The Art of Not Waiting for Vacation

I returned from Brazil a few weeks ago and have been settling back into my life, already daydreaming about the next vacation. And while I wait for that next trip, I’ve been thinking about what it is I actually love so much about being away. I mean, sure; no work, new scenery, a break from routine. But it’s actually more than that.

When I’m on vacation, I’m fully there, fully aware, and completely immersed in the smallest parts of the day. The way the sun hits, the sound of a passing truck, birds in the distance, water moving; it all feels vivid, almost amplified. And coming back home, I’ve realized how much I’ve unintentionally dulled that kind of awareness in my everyday life.

It made me wonder: is that feeling only reserved for vacation? Or is there a way to bring that same sense of presence into my daily routine?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been experimenting. I stopped playing music on my walk to the train in the mornings. And suddenly, the sounds I thought only existed somewhere far away… are here too. Birds, conversations, city noise, life just happening. I hadn’t noticed how much I’d been drowning it all out. Tuning back in has changed something subtle but real: how deeply I breathe, how calm I feel, how connected I am to the moment.

I felt so inspired by this shift that I even wrote a poem on the train one morning. It hit me; the stillness is always here and so is the beauty.

It also made me think about how easy it is to become disconnected. Head down, phone in hand, music in our ears; we move through life distracted, even as we spend hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars chasing experiences that force us to be present. Maybe part of it is that we pay for those moments, so we make sure to value them.

A friend recently told me they “basically hate their life every time they come back from vacation,” which is why they don’t like traveling. And honestly, I get it. That contrast can be jarring. But what if it doesn’t have to be? What if we could build lives that feel, in small ways, like vacation?

Yes, life is hard sometimes. Responsibilities don’t disappear. But where are the small pocket, the nuggets, that do feel like an escape? The ones that remind you what it feels like to just be?

There’s that saying: you can travel anywhere in the world, pick up and start a new life again and again, but if you’re unhappy within yourself then it won’t change much. So maybe this is a reminder that we can create our reality, even in the middle of our routines. The quiet, the wonder, the sense of aliveness; we don’t have to wait for a plane ticket to access it.

Here are a few ways I’ve been trying to bring that vacation mindset into everyday life:

1) Recreate the feeling, not the fantasy.
You might not have a beach outside your door or 70-degree weather on demand but what small moments can you replicate? Sitting by a sunny window with a drink. Stepping outside for a few minutes just to listen. Let it be simple.

2) Give yourself something to look forward to.
You’re back, now what? Maybe it’s a new morning routine, a weekly ritual, or something small that brings a sense of calm or excitement into your days.

3) Make space for stillness.
No phone, no music, no distractions. Just a few minutes to reflect on what you’re grateful for, what you’re excited about, and what brings you joy. Vacation can’t be the only thing that makes you feel alive.

4) Practice presence.
Plan your next trip, sure, but don’t skip over the life you’re living right now. Invest in your friendships, your hobbies, your routines. There’s something meaningful in those moments too that give that “I feel alive” feeling.

Travel is a privilege; not everyone can leave their city, let alone their country. But if that’s the only time we allow ourselves to feel happy, connected, or alive, then we’ve missed something important.

A full life isn’t just built on big escapes. It’s built on small, everyday moments of awareness, curiosity, and appreciation.

And those are available to you; right here, right now.

P.S.

I’m still looking to move this newsletter onto a new platform, stay tuned 🙂 

As always, till next time with love. RidethaVibe with Dee ❤️