Chilling Out: On Taking a Break

Sometimes a mini-vacation is just what you need, no economics involved

“It’s no surprise that the best idea I‘ve ever had in my life—perhaps maybe the best one I’ll ever have in my life—came to me on vacation. The moment my brain got a moment’s rest, Hamilton walked in.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda

To celebrate Valentine’s Day and to take a break, we going into town today. For me, as some of you know, town is Atlanta, about 40 miles away.

We’ll stay in a nice place, eat too much, and meet with friends.

That’s us near the front. Yep, that was me 30 pounds ago.

I started this new tradition last year. I knew we needed a mini-vacation and Valentine’s Day was on the calendar. My husband and I were starting what we knew was going to be a difficult time.

We often take these mini-vacations. We leave the cats and our responsibilities behind for a few days. We’ve gone to Helen, GA and Chattanooga, TN. We’re planning a mini- vacation to Greenville, SC in the spring, because we had to postpone a previous trip. [1]

Our cats do not care for our trips, but they know their sitter. They will sleep most of the time anyway.

Remy and Romy in their tower.

We go places that are close so we spend more time chilling and less time driving. I’m thinking about Huntsville, AL and Columbia, SC for future trips. The two of us might reprise a trip to Calloway Gardens too.

The benefits of taking vacations

We all know we need vacations. But we don’t take them. Half of Americans let paid time off lapse. In 2018, Americans gave up 768 million days. [2]

According to Rebecca Zucker, taking a vacation can:

· Boost creativity

· Improve your mood

· Help you deal with stress

· Help you feel better and happier

A vacation can help you spend time with your family and connect. For his graduation present, my son wanted to go whitewater rafting.

One of the sights in North Georgia, on a shopping trip to Helen, GA.

I planned a three day trip to North Carolina near the Georgia border. My son took his three best friends. My husband went to be the adult in the raft. I went to cook and beat the boys at Scrabble. It was not only fun, but it was an unusual way for the family to connect.

Sometimes you can’t plan a long vacation, even though that’s what you need.

Take a mini-vacation instead. It will help. And you won’t need to take an 818-page book with you! [3]

Thank you for reading!

Nikki

[1] The trip we took at the end of January to Greenville was a working trip.

[2] Rebecca Zucker, How Taking a Vacation Improves Your Well-Being. Harvard Business Review, July 19, 2023. Accessed at https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-taking-a-vacation-improves-your-well-being.

[3] Ron Chernow. Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Books (2005).