Ah yes. Vacation. Where to go? What to do? Is it getting on a plane and flying somewhere far from home? Is it going to amusement parks? Is it going on an adventure?
Or is it intentional?
鈥淰acation should be a time to relax,鈥 said Dr. David Ludden, professor of psychology and psychology department chair at 亚洲麻豆精品在线 (GGC). 鈥淚ntentional comes from mindfulness, to be aware of your mental state and not respond to stimulus.鈥
The idea behind an intentional vacation is centered around one aspect.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about experiences that stay with you and shape you,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about travelling with purpose and then immersing yourself in your surroundings.鈥
Examples of that, said Ludden, include embracing what鈥檚 around you, like the scenery.
鈥淲hat helps you relax? Is it being in a cabin in the mountains? Sitting on the beach? Watching the city skyline?鈥 said Ludden.
Intentional vacations mean no checklists.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about making a list and then checking things off while you鈥檙e on vacation,鈥 added Ludden. 鈥淒on鈥檛 make it all about squeezing in as much as possible. That鈥檚 the basis for the common joke that you need a vacation from your vacation.鈥
An intentional vacation is an opportunity to get away from work, school and life鈥檚 obligations.
鈥淭his is the time to relax and recharge your batteries, so to speak,鈥 said Ludden. 鈥淧lanning an intentional vacation means asking yourself why. What do you want to gain from this experience? You want to set clear goals.鈥
The benefits of time away from daily life are many.
鈥淰acations are the time to reduce your stress and focus on your well-being,鈥 said Ludden. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also the opportunity to reconnect with your family or friends without the distractions and demands of daily life.鈥
By taking an intentional vacation, the idea, said Ludden, is to expand your horizons.
鈥淵ou grow from experiencing things,鈥 he said. 鈥淟ike learning about a culture, including traditions, the food and music. It can be about yourself if your intention is to simply relax. Overall, it鈥檚 not about collecting souvenirs.鈥