Go Someplace You've Never Been: 4 Ways to Take a Break
“Once a year go someplace you’ve never been before.” –Dalai Lama
I have had the privilege of going to two places I have never been before this summer alone so I guess I’m exceeding the Dalai Lama’s expectations (woo, go Alyssa!). I went to Napa Valley in June with my mom to celebrate my 22nd birthday (as a wine appreciator/connoisseur/enthusiast this was my adult version of Disneyland) and we just got back from Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a family vacation. Let me be completely transparent with you when I say I would not be able to afford such vacations if not for my family. (Let’s just say my full-time internship and poor post-grad self can barely support my basic needs according to Maslow.)
No matter how much you love your job, internship or grad school sometimes you just need a break right? Put simply, humans are not meant to work every single day of their lives, following the same routine and seeing the same sights without experiencing some adverse mental and physical side effects… i.e. Stress, anxiety, binge eating, increased alcohol consumption, insomnia, high blood pressure (all of these things sound awful and terrify the closeted hypochondriac inside of me). Granted I’m not a doctor nor have I taken a science class since senior year of high school but WebMD is such a handy tool for self-diagnosing. How can we combat this burnout from happening to ourselves?
Nerd fact: Burnout is an actual psychological stress syndrome that occurs as a response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job that according to Gabrielle Karol is way too common in women under-30.
While vacations are wonderful, sometimes they aren’t always realistic to all of our dismay. However, we all owe it to ourselves to take a break and get away.
Here are some of the ways we can fulfill the Dalai Lama’s advice:
1. Unplug.
Sometimes a break from technology, notifications and a constant flow of information andvirtual interactions is exactly what the doctor ordered.
2. Treat Yo’self.
Shoutout to my fellow Parks and Recreation fans out there! Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford, thank you for this day. Sometimes all you need is a little pick-me-up and you know what? You deserve it! Go get a manicure, treat yourself to your favorite meal or even just a Route 44 Sonic drink during Happy Hour (hollaaa to the half-priced drinks).
Clothes… Fragrances… Massages… Mimosas… Fine Leather Goods… or if you’re Ben Wyatt a full-on Batman suit. Whatever it is that you like, treat yo’self.
3. Road trip or experience new things .
Getting away doesn’t have to mean using your passport or even going to a different state; you can go check out the town nearest to you that you’ve never visited. Or just go experience something new where you live. Concerts, festivals, museums, drive-in theatres: there’s always something new to cross off your bucket list.
4. Vacation.
The crème de la crème. Time to let your wanderlust roam free. Vacations can be expensive, but if you plan in advance while flights are cheaper, have multiple people chip in for the hotel or use awesome sites like Airbnb and take advantage of all the things you can go see and experience for free, then a vacation is completely doable for poor post-grads like ourselves.
After getting back from Napa and Jackson Hole, I was completely refreshed, zen-like, satisfied and ready to jump right back into work. Money and time-willing, get away from your daily routine, people! Your body and mind will thank you. Trust me, I’m not a Doctor.
