Why are vacations so magical? I don't mean that in a philosophical, just-making-conversation way. I mean, I'm really asking you guys: What is it about not working plus spending time in a new place that turns us into calmer, sweeter, more adventurous versions of ourselves?
I just returned from a 10-day vacation in Portland, Oregon. I hiked behind waterfalls, attended my first nude beach, monopolized the mic at karaoke night and spent time with a million wonderful people.
Now I'm drinking room-temperature coffee on a dog-hair-covered sofa in Minneapolis, wondering, "Where did all that magic go?! And how do I get it back?" Here are 10 ways I'm keeping that vacation feeling in my everyday life.
Eat Outside
Vacation food is peanut butter sandwiches nibbled trail-side. It’s plates of tapas under the stars. It’s drive-through daiquiris and food truck mini donuts and elotes you eat sitting on the curb.
Vacation food is not leftovers in a Tupperware container that you eat at your desk as you work through expense reports.
Eating outside feels special — even when you’re just eating your salad on the apartment stoop or fire escape. It can also feel sneaky and a bit I-don’t-usually-do-this. Swing by your favorite Vietnamese place and go sit in the grass with your boxes of noodles, feeling good about your life choices.
Spend More Time Near or on the Water
Fact: Pretty much every activity is more awesome if you do it next to a body of water. Reading? Good. Reading next to the lake? AMAZING. Morning run? Cool. Morning run along the river? Exponentially more calming. Working on your term paper? Meh. Working on your term paper at a picnic table on the beach? Less meh!
The city of Minneapolis has 20 lakes, one of which is four blocks from my house, and you know how many times I’ve been there this summer? Five. Let’s be better at taking advantage of the natural wonders (or pools!) our cities have to offer!
Make Your Food and Drinks Beautiful
One of my favorite things about vacation is eating beautiful food instead of, say, popcorn out of a mixing bowl. I love eating things with herbs prettily chopped and sprinkled on top or an artistic smear of sauce on the side of the plate. I love drinking things with ice cubes and pieces of fruits and, dammit, maybe an umbrella or two.
Of course, vacation food is also more fun because it’s often prepared by someone else. But you can make your everyday meals more beautiful with minimal effort. Set the table with actual placemats and napkins. Plate your meals in the kitchen before you sit down. Sprinkle something — spices! herbs! a little drizzle of something! — on top. Add ice cubes to your water. It’s not hard or expensive and it’s hugely satisfying.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider