What kind of vacationer are you?
Do you throw everything into a suitcase at a moments notice?
Or are you at the other end of the spectrum where every minute of your trip is planned out?

Whether you’re structured or spontaneous, the important thing is to TAKE THAT VACATION and create an intention around your vacation: to explore, to discover, to strengthen relationships or just to relax. I call it “intentional vacationing.”

I remember when my vacations were “accidental.” My days off were grouped together with weddings and side business trips and other reasons to travel. Living in Hawaii, I wanted to make the most of every trip that I took off island. Although the time traveling was always wonderful and fun, I was somehow not satisfied. I didn’t feel refreshed and revived and the time spent with my friends and family felt hurried.

I realized the problem was that I was not living in the moment. I was not in the PRESENT.

Since my intentions were not focused on MY VACATION, my “accidental” vacations gave me “incidental” fulfillment and relaxation.

Are you getting the most out of YOUR vacationing?
Are you having “Intentional Vacations?” or are they “Accidental?”

Bringing luggage on vacation is great, but “baggage” on board the trip is no picnic!

To have a great Intentional Vacation, I harness the power of my ability to “Get Lost.” This is the ability to let go of the thoughts and images of the daily grind and just cut loose and lose yourself in your vacation. Again, it has to do with being present, but more importantly, it’s getting into the right mindset to have a fabulous vacation. Have you ever had the experience of going on vacation and not being able to wind down? And then just as you’re able to relax and unwind, it’s time to go back home!

Here are a three steps to creating Intentional Vacations and getting into the mindset.
1. Decide what kind of vacation you want. Is it going to be an adventure and exploration trip? Do you want to make family activities a priority? Or do you want to just purely get down to the basics to relax - eat, sleep, drink and massages!
2. Start with the planning stages BEFORE your go on vacation. Create a checklist of items to bring, required documents, confirmation numbers and reservations and activities.
3. Do NOT plan anything the very first day of your vacation. Take this time to “de-tox,” feel out the location and get in the mindset. I find that if you hit the ground running, it’s a lot harder to stop and the vacation is done before you know it. �

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