacation really is!! I took the opportunity to take my travel agent hat off for a few days and what I saw was amazing. Here are my top 5 vacation takeaways and why you should consider going on a vacation soon!

1. Smiling Faces

We are talking BIG smiles around every corner. People are so happy!! It’s awesome to just be in an environment surrounded by other happy people. Winter months can drag on for what seems like forever! I loved seeing that look of wonderment when a new guest would arrive on property. It’s like they are thinking to themselves, “Wait, I have 5 more days of this?!” Other fun moments were seeing guests as they saw the ocean for the first time. It was like they were a rocket ready to blast off. The genuine happiness that came from kids, adults and people of all ages was contagious. Even the teenagers appeared to be happy. You would see them, traveling in packs with their new friends or siblings, occasionally sprawled out on a couch in the lobby -with a small, medium or large screen in front of them. They were in their natural habitat, probably doing exactly what they wanted on vacation!

2. Families Traveling Together-

It was fun to see grandma with her adult children and grand kids sharing a meal together. Multi-generational travel was a big trend a few years ago but I think it’s safe to say the trend is here to stay! Our lives are so busy and getting the chance to make these memories is important. I saw couples reconnecting, people celebrating friendships with college friends and milestone birthday parties by the pool! It was just great to see these meaningful interactions.

3. Relaxed Bodies

People were spending time by the ocean or on the golf course. They were in nature or just relaxing on their patio before dinner. There were far fewer people on their phones and far less screen time overall. You could see it in people’s body language, this was a change they had been waiting for.

4. Interacting With Other Cultures

My husband was just commenting on how he is constantly amazed by the people from Mexico. They are so kind and polite. They embody customer service. Many of the people we met this week were genuinely interested in making your day a little brighter. I always try to learn a new phrase when I’m traveling. It adds up over time!! It does require us (the traveler) to be vulnerable. You are in a different country and do not know the language around you. Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is where the real magic happens. And that vulnerability is a huge piece to making us stronger individuals. I try to meet them in the middle, practicing as I go. I’m certain I make mistakes in my conversation skills but it’s important that we continue to learn new things! We are not going to understand every word but isn’t it amazing that they have learned our language? Most schools in Mexico start teaching English in elementary school.

5. Breaking up the routine

Sometimes we get stuck in this merry-go-round of life and don’t even remember what it’s like to take time for ourselves. Vacation helps us take a BREAK from everything. It helps us recharge and reboot. How amazing is it to not set an alarm? Before I left for this trip I was jolting out of bed at my alarm and lurching for my phone to check my email. Why?!? I couldn’t help it. It was like a reflex. Some days on vacation we called room service for breakfast the night before and would just use that beautiful little knock at the door the follow morning as our wake up call. So break up with that routine for a bit. Have a picnic on the beach, go on a bike ride, take a break from meal planning, have dessert, laugh until it hurts, smile bright and know that your routine will be there when you get back home. Vacation helps you do something magical by creating some much needed space in your life to re-examine how you have been doing things and if you’d like to continue doing it that way.  

Vacation is about just that- taking a break from the way you’ve been doing things to rest and reboot. Vacation is about coming back a stronger and happier person because you did something for yourself. I know personally it helps me think clearer. I can easily put things into perspective again! I always do my best thinking on my way home from vacation. I like to think about how I want my life to be in the coming months- what if anything do I need to change? And of course… plan where I plan to go on vacation next!! It always helps me feel better knowing I have something to look forward down the road. We all need breaks once in awhile! That’s why we have PTO (Paid Time Off). That’s your employer saying, we value you taking care of yourself and believe you will be a happier/more productive employee when you come back after vacation. Some European countries like France & Great Britain have over 30 vacation days built in.

Are you taking the time you need to fill your own cup? It’s incredibly challenging to give your all when your own energy bank is depleted. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself! You only get one body, one shot at this thing called life. The time is now!