You know the saying, “live a life you don’t need a vacation from”? Although I understood it, it never seemed attainable to me. I always thought to myself, “when I get the dream job” or “after the kids are older” or “if I just could ….”.

That is, until this past year.

I went on a 7 day Carribean cruise with my family and noticed a dramatic difference. I noticed a major shift this year. I wasn’t craving a week to relax because I already was.

In the past, I would be counting down until my week’s vacation where I could finally relax and be still. One week out of the entire year, I allowed myself time to rest and restore. Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle, a fast paced, go-go-go, taking care of yourself is selfish mentally, is the norm amongst many Americans.

Yet, for the first time in my life, I felt relaxed before my vacation. Not stressed…not counting down the days until I could take care of me, because I was already doing so.

I created a life where I prioritized rest and self-care practices, which are like taking mini vacations throughout the year.

You may be thinking, “you must not have a stressful life” or perhaps, “it’s summer break, of course your not stressed”. From the outside, my life would appear to be stressful. I juggle a lot just like you. I am a stay at home mom, also in nursing school, and work prn at a local hospital. I got a lot on my plate like most moms out there.

This does not mean I was not looking forward to vacation, I was. It was still a time to rest and connect with my family.

This year, I  felt rested and relaxed before going on my vacation. I know this had to do with my daily self-care practices, an imperative part of my Urban Zen Integrative Therapy training.

Through my Urban Zen Integrative Therapy training I learned to take mini vacations everyday. We focused a lot on self care and listening to what our bodies and minds needed each day. Self-care was woven into my life over the past year like never before.  A few examples of self-care, which I integrate into my day, are restorative yoga, time for contemplation and meditation, mindfulness, journaling, & essential oils.

Don’t think that “creating a life you don’t need a vacation from” involves your dream job or having the perfect house. It’s feeling at peace and relaxed throughout the year no matter where you are in your life.

If you want to start implementing self-care (mini-vacations) into your daily routine, pick one thing to add. Start where you are…any amount.Perhaps, 5 minutes of meditation daily or yoga. Maybe diffusing essential oils is where you can began. Implementing a large “to-do” list of self-care may overwhelm you. Start small and build from there.

If you are interested in reading about my daily self-care routine, check out “7 Must Read Self-Care Practices“.