Spring break season has me thinking about vacations and getaways. Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern in conversations with friends and colleagues. When I ask how they’re doing, I get the same response: “Hanging in there, but I can’t wait for my vacation!”  Then, they proceed to tell me about their pre-vacation routine plan: cramming in extra work, finishing a big project, skipping workouts and sleep, and running on fumes just to “earn” their upcoming time off.

And what do they do they have planned once they finally get away? Some go all out! They are hiking Kilimanjaro, cycling across Portugal, or packing every second with adventure. Others completely shut down; taking four days of spa treatments, room service and poolside lounging.

While all of these vacations sound absolutely incredible, they got me thinking a bit about why we may be seeking such intense vacations.  Have we built lives that are so imbalanced that now we need to “overachieve” on vacation too?

Being a huge nerd, I dug into this idea a bit further.  Behavioral scientists like BJ Fogg tell us that our habits are shaped by our environment. If our daily routines are overloaded with stress, exhaustion and no real breaks, we crave the complete opposite when we finally get time off.  Exercise research shows the same thing: consistency beats extremes. Just like you can’t cram six months of workouts into one brutal weekend, you can’t stockpile relaxation for a once-a-year getaway. Recovery and joy have to be part of daily life.

An ah-ha moment finally hit me a few weeks ago at the JCC. I saw someone leaving the locker room, glowing and flushed. Great workout? I asked.  She happily replied, “Nope, just the sauna.”  I had never thought of that, and why not? Why not take 10 minutes midweek for some vacation-like relaxation?  It had honestly never occurred to me.

Instead of waiting to hike Kilimanjaro, I’m committing to Schenley Park for 30 minutes every day this month. By the end, I’ll have logged just as many miles but without the jet lag.  How can you bring a little piece of vacation into your daily life?  If you’re stumped, and looking for ideas:

• Take your lunch outside
• Swap doom-scrolling for a mindless beach read before bed
• Add a post work sauna, steam, or stretch

Stop waiting for a once-a-year escape, and build the life that provides some balance.  Need support figuring out how? Reach out.

Carolyn Kontos, MS, ACC, offers Wellness & Nutrition Coaching at the JCC through her Eat Well Programs. For more information, contact Carolyn at ckontos@jccpgh.org

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