Walking downstairs from my study to get a cup of coffee, I overheard Hoda Kotb on the NBC News morning show interviewing someone about walking. The gist of the interview was that walking is a simple exercise you can fit into almost any time or place. “Some people tell me they only have thirty minutes or less, and I tell them they can still walk and get great health benefits from it,” I recall her saying.
Hoda’s interview came back to me when our son and his wife asked if we could visit them for an extended weekend. I am obligated on Wednesdays and Sundays, which would leave us three days to get reacquainted with our six-month-old granddaughter. And that would include the 3 ½ hours’ drive each way.
“Shouldn’t we wait until we have more time to relax and enjoy them?” I asked Lori. Her raised eyebrows gave me my answer, and soon we were packing.
I thought of Hoda’s interview with the walking lady. “A little time is better than no time.”
We met David, Jr., and Kayla at their lake house. Since we had only 2 1/2 days once we were there, we made no plans. That turned out to be the key to one of the most relaxing, stress-relieving times I’ve enjoyed. Lori and I stayed in our pajamas most all day that Friday. Since the weekend weather was unusually mild, kayaking or swimming off the dock wasn’t much of a temptation. We sat on the back porch, held Stella, our grandbaby, took a long nap when she did and stared at the water below. My most strenuous activity was trying out my son’s nine-iron in the backyard to see if I remembered how to hit a golf ball.
Like a short walk, even an itsy-bitsy tweeny weenie mini-vacation can be just what you need.
Here are a few things I learned from taking a mini-vacation that might help, should you take one:
Preparing for a short time away can be less stressful. Packing is not as involved as a typical weeklong or two-week vacation. I dread packing. But with a mini-vacation, I think less about it. The bare minimum is all you need, and if you forget something, so what? You’ll be home in a day or two.
Learn to relax immediately. Of course, rest is essential with any vacation, but with less time, it’s imperative to leave problems at home. I’ve been on vacations where it’s taken me two or three days to transition into a relaxed mode. On a mini-vacation, mentally prepare yourself the week you leave for a relaxing retreat. I doubled down on my work the week before, so I wouldn’t need to think about it.
Prepare others for your mini-vacation. Let the right people know you need a little time away. One of my friends told me, “If anyone calls you about a problem, tell them to call me.” His words were a welcome relief. And sure enough, the day I left, the air conditioning at our church facility began to sputter. There would have been nothing I could have done had I stayed. I know two things about air conditioning units: it’s working or broken. Staying to make sure it got fixed would help no one. And others took care of it, relieving me of the worry.
Since you don’t have an extended time, be intentional about grasping each moment. We savored our memories with David, Kayla, and Stella, knowing we had only two days. And during our driving time, Lori and I turned off the radio, put our cell phones aside, and used those 7 hours to talk. On the return trip, we detoured for a little side excursion, stopping at a coffee house, sipping our specialty drinks, and exploring the town. It only took an extra 45 minutes to an hour before we were back on the road.
More extended vacations are necessary, but those mini-ones can be little oases, refreshing the mind and body before you have the time or money for the bigger ones.
As Lori and I unpacked our few belongings, we both grinned at each other, silently agreeing, “Sometimes a getaway is necessary.”