Holidays before blogging was born
As a travel blogger, I strive to make the most of every trip I take. I take photos of everything, note important facts, visit all the important monuments and sights, try all the gastronomy and chat with all the locals for an “insider opinion”. I’ll do everything written in the guidebook and try a little more.
The only thing I don’t do is relax.
Back when holidays were all about waking up at 11 a.m., lounging by the pool all day, walking to the beach if you had the energy, sipping cocktails as the sun went down, and dining in candlelit restaurants in the evening remember.
I didn’t have to explore every nook and cranny of the local culture, take over 100 photos of churches, or wake up at 6 a.m to take a great photo of the sunrise. Holidays in those days were simple, easygoing and relaxing. But can I go back?
Really, can we really go back to that lazy life, that holiday experience where all you bring home is a sunburn and a few pounds around your belly? I wish I could go back to those relaxing trips, but honestly, I don’t think I will ever be able to go back. I think once you are programmed into “blogger mode” there is no going back.
Climb a Moroccan sand dune to take photos of the sunset
You’ll never again be able to leave your hotel without your camera and notepad, or resist the temptation to start writing a blog post before the day is over. I’ll never eat a great meal again without pulling out my phone and taking a quick photo and tweeting it before I eat it.
I loved a five-star all-inclusive vacation where I ate my weight in food at banquets and did nothing for two weeks, trashing and lying in the sun. But thinking about it now makes me angry. When I got home, I felt lazy and lethargic and was afraid to go back to work or university. Lately, I’ve been wanting to enjoy my holidays more. We don’t just want to write good blog posts, we also want great experiences that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I know I’m not asking for much.
I attended a boutique boot camp last year and it really changed the way I look at holidays. The boot camp was a combination of extreme exercise and extreme relaxation. “Super relaxing” may seem a bit of an oxymoron, but I came home from that vacation feeling refreshed, relaxed, rejuvenated, and all the things that were hiding at the bottom of my to-do list. I felt ready to tackle everything I did.
If you had told me before I went to boot camp that working out 8 hours a day without any sugar, salt, or caffeine would give me more energy than I had when I was 15, I wouldn’t have believed you. I probably laughed, but this is how you should feel after the holidays. You won’t feel more tired, unhealthy, or stressed when you return than when you left.
So the next time you book a vacation, think about what you’re going to do and where you’re going. Sure, spending a few days lounging on the beach is nice and relaxing, but consider getting out and exploring. Think about what will make you feel good in the long run, what will be memorable, and what photos you’ll show off when you get home.
Do you know where I’m going in March?
I started thinking about this because next month I will be taking my first “proper vacation” in several years. This is not a press trip, a family trip, or a work trip; it’s just a vacation that I booked and planned myself. There’s no pressure to provide X times more blog posts or social media coverage. Well, you don’t have to write anything if you don’t want to.
The thought of not doing anything for my blog gives me a little panic attack, but can I switch off and get out of ‘travel blogger mode’?
What do you think? Do you ever take a break from blogging or do you ever get out of travel blogger mode?