Redefining Vacation: From Mindless to Mindful Travel
Sunset over the harbor in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Remember the days of arriving at a resort, only to find yourself guzzling cheap, sugar-filled margaritas while repeating the phrase, “let’s party mother-fu*kers!”? If you don’t, I do. As fun as those days were, the allure of sugary margaritas and bottomless beers has faded. Now, I get much more long-lasting value from my slow, intentional travel than I ever did in my younger days of mindless vacationing.
In my opinion, a true “vacation” should leave you better than when you started, helping you shift deeply into a place of greater alignment so you can be more resilient amidst the crazy day-to-day world we inhabit.
Read along as I provide some intriguing perspectives and tips for getting the most out of your hard-earned vacation time. Want to see more of what lies beyond the patterns of traditional vacation? I invite you to pick up a copy of my book, where I explore this theme in depth, illuminating how I navigated and overcame my old, limiting beliefs and habits around vacation and travel.
Childhood Magic to Adolescent Rebellion
It’s funny how our relationship with “vacation” evolves throughout our life. Having frequented many Mexico resorts in my childhood, these were fun with family and friends, offering diverse food, stunning views, and easy beach access. However, the overall vibe for the masses frequenting these vacation destinations (which the locals undoubtedly take advantage of) no longer suits my holistic lifestyle.
Childhood: Vacations are typically magical experiences full of infinite possibilities and endless play.
Adolescence: They become places ripe for rebellion and, for me, with the rise of technology, a place to escape into our smartphones and create social media posts that paint our lives to look like movies.
College: Vacations become a time to explore, experiment, and meet new people. Cut loose, get loaded, and hopefully get lucky.
Post-College: Vacations take the form of the individual’s lifestyle. Some may move towards slower, more restorative vacations. Some may stay the life of the party. Some may become thrill-seeking globe trotters. Others become cultural immersion savants. And some may have very few opportunities to vacation at all.
Redefining Vacation
While writing this, I was curious to know what exactly the definition of vacation is.
Here’s what ChatGPT provided me:
Vacation: A period of time that a person spends away from home, work, or school, often traveling for relaxation, recreation, or leisure. It typically involves a break from daily routines and responsibilities, allowing individuals to rest, explore new places, engage in enjoyable activities, and recharge mentally and physically.
So now that we are clear on what vacation is, how are we approaching it?
I feel that vacation, for many, especially in the Western world, is misunderstood and remains very surface level. There are many who will live and die before using all or any of their vacation time, and others who will use it all up without much thought.
The difference lies in how one uses their vacation time. Many people go through the motions of what they think vacation should be and never really define what they want out of it. With this lack of intention, one is left with nothing more than a short respite from reality, missing the opportunity for a fresh perspective and deep nourishment that can strengthen them in their personal and professional lives.
So how do we maximize the benefits of Vacation?
To maximize the benefits of a vacation, it’s important to set clear intentions and understand what you hope to achieve or receive from your time away. Whether it’s rest, adventure, cultural immersion, or personal growth, defining your goals can transform your vacation from a simple break into a meaningful experience.
By approaching vacation with purpose, you can ensure it provides the rejuvenation and clarity needed to return to daily life with renewed energy and perspective.
The Allure and Pitfalls of Resort-Style Vacations
I refer to these as “resort” vacations, but this can encompass any form of vacation to a place that is overly commercialized. I do recognize the positive in these experiences, but also the challenges to someone looking for more than a poolside bar.
I have stayed at a variety of resorts, from low-end to very high-end and I will definetly say, the higher end ones have a lot more funding for other iniatives and you can see the money, time and energy invested into all aspects of the resorts natural environment.
Positive Aspects: affordable option, boosts the local economy, environmental protection advocacy, regenerative agriculture, and sustainability efforts.
Challenges: The struggle to find bliss in a resort experience that once brought joy. The repetitive push for indulgence can become tiresome and unsatisfying.
The “Canned” Tourist Experience
In many places I have traveled, the culture has become “canned.” For example, the overly expensive, nightly repetition of Hawaiian luaus gives foreigners a watered-down taste of what Hawaii might have been like hundreds of years ago in its true, authentic form.
Where I once would have found enjoyment in this, I now feel saddened and frustrated to witness what our world has come to. The truth is, we all crave new experiences that reveal more to our lives, and as tourists, we have a great opportunity to find engaging activities to do just this. However, not all tourist experiences are created equal.
There are far more “canned” experiences out there, profit-driven models likely created by foreigners, which make authentic, grounded local experiences hard to find. The good news is, with a little time spent investigating into eco-tourist opportunities and using app features like Airbnb experiences, there are great culturally immersive options to be discovered!
If you resonate with this topic and seek to go deeper into what lies beyond culturally white-washed experiences, you’ll love the contents of Chapter 9 of my book, Life Unmapped: Illuminations Through Travel, where I explore this topic further and how I have evolved to experience travel in a deeper, more intentional way.
Personal Evolution and Changing Preferences
I just recently revisited a large resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The last time I was there was as a sophomore in high school, around summer 2015. Writing this in 2024 at nearly twenty-six, with a lot of travel and cultural immersion under my belt, I feel I am not the only one experiencing a struggle to find the same bliss in a resort experience as I did in the past.
At the root of this conversation is fundamentally outgrowing certain patterns and standards as we seek to Live Thrivingly and embrace new, evolved versions of ourselves. What once served us may no longer do so at the depth we need. It’s crucial to thank past experiences and let go of expectations for them to meet our current needs.
As we grow in our self-awareness, this becomes vital, especially when revisiting old vacation spots. Taking time to reflect on our wants, needs, and desires helps us set clear intentions for what we truly want—not what our family, friends, or those around us want. Without understanding what we seek, we may find ourselves feeling short-changed by the experience or longing for the feelings we once had.
Strategies for Meaningful Travel
I used to enjoy Mexico resort vacations filled with drinking and getting f*cked-up. However, taking a break from alcohol revealed the constant societal influence to drink, making it harder to enjoy these resorts. Now, I seek deeper, healthier stimulation.
Some of my current strategies for meaningful travel, especially when staying at a resort (because inevitably you’ll get an invitation to one that is too hard to pass up), include:
Morning Yoga: Find and participate in morning yoga classes to start the day with mindfulness and physical activity.
Exercise: Go to the gym and work out to stay active and energized.
Early Rising: Get up early before the crowd to meditate, read, or take long, peaceful walks.
Find your Oasis: Seek out areas with less activity and noise to relax and unwind, or find those areas that stimulate creativity and inspiration.
Local Cuisine: Eat lots of local cuisine and fresh fruits, and indulge in fresh juices or smoothies.
If available, treat yourself to a trip to the spa. Enjoy a massage, use the steam room, sauna, and hot and cold tubs. If you’re a guy and have never been to a spa, do yourself a favor— the women in your life will thank you, and chances are you’ll enjoy it more than you expected.
For those seeking adventure, look for eco-tourism opportunities off the beaten path to avoid heavily commercialized experiences. However, don't completely write off large commercial experiences, as they can be really fun and provide opportunities to meet new people and engage in exciting activities like zip-lining, kayaking, and snorkeling through caves. Just be clear about what you are looking for in your travel experience.
Optimizing Your Travel Experience
Set Clear Intentions: Understanding why you are going on vacation and what you hope to get out of it can make all the difference.
Discover your Location: Locate a place in the world that calls to you and find a place to stay that is align with your deepest wants, needs and desires and book it!
Book a retreat experience: There are many incredible retreats across the globe that are curated specifically for what you’re looking for. I’ve participated in yoga and meditation retreats, but there are ones to be found for every sport and way of life!
Engage in Meaningful Activities: Morning yoga, early beach walks, and low-stimulation areas can enhance your experience.
Explore Off the Beaten Path: Seek eco-tourism opportunities and authentic cultural experiences to avoid commercialization.
Reflect on Past Experiences: Acknowledge the value of past vacations, but recognize when they no longer serve you.
Be Present: Embrace the moment and allow yourself to just "be" to achieve holistic health and sustainability.
Balancing Adventure and Rest
There are many reasons people take vacations. For some, it’s about adventure and feeling alive through thrilling activities. For others, it’s about rest and a true get-away from daily life.
Adventure Seekers: Thrill-seeking vacations like hiking, skydiving, or white-water rafting are more appealing to those looking for an adrenaline rush.
Rest Seekers: More grounded, authentic get-aways that allow space to rest and rejuvenate are especially crucial for those who have suffered from burnout and are on a path of inner healing.
Explorers: Then there are those who don’t know what their needs or desires are and are just trying things out. This approach can work for some, as it keeps them occupied and part of the group, finding it easier to just say “yes” than to speak up and honor their “no.”
There is an incredible opportunity to slow ourselves down on vacation from the pace of modern life—that is, if you allow yourself to.
Many people struggle to be truly present on vacation, preferring endless stimulation over simply being. Learning to just be is essential for long-term sustainability and holistic health. It’s inherently challenging to let ourselves do nothing, especially for high-performers, but it’s imperative for our long-term well-being.
Embracing Different Vacation Approaches
For the Over-Planners: If in the past you planned out every day like you’re completing a military operation, try a day with no agenda and be open to spontaneity. It will be challenging, but notice the lessons it has to show you.
For the Reluctant Adventurers: If you always opt out of the adventures, try challenging yourself to do something out of your comfort zone with the thrill-seekers in your group.
For the Hyperactive: If you’re always jumping from one activity to the next, try just being with those who sit quietly resting on the beach or reading a good book.
We all have so much to learn from one another, and a vacation can be an incredible time for growth, both in and out of our comfort zones. But in order to extract this goodness, we first need to know what we need and work to meet those needs so we can challenge ourselves.
If our cup is empty and we are angry, defensive, and moody, we are not going to be able to try new things or help ourselves soften. Understanding and honoring our needs is the first step towards a fulfilling vacation that balances rest, adventure, and personal growth.
Embracing Conscious Travel
We’re in a unique time where many people still follow old patterns of vacation and travel unconsciously, while a rising tribe embraces a lifestyle of conscious travel to refill their mind, body, and spirit.
Conscious travel, also known as slow travel or intentional travel, involves seeking experiences and places that nurture mind, body, and spirit. This approach helps us return home to our daily lives refreshed and whole, with more to share with the world around us.
Above the Clouds.
As we age and evolve, our vacation preferences shift. Authentic cultural experiences and secluded oases may come to replace stereotypical travel activities and resort indulgences.
Exposing ourselves to the world outside the confines of a resort—analogous to life outside our comfort zone—can forever change our travel desires, leading us to seek vacations that bring deeper fulfillment.
Vacationing offers incredible opportunities for healing and growth. By setting clear intentions and understanding our needs, we can enhance our travel experiences and live thrivingly. For more insights on the expansive potential of traveling beyond the confines of mainstream vacationing, I invite you to check out my book page.
What are your thoughts on the evolution of vacations? Have your travel preferences changed over the years? Share your experiences in the comments below and let's start a conversation.
Don't forget to order your copy of my book, A Path to Self-Discovery: Reflections on Navigating Existential Crisis, Finding Clarity, Balance & Renewal on Amazon today for more insights on how travel can be a path to personal growth.