Every now and then, I love to just go away.
Completely, away.
It looks something like this :: No cell phone service. No wifi. Vacation auto responder ON. Early to bed and early to rise. Paddle boarding on an alpine lake. Hiking up and over ridges and scrambling on rocks. Crosswords and coffee. Mornings with the windows open. Juicy peaches. S'mores and a campfire. And lots and lots and lots of laughter.
You can't be in creation mode all the time.
In 2015 I started The Year of Making with the intent to make one piece of art every day and share it with the world. I can still aim to be creative daily AND go silent. You've gotta ebb so you can flow. Don't be afraid to stop creating for a while and simply rest!
You can live every day like you're on vacation [kinda].
I yearn to hold onto the clarity and peace that comes from unplugging and living days slower and more meaningfully. I've only been back a few days and have already slipped into old habits of being on my phone too much, skipping meals, procrastination, watching Netflix instead of reading, and staying inside all day. Simple and slow pleasures can be enjoyed every day!
Take more vacations.
I try to plan one 'trip' every month. It can be something as simple as jumping on a train and staying in a hostel for a night. Just get out of town, see something new, and go away for more than a day.
Ask yourself :: How do you want to spend your money?
In 2014 I lived in San Francisco and spent most of my income on rent. It's an amazing city, but a city is just a city. If you've got wanderlust and find inspiration for work and life from traveling, why not live in a more affordable place you can still enjoy and put all that money into experiences?
Less technology, more hugs. Less screens, more skies. Less work, more play. Less calls, more hikes. Less emails, more books.
Now, is it about time you go away?