Lil' Bits of wisdom weave and inch their way into places you'd never expect them.  While lounging with the New York Times's Travel section, I came upon "Call Waiting, 'It's Me, Your Vacation'".  Tucked neatly inside were tons of useful bites and tidbits.  Although it was about increasing your enjoyment on your vacation, it speaks directly to getting satisfaction the "other" days we affectionately refer to as "life". 

We've all been there.  You take a long-anticipated vacation.   Like the Corona beer commercials, you imagine you're on smooth, white sand, devoid of others (particularly children, of course), with a far-away look only a tropical vacation could afford.  You save, plan, and dream, and then you're there.  Yeehaw!  But, ugh, the flight was delayed, the plane cramped, the taxi smelly, and the dead dog by the road saddening.  Isn't your room just a couple of stars lousier than the pictures?   Oh, well, at least you're not at work.  Why are you so damn tired (could it be jet lag) and a bit cranky? 

You're still not feeling relaxed and you have an overwhelming urge to check your email, which you promised not to, but do anyway.  This unease lasts about 3 days into your 10 day vacation.  Five days later, you've already mentally shifted into "return home" mode and start dreading 100's of emails which will be dutifully awaiting your return.  You're no different than everyone else.  It's what vacations are made of. 

It turns out that by understanding the role your brain plays you can actually do something about this ever-so-common phenom.  Habits of the mind aren't easy to break between San Francisco and Tahiti.  It takes some time and patience.  Like preparing for any withdrawal (tobacco, food, sugar) you can start by cutting back slowly.  Prior to your departure, practice some quiet time.  Call it meditation if you want.  How about turning your cell phone off at 6 p.m. each evening.  Like withdrawing from any typical anti-social addiction, it's hard.  From the article:

"Phones and computers fundamentally encourage, even demand, a constant cycle of stimulation and response.  Click or swipe, and something happens.  And responding to a ping, researchers say, delivers a "dopamine squirt"--a little burst of adrenaline.  The brain gets used to this stimulation and then craves it in its absence."

Other prize nuggets from the article:  "Endure the Boredom, Get Over Yourself, Don't Prepare For Your Own Death, Channel the Three-Day Weekend, Stop Flirting with Work and Don't Worry About Re-Entry-Most of it's Spam".   There's lots here. 

If you're travelling, give it a try.  Ease off the stimulation or most of it (going cold turkey can, in itself, cause stress).  Although this article was meant for lucky vacationers, I think it has direct application for everyday life, right here, right now, without the cocktail umbrella or coconut-scented Banana Boat 50 SPF sunblock.  

**Article recycled from 2 years ago.

  Want to read some of my previous articles?  You can do it here.  Enjoy.