I just booked a vacation, the kind of vacation I’ve never booked before … a week-long all-inclusive spa getaway. I’ve almost always gone looking for something; adventure, creativity, exploration (of oneself and the world), romance, culture, learning … but now I know that all of this is available on my own doorstep. I feel less need for a vacation and strangely I feel like I need to need this kind of vacation!

This got me thinking and in a recent poll I did in my own head, it seems that a lot of people reach a certain point, let’s call it a breaking point, and decide they need a vacation. The top ten reasons for going on vacation, according to the aforementioned survey, were as follows;

1) Need to get away from work / personal stress

2) To relax

3) Spend quality time with your loved ones.

4) Habit: “we always get away at this time of year.”

5) A break with the norm

6) A new experience / different culture

7) For fun: nightlife, a sporting event or just an adventure.

8) Sunbathing / tanning (so you can feel happy / look healthy)

9) It’s on my bucket list: “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

10) Facebook shows everyone else is doing it and I need some new photos to make everyone jealous.

The funny thing about vacations is that sometimes booking them seems to add stress. For example, people often book their two-week vacation and then spend months telling others (before and after) that they can’t pay anything more because they just paid / been on vacation (which of course should include a whole new wardrobe and toiletries). There are also those who worry about their work, either before they leave, desperately trying to tie up ALL the missing ends (they cannot delegate), while they are away, or when they return to hundreds of emails. This kind of thinking is what makes some believe that they can’t take a break at all.

So how can you get the same results that a vacation gives you, without having to go on vacation?

Here are my top tips for getting away from it all, without actually walking away:

1) Make the most of your free time: don’t come home on a Friday night and dine in front of the TV. Plan a date night; A quick drink after work or a dinner date doesn’t cut down on your relaxation time – it’s part of it!

2) Schedule a couple of hours on the weekend or an afternoon of the week to do something for you. Get creative, read a book silently in a cafe, or just sit in a warm bath. Make sure other people know that this is happening and that it is for you … not to get away from them, but to reconnect with yourself. Similarly, schedule some quality time with your loved ones – a trip to soccer practice or grocery shopping with your partner doesn’t count!

3) Think hard and you don’t really notice the rain … and share it with others, smile at strangers.

4) Have a theme night at home. Mexico, Italy, France, Asia … have everyone bring a plate with unusual fruits and vegetables, dress up classy, ​​find some tunes, decorate the dining room, rent a relevant movie … bring you the culture.

5) Once a month, turn a weekend into an adventure: hop on a random bus, put your finger on a map, make a list of the places you want to go and where you can go, put the ideas Put on a hat and pick one up, or just go for a walk and get off the beaten track. The key here is to get excited about what you can discover.

6) Spend a night with the girls: Put on some fake tan and play the tunes of summer while getting glamorous.

7) Focus on what you have: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, grateful people are much happier than those who are always chasing something else. Write a gratitude dairy every other day and reflect when necessary.

8) Relax: meditate, swim, do a yoga / mindfulness class, rest … whatever works for you, do it … and do it often.

9) Really look at things around you in awe – See things differently and you will find many wonders in your world.

10) Be silly: letting go of your hair isn’t just for kids or when alcohol is involved. Go dancing in the kitchen and sing in the street!