Vacation & Self-Care – Perfect Lifestyle to De-Stress

Girl Playing toy guitar at Nani Daman (Daman & Diu)

Everyday from 9am to 6pm, then 2 hours of traffic Jam – We do this everyday nonstop. It's busy and stressful, juggling different projects and timelines. Endless business meetings about meetings and priorities are all over the place. No time for the gym, no time to socialize, and of course, travel is low on the list. How would you make room for all of this?

We usually put self-care on hold. More often than not, it takes a wake-up call to notice the toll this kind of lifestyle takes on our lives.

De-stressing at Aksa Beach, Mumbai

Self-care may sound fancy but it's critical for our physical, emotional and mental well-being. You shouldn’t neglect it and here are the reasons:

·       Love yourself: Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces good vibes and boosts your self-confidence. You need to make time for it. If you can't love yourself, how can you love others? It's important to remind yourself and others that you and your needs are important too.

·       Plan a vacation: I wrote an article about utilizing your paid time off. Workaholism is not a virtue. Going on a vacation decreases your stress and anxiety and helps you with your physical and mental state. You can opt for a beach holiday or an adventurous tour; your body, soul, and energy needs it. After every vacation, I often feel less tense with higher energy levels and more life satisfaction. Leisure, including vacations, contributed to more positive emotions and fewer negative feelings and depression,” 

·       Stress management: Stress and anxiety can have an adverse effect on your mental and physical health. So play it smart and eat better or go outside for a walk or hit the gym. Release some negativity. Practicing meditation also cuts down the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels.

·       Disconnect and unplug: Yes, that means, no internet for an hour or so and enjoying your surroundings for a bit. Taking care of yourself is your responsibility. Little things like having conversations with your loved ones (instead of texting nonstop during lunch) or taking a bath with a glass of wine. It's the simple things. Or create a challenge and learn a new language or a hobby. Make your life more purposeful by giving you a new reason to get up in the morning. When on vacation, try to go to a place where there is no phone signal.

I personally learned new habits of self-care and I hope these small, simple habits can get you on the right track:

1. Go outside for a walk or maybe take a mid afternoon nap.

2. Call a friend once a week.

3. Eat more greens.

4. Stop overthinking.

Couple Spending me-time at Gateway of India, Mumbai

5. Plan a vacation with a group of friends.

6. Plan a vacation with family.

7. Saying 'no' more often.

8. Dates with the husband/Boyfriend/Girlfriend (no phones allowed).

Playing with Kids at India Gate, New Delhi

9. Monthly manicures and spa treatments.

10. Coffee meetings or Happy Hours once a week with local friends. 

Meeting Friends over Brunch at Mumbai Coffee shop.

What's your idea to De-stress and Unwind?