Move
YOU’VE PLANNED THE PERFECT VACATION. HERE’S HOW TO ACTUALLY ENJOY IT.
Travel often serves as a means of escape. Whether we intend to spend our summer vacations ziplining in Costa Rica with friends, sunbathing and snacking on lobster rolls at the local beach with family, or jet-setting to new-to-us cities with our passports and translation apps in hand, the goal is to go somewhere far away from the responsibilities we leave behind at home. We spend months looking forward to the adventure and repose, but then the long-awaited departure dates roll around, and when we actually arrive — after all of that packing, planning, and careful preparation intended to make for the BEST. TRIP. EVER. — it’s sometimes hard to just be there.
Sure, we remember to pack the sunscreen and the cell-phone chargers. We book the flights and the hotel rooms far in advance.
But we neglect to plan for what might be the most important element of any vacation: mindfulness.
Without conscious intention, our stress can wriggle its way into our suitcases to come along for the ride. However, a few mindfulness strategies can help to transform a too-short retreat to a deeply memorable one, with restorative benefits that last past the end of the precious week or two away. Particularly when slated in advance, these simple shifts can turn any brief escape into a truly conscious, wholehearted, and rejuvenating break. This summer, test out a few of the ideas below:
SET AN INTENTION.
What is it you’re hoping to get out of this trip? Is it a closer connection with your family? A deep dive into a different culture? Ample time alone to rest and recharge?
Before you go, take a moment to make note of why you’re going in the first place, and get as specific as possible.
This way, when inevitable hiccups pop up in your original itinerary, you’ll have a guidepost to help you figure out how to proceed instead. When you’re torn between joining your friends for happy hour and savoring another chapter of your chosen beach read, you’ll be less likely to make a shortsighted decision under the momentary pressure, and more likely to choose what truly suits your personal vision for the vacation.
EMBRACE AIRPLANE MODE.
It’s tempting to want to tote your phone everywhere in order to capture those vacation moments in pictures. The scuba suit, the view of the Eiffel Tower, the fresh coconut sipped by the pool—these things all make for juicy Instagram stories. Something sacred is lost, though, when you’re focused on grabbing every last ephemeral minute to memorialize it on screen: presence.
Leave the phone in the hotel room for a day to see everything with your own eyes, or turn airplane mode back on, far past your flight, so you can focus on family outings without buzzing interruptions.
Instead of counting on self-control (which is weakened on vacation, as it ought to be) to keep you unbound from the shiny screen, set firm boundaries you can stick to. Give your tech a break, too.
MAKE TIME FOR MINDFUL EXERCISE.
Stay grounded in your body by maintaining a regular workout routine—one that emphasizes connection with your breath and your physical frame. Make it joyful, too, rather than a slog you’ll want to avoid. We designed #barre3anywhere just for this purpose, so no matter where you are, you can work up a sweat and re-energize for your vacation adventures. Better yet, take time to pre-plan the time of day when you’re going to exercise—you’re much more likely to triumph over possible resistance (because that lounge chair does feel good, doesn’t it?) and actually make it happen when you’ve already decided where it fits in your itinerary.
BUILD A DAILY RITUAL.
Sure, you may have left the tiresome chores and routines at home, but there’s power in maintaining some sort of small, regular ritual when you’re on the road, just to serve as a solid touchpoint when the rest of your schedule is in flux. Meditation is always an effective go-to, but if that doesn’t suit you, choose what does. Bring a slim notebook in your bag, and spend 15 minutes journaling every morning before everyone else wakes up; commit to catching the sunset on the beach every night; or pick a favorite café you return to every afternoon for a pick-me-up treat. Each of these practices can serve as a simple, ceremonious reminder of presence and grounding.
Ready to make this your most mindful summer yet? With #barre3anywhere, you’ll get a FREE month-long program, complete with curated workout plans, tips on setting your summer intention, daily inspo, and more! Sign up here, it all starts July 1st!
This article was written by Leah Pellegrini, a writer and editor, visual artist, and storytelling strategist, as well as a regenerative farmer and plant-based cook. Her work focuses on cross-cultural connection, mindfulness, and green-living practices as paths to healing on both human and environmental scales.
Travel often serves as a means of escape. Whether we intend to spend our summer vacations ziplining in Costa Rica with friends, sunbathing and snacking on lobster rolls at the local beach with family, or jet-setting to new-to-us cities with our passports and translation apps in hand, the goal is to go somewhere far away from the responsibilities we leave behind at home. We spend months looking forward to the adventure and repose, but then the long-awaited departure dates roll around, and when we actually arrive — after all of that packing, planning, and careful preparation intended to make for the BEST. TRIP. EVER. — it’s sometimes hard to just be there.
Sure, we remember to pack the sunscreen and the cell-phone chargers. We book the flights and the hotel rooms far in advance.
But we neglect to plan for what might be the most important element of any vacation: mindfulness.
Without conscious intention, our stress can wriggle its way into our suitcases to come along for the ride. However, a few mindfulness strategies can help to transform a too-short retreat to a deeply memorable one, with restorative benefits that last past the end of the precious week or two away. Particularly when slated in advance, these simple shifts can turn any brief escape into a truly conscious, wholehearted, and rejuvenating break. This summer, test out a few of the ideas below:
SET AN INTENTION.
What is it you’re hoping to get out of this trip? Is it a closer connection with your family? A deep dive into a different culture? Ample time alone to rest and recharge?
Before you go, take a moment to make note of why you’re going in the first place, and get as specific as possible.
This way, when inevitable hiccups pop up in your original itinerary, you’ll have a guidepost to help you figure out how to proceed instead. When you’re torn between joining your friends for happy hour and savoring another chapter of your chosen beach read, you’ll be less likely to make a shortsighted decision under the momentary pressure, and more likely to choose what truly suits your personal vision for the vacation.
EMBRACE AIRPLANE MODE.
It’s tempting to want to tote your phone everywhere in order to capture those vacation moments in pictures. The scuba suit, the view of the Eiffel Tower, the fresh coconut sipped by the pool—these things all make for juicy Instagram stories. Something sacred is lost, though, when you’re focused on grabbing every last ephemeral minute to memorialize it on screen: presence.
Leave the phone in the hotel room for a day to see everything with your own eyes, or turn airplane mode back on, far past your flight, so you can focus on family outings without buzzing interruptions.
Instead of counting on self-control (which is weakened on vacation, as it ought to be) to keep you unbound from the shiny screen, set firm boundaries you can stick to. Give your tech a break, too.
MAKE TIME FOR MINDFUL EXERCISE.
Stay grounded in your body by maintaining a regular workout routine—one that emphasizes connection with your breath and your physical frame. Make it joyful, too, rather than a slog you’ll want to avoid. We designed #barre3anywhere just for this purpose, so no matter where you are, you can work up a sweat and re-energize for your vacation adventures. Better yet, take time to pre-plan the time of day when you’re going to exercise—you’re much more likely to triumph over possible resistance (because that lounge chair does feel good, doesn’t it?) and actually make it happen when you’ve already decided where it fits in your itinerary.
BUILD A DAILY RITUAL.
Sure, you may have left the tiresome chores and routines at home, but there’s power in maintaining some sort of small, regular ritual when you’re on the road, just to serve as a solid touchpoint when the rest of your schedule is in flux. Meditation is always an effective go-to, but if that doesn’t suit you, choose what does. Bring a slim notebook in your bag, and spend 15 minutes journaling every morning before everyone else wakes up; commit to catching the sunset on the beach every night; or pick a favorite café you return to every afternoon for a pick-me-up treat. Each of these practices can serve as a simple, ceremonious reminder of presence and grounding.
Ready to make this your most mindful summer yet? With #barre3anywhere, you’ll get a FREE month-long program, complete with curated workout plans, tips on setting your summer intention, daily inspo, and more! Sign up here, it all starts July 1st!
This article was written by Leah Pellegrini, a writer and editor, visual artist, and storytelling strategist, as well as a regenerative farmer and plant-based cook. Her work focuses on cross-cultural connection, mindfulness, and green-living practices as paths to healing on both human and environmental scales.
