Vacay Every Day

If there were a way to live life more like you were at a retreat than stuck in a rut, would you try it? Here’s your chance, with seven easy steps to stress-free living.

- Lisa Kadane

I feel fantastic on vacation

The aches and pains I have at home disappear, all of my tension drains, and I sleep better and have more energy. If only I could pack that blissed-out feeling into my suitcase as a souvenir.

“We feel so great on holiday because we let go of all of life’s stressors –finances, health, relationships, work – and tap into that relaxation response,” says Suzanne Zilkowsky, owner of Vancouver Health Coach, a company that coaches clients on health, fitness and stress management. “We don’t worry about timelines, we probably get more sleep, and we nourish ourselves better. Obviously, our stress is minimized.”

It’s a phenomenon that’s backed by research: Studies have found that vacations help relieve work-related stress and provide benefits for rest and recuperation, health and well-being and personal growth.

The trick, of course, is to capture that holiday feeling – bottling it like sand from a distant beach – and bring back the great sleeps, mindful meals, fresh air, exercise and restorative practices that are the hallmarks of time away. Fortunately, it’s not as hard as you might think. Here are seven tips for achieving stress-reduced living, one for each day of the week.

SUNDAY

MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY

Sleep is vital to brain function. Not only does a good night’s slumber improve learning but studies also show that not spending enough time between the sheets can have a negative impact on your daily life. People who are sleep deprived have a harder time controlling their emotions, making decisions, paying attention and managing stress.