One of the biggest aspects or renewal factors of a vacation is that you are someplace different. Consider this: we all have 70,000 thoughts a day and 80% of them are the same as yesterday. We wake up in the same bed. We use the same coffee maker and make our coffee the exact same way. We have other countless routines. But these routines bring up routine thoughts. You pick up your phone, call the same friend or relative that you know might be up early. That person might suck you into a political conversation, or whatever. Are you starting to get the picture?

The Renewal Aspect of a Vacation

The renewal aspect of a vacation is not that you are in Paris or the Bahamas; it’s that you are someplace else, stimulating different thoughts. I remember one day when I was living on 59th and 1st in NYC. I walked out of my building and challenged myself to simply walk two blocks and notice things I never saw before. I remember it like it was yesterday, even though it might have been 30 years ago. I might as well have been walking down the Champs Elysee.

I looked up at buildings I had walked past for 20 years. I noticed they were all four- to five-story walk-ups with interesting cornices at the top. I never even noticed how many stores and restaurants were in that one block, as I usually went straight to the Chinese or sushi place. There were actually a few other nooks and crannies I had never seen before. I was so lost in the thought of noticing things I had never seen before, it was literally like a vacation. Normally, I would purposely walk down that street for 20 years, seeing nothing and planning or worrying about my day. It’s that simple. Think differently.

Ways to Take a Vacation Right Now

• Meditate: Meditation can help clear your mind and bring fresh perspectives.
• Reconnect: Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in years.
• Play a Sport: Engage in a sport you haven’t played in years.
• Take a Class: Enroll in a class on something of interest to you.
• Learn a Language: Even try the first free module.
• Get Involved: Engage in someone else’s life outside of your small circle.
• Listen to Something New: Discover new music or podcasts.
• Walk a Different Path: Walk down a street you’ve never walked down before.
• Rediscover Your Routine: Walk down the same street but challenge yourself to see things you never saw before. Look only at the rooftops (PS: don’t trip).

The Uncomfortable but Renewing Experience

Creating the renewal of a vacation can be as simple as changing your routine. It might be uncomfortable, but that is the renewal aspect of a vacation. When you’re in Paris, you don’t know where you’re going to get a coffee, how to order it, how much it will cost, or what it will taste like. Your mind is 100% occupied with new and different things, and for most of us, that is a “break” or a vacation from the boredom and the unpleasant aspects of our daily routine.

Conclusion

You don’t need to travel far to experience the renewal of a vacation. By simply changing your routine and thinking differently, you can stimulate new thoughts and experiences that refresh your mind and spirit. So take a trip down a different path, engage in new activities, and see the world around you with fresh eyes. Your vacation can start right here, right now.