Think Happy!

This list of Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Vacations was a timely find for me today.

1. Think about how you got there.

…This experience of planning and preparing is the first lesson we can take from our vacation. While you are on vacation reflect on how productive you were in the days leading up to your departure. You will find lessons you can apply on other days to help you be more productive – and therefore give you more time during your regular life for leisure and relaxation.

2. Start when you leave.

…Don’t tell yourself it will take 2 days or 1 day to “get relaxed.” Relax already!

3. Immerse yourself.

…Experience the things around you. Be in the present moment. Even if things aren’t going like you planned, if the water is cold or it is raining, be where you are… Immerse yourself in what it is. Be present and enjoy it, regardless of what happens.

4. Recharge.

…A vacation puts us in a new environment, changes our routine, and gives us a chance to recharge our batteries.

5. Learn Something.

…As humans we are most alive when we are learning, and vacations should be no exception.

6. Make memories.

Vacations are a wonderful way to expand our experiences and to create memories. New memories will enrich our lives both now and in the future. They also serve as the spawning ground for new ideas and insights that we may benefit from in all areas of our lives…

7. Take them!

If you stay at work without vacationing because you are “indispensable, but are never fresh and always burned out, what have you gained? Besides that, research says that people that take vacations live longer than those who don’t…

As always, the real gems that are apt to enrich are lives are found in those truths that we already know within us. In other words, this isn’t ground-breaking stuff, but that doesn’t mean it’s not life-changing!

Read the original article here.