Take a Brain Break: Quit Thinking and Plan a Getaway

Statistics show that 73% of people gain health benefits from taking a vacation. Why is this the case? How can a vacation help you? Do you need to go to a specific location to achieve these benefits? Where and when should you take your next vacation? 

Take a Brain Break: Quit Thinking and Plan a Getaway

No one needs a lot of convincing to take time off and go on a relaxing trip. The fact that it could benefit your health is all the more reason to book a flight or plan your next road trip today. Keep reading to learn more about this brain break and how to approach the process. 

Check In With Yourself

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Is your daily life spiraling out of your control? Wondering how to stop intrusive thoughts from entering your mind? If you are asking yourself these questions, you likely need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Checking in with yourself daily will help you gauge when you need to step away and when you can manage the different challenges that you are facing with ease. 

Find What Works

Do you thrive on road trips? Do hours of great music, scenery, and conversation excite you? Would you rather jump on a plane and be at your destination in a few short hours? Finding what works for you is key. You don’t want to plan a trip that makes you more stressed than you would be if you stayed home. 

If you don’t like driving, a road trip is not going to help your brain take a break and wind down the intrusive thoughts you are having. Sometimes you may not be sure what works until you find what does not. In this case, take inventory of your mental state in each situation and you can have a better idea of what will work best next time. 

Step Back From Your Current Environment

It doesn’t matter whether you go an hour away or on a flight across the ocean to Antigua. The entire concept of this brain break is to remove yourself from your current environment. While it may not seem like a vacation to stay close to home, the change in your surroundings can be extremely beneficial. Finding different ways to entertain yourself can remove the stress that you were feeling before and allow you to focus on things that don’t add this feeling to your life. 

Keep It Simple

You don’t have to plan to backpack across Europe or scale a large mountain. The more simple that you can be when planning your trip, the less effort your brain needs to work. Hiring a travel agent or going through a company that plans all of the travel for you can help with this. They take care of all of the logistics of how to get where and you can simply come mentally prepared for your vacation and be good to go! 

Stay Longer

Do you think a two-night getaway is long enough? Are you not wanting to miss too many days of work? While you may feel improved and rested after two nights, you should challenge yourself to stay longer. Taking the extra day or two off and remaining in that location can help you achieve your desired mental state and not rush to arrive at it before your original departure time. 

This can be a pre-planned option in which you book out the time to stay longer or it can be spontaneous. Having the option in the back of your mind that you can extend your stay if you want to can give you the freedom to act on feelings and not with the logical thought that you may have that it is costing you more money or that you are using too many of your PTO days. 

Plan Today

Now that you have read more about things to consider for your brain break, start planning today. You likely have ideas of places that you would like to visit and things that you want to do when you are feeling overwhelmed. It is time to put those thoughts into action and get excited about your next getaway. What are you waiting for? Your future -- as well as your next adventure -- awaits you!