Sunday Thoughts (Vacations)

I love what I do.

So when I'm working, I don't spend time wishing I was on vacation.

But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy vacations either. Recently, I enjoyed the long Labor Day weekend by spending some time with my son.

It's nice to take a break sometimes. And the long weekend was the perfect time to do just that. I've found that when I take a break, it gives me a chance to re-energize. Oftentimes, I find my best writing ideas while I'm on vacation.

This year, inspiration hit in a weird way. I had some plans to meet up with some old friends when I got back into town. But unfortunately, they had to cancel.

They were both under the weather. Their vacation, a time that's supposed to recharge you… it left them both sick. How ironic.

Now it was nothing serious and they bounced back quickly. But it got me thinking about how common it is to get sick after a vacation, or worse, during one.

Talk about a kick in the teeth.

A change of scenery can do wonders for your mind. But for your body? Sometimes, it's the complete opposite. Especially if your vacation involves air travel.

Most folks associate getting sick on airplanes with all the germy stuff you touch. Tray tables, seat belts, even blankets that don't get cleaned. (Gross).

But the true cause of plane sickness? Low humidity. It drys out your nasal passages, irritates your throat & can leave your body weak to new bacteria. Yikes.

I travel with a simple saline spray that I spritz up there before and after each flight. Not sure if it's doing what it's supposed to, but I'm not sick so there you go.

Now don't get me wrong. You still come into contact with a lot of germs, allergens and other gunk. So please, make sure you wash your hands early & often while traveling.

And I don't mean a quick rinse. A real hand washing takes 15-20 seconds and can do wonders for your health.

Still, by far the biggest culprit when it comes to the vacation "bug" is exhaustion. Even if your vacation involves lying about on the beach, getting there and back can be a grind. I'm sure you know the feeling.

And if you have a lot of responsibilities? Simply getting those squared away before you leave can be a huge hassle.

And don't forget about sleep deprivation. If you run yourself ragged on vacation, you're going to be exhausted when you get home. Sometimes, Karen says "I need a vacation from my vacation."

So, no matter what your vacation plans are, make sure you get enough sleep. It might be something you're not getting enough of anyway… and a good night's sleep is a vacation in itself.

One last tip. If you can swing it, plan your vacation with at least 1 day back home before you get back into your day-to-day. That way, you can ease back into "real life" slowly. That way, you can return to normal without feeling like you've got the post-vacation flu.

That's all for today. I hope your Sunday is great (and healthy.).