“Minute-Vacation.” Yes, that is one kind of a super-fast-relief from stress or worst, burnout. But how does one take a minute-vacation?
Using our senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch helps us enjoy a short-time vacation. By peeking at a blooming flower, listening to your favorite tune, lighting up a sweetly scented candle, nibbling a preferred dried fruit, or just simply tickling your devout Shih Tzu are examples of minute-vacations. We need to discover specific sensory vacations that best suit our respective lifestyles, and work at each sensory escapade in order to really enjoy such vacation.
Another example (a common one that we often neglect to do) is deep-breathing. This quick-relief vacation is also a wellness-generator because it relaxes and calms us down, it releases toxins from our bodies, and best of all, boosts our immune systems.
Being able to bring ourselves to a complete and focused minute-vacation helps us cope with daily stressors, and with other undesirables in our lives. Minute-vacations can also improve our balance and keep us in control of our emotions during difficult times.
A minute-vacation is just a quick hack for us to be able to stay on a rather overwhelming task or responsibility. It cannot guarantee nor give a long term solution to a feeling of helplessness when stress is allowed to creep in; it can only temporarily reduce, unload, or better yet, prevent spill overs of stressors into our homes and social or work circles.
It is best to regularly practice minute-vacations and free ourselves from impending stress or to the point of burning out. We should not wait for warning signs like: feeling tired most of the time, frequently getting cough and colds, losing motivation, appetite or sleep, or lacking interest in going to school or work – to even happen and cause damage. Do not wait for these symptoms to persist, try taking a minute-vacation and rediscover the joy that makes life meaningful.
ThinkingOutLoud-9, DebPulido
