Time to Take a Vacation, a Big One
Backstep Forward Newsletter
by Kyle Mast
A short, to-the-point, weekly newsletter.
One challenge to take a step back.
One idea to propel you forward.
Earlier this year, my wife and I took our three boys on a roadtrip to Prescott, AZ, from our home in Oregon. We traveled in our motorhome for two weeks to AZ, visiting museums, playgrounds, and destinations like the Redwoods along the way.
We then spent an amazing month in a short-term rental in the desert mountain town wonderland that is Prescott, AZ, hiking, fishing, and exploring before roadtripping back home in the motorhome. All in, we were away from home for a little under two months.
There are more benefits to this sort of extended time away from your daily routines than I can likely name here. So, I will focus on the one I most often overlook until I return.
Being away and out of your normal routines creates a renewed appreciation for the things of home.
I am a restless soul to the core. I like pivoting. I like doing things differently than the norm. I like trying, building, and exploring new things. Naturally, this produces the recurring theme in my life of desiring change when things have been the same for too long. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it is not.
However, over the past several years, I've found that an extended vacation is a powerful tactic to reset my appreciation of everything in my “normal” life. My routines, my community, my home. The longer the vacation, the longer I crave familiarity again. Most of the time. :)
Backstep
When was the last time you took a vacation? How long was it? Did you remove yourself from your “normal” life during this time?
Forward
In my experience, the typical 2-week vacation is just when the benefits of stepping away start kicking in. I realize that not everyone is able to take extended time away, at least not right now. Putting yourself in a position to do so is a topic for a different time.
For now, let’s keep it simple. Look at your last decent vacation. Not a weekend away, but one that was at least an extended weekend, if not more. Put the next vacation on the calendar…for double the number of days. And make sure it removes you from your current routines. Bonus points for calendaring one that is longer than two weeks. :)
How many days of vacation would it take for you to long for your normal routines? Book it. The benefits are immense! (share this on Twitter)
Kyle Mast
Blessed husband, growing father, business founder/owner/seller, real estate investor.