Have you ever thought about what it really takes to come back from a vacation fully recharged rather than completely exhausted? Every traveler has a unique set of key travel elements that can help them get the most out of a trip. When I have coached people on this, it usually turns out to be a short list of about 3-5 things that, when present, can make the trip unforgettable, and, when absent, can result in disappointment. When I took a bucket list vacation with my 4 year old, driving the Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West, I did not expect this to be a fully, relaxing, rejuvenating trip (see “4 year old” above). I know what my key wellness travel elements are and I also knew that at least one of them would be challenging with a small child in tow: alone time. I mean, substantial alone time, not just an hour here and there when she sleeps. However, a break was long overdue and much needed, so I decided to make the best of things and get as much as I could out of the experience.
Driving the length of the Overseas Highway had been on my must-do list for years and when I saw cheap air fare to Miami I jumped on it. In spite of all the constant company, kid chatter etc, which went against my inner introvert’s need for alone time to recharge, something did shift in me, clicked into place, and I felt… content. It affirmed a theory I have been working on – that if a trip checks at least some of the boxes I’ve defined for my own wellness, then wellness may still be achieved. While I was never really alone, there were many great things happening on this trip. My eyes were gifted with an almost constant view of endless turquoise seas merging seamlessly with blue skies. We were in the Florida Keys after all, and Gulf or ocean views were on all sides, sometimes simultaneously, as we drove across bridges that I thought would be nerve-wracking but were somehow very zen-inducing. By the 4th day of a 7 day trip I was firmly in what I would call “vacation mode”, or what some might call “being on island time”. I found my smile and realized on that 4th day that I was relaxed and smiling without having to try. It had been more than 2 years since I had felt that way, in spite of several trips taken during that time. What was it about this trip that had eluded me on other vacations and family visits? To find the answer, I took inventory of my key wellness travel elements. My must-haves for achieving a sense of wellness while on vacation are typically as follows. I have annotated those that happened on this trip with a green check mark. Those that did not happen have an X in front of them:
✅Proximity to the ocean with access to the water
✖Substantial alone time (not just the time when the child is asleep)
✖Ocean view balcony with my hotel room
✅Breaking away from the daily routine
I learned that getting 2 out of the 4 on my wish list was actually enough! Next time I will try to get the other two, but if all 4 are somehow not achievable within the same trip, I now know I can still achieve a sense of well-being!
Identifying our unique key wellness travel elements makes a big difference when planning a vacation where the intended outcome is to return home feeling recharged. What are your key wellness travel elements? If you want to learn more about what questions to ask yourself to identify your own key wellness travel elements and would like to receive a free 30 minute wellness coaching session and 15-30 minute consultation, email me at eatshoptour@gmail.com.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Wendy at Eat, Shop, Tour!