Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services

CLEAN & CLUTTER FREE BLOG

Simply Organized

  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • VIRTUAL ORGANIZING
  • Blog
  • Testimonials/Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Resources

6/24/2020

The Benefits of a Vacation State of Mind Part 3...We Pay Attention When We Are on Vacation

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
​As a 3 part blog series we have touched on the 3 things that we tend to do better when we are on vacation that we somehow forget when we go back to living our regular lives. If we could just carry some of these things back with us into our daily routines, we would all benefit in a big way.  First, we slow our lives down to a more enjoyable pace by LIVING IN VACATION MODE, second, we live more simply while we are away by PACKING ONLY THE NECESSITIES. The third thing we get right while we are on vacation is that we live more in the present by doing a better job of PAYING ATTENTION.
 
Think about the last time you went on vacation, likely, you can remember much of what you did each day that you were away. That's because we tune in to whats going on around us when we are on vacation.  Our senses wake up as we slow down a take in new sights, smells, and even tastes, as we try new foods.  We make our best memories on vacation and focus on savoring each moment. We forget about our to-do lists and what needs to be done tomorrow and just live for right now.  Whether we are sharing special moments with our family or friends, enjoying a meal, sightseeing or just taking a walk, we are going all of these things in a more awake state than usual and we are enjoying the process.
 
If we do a better job of living in the present when we are on vacation, what would it be like if we could consciously bring some of this presence back with us into our regular schedules? 

I have to repeatedly remind myself to stay present when I spend time with my 3 daughters.  I am all too aware that their childhood is quickly vanishing.  Already, those little girls I had running around the house have been replaced by big teenage girls that aren't home as often.  I know I don't have much time left to make memories. Also, I want those memories to be vivid and rich, I don't want vague ones where I was only half engaged because my mind was mostly on my to-do list and on getting things done.  I also do not want my best memories to be limited to the few times a year when we were on vacation.
 
But lets face it, staying present is not easy, it takes practice and effort, and the busier we are, the harder it is to do it.  But it is well worth the effort because when we are present, we not only are more engaged and more patient with the people we are with, but we are better listeners too. While we are naturally more apt to wake up to the new sights and experiences that we encounter while on vacation, it is easy to dismiss the present moment on ordinary days when nothing new or unusual is taking place.  But with practice and intention, we can get better at paying attention to what is going on right now, even on uneventful, ordinary days. ​
 
Just the other night, my 19-year-old came home from work, she was excited about the storm that she noticed brewing in the sky while on her drive home.  She took a seat on the front porch and invited me to join her. I put down the task I was working on and sat down next to her.  We just sat there watching the lightning show in the sky for a while, taking in all that we were seeing and hearing.  Eventually the wind turned angry and the rain became a down pour, and we were forced to go in to avoid getting soaked.  But for a short time, we were absorbed in the now, not doing anything other than living and sharing in the moment. At some point, I realized that this was the first time all day that I had stopped being productive.  In my mind, I thought - I need more moments like these in my life.  My guess is that many of us need more moments like this in our lives. I was so grateful to my daughter for nudging me be present for a little while. 
 
See if you can look for opportunities to savor the present moment more often.  Even simple tasks like walking the dog can be done better.  As we walk, we can intentionally stop thinking about what needs to get gone when we get home or what problem needs to be solved, and focus instead on the walk itself. We can walk more consciously, and pay attention to all the sights and sounds of nature.  We can intentionally listen to the birds singing, and the planes flying overhead. Our brains will appreciate the momentary break from constantly problem solving.  Even our pooch will appreciate the extra attention.



Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Categories

    All
    Antique Dishes
    APPRECIATING OUR BLESSINGS
    Avoiding Family Chaos
    Avoid Organizing Mistakes
    Avoid Wasting Food & Money
    Back To School
    Basements
    Black Friday
    Blessings
    Busy Families
    Buying Foods In Bulk
    Catching Memories
    Change Of Seasons
    Christmas Decorations
    Christmas & Grandparents
    Cleaning Tips
    Closets
    Clutter Build Up
    Clutter Control For Creative People
    Cluttered LIfe
    College Dorm Room Organizing
    Coronavirus
    Craft Room Clutter
    Decluttering
    Dining Room Organizing
    Distractions
    Establish Helpful Routines
    Estate Planning
    Fall Wardrobes
    Family Keepsakes
    Family Members Belongings
    Family Organizing
    FRAMED PHOTOS
    Get Organized
    Gift Buying
    Giftster
    Giggle Log
    Grocery List
    Haiti Mission Trip
    Home Staging
    House Cleaning
    Imperfection Rules
    January Purging
    Just For Laughs
    Keep Pantry Simple
    Keepsakes
    Kids And Keepsakes
    Kids Artwork
    Kids Room Clutter
    Kitchen Organizing
    Lazy Susans
    Less Is More
    Life Simplified
    Living In The Present
    Living Lighter
    Make More Room In Your Pantry
    Memories
    Money Saving Tips
    Moving Tips
    Organized
    Organizing & ADHD
    Organizing Children's Toys
    Other People's Clutter
    Pantry Organization
    Photos
    Physical Therapy
    Practice Doing Less
    Routines
    Scrapbooks
    Senior Downsizing
    Senior Moving Tips
    Serving Others
    Shopping
    Simple Organizing
    Simplify LIfe
    Simplify Your Home
    Slowing Down
    Small Spaces
    Spice Cabinet Organizing
    Spring Cleaning
    Stop Multi-tasking
    Storage Rooms
    Storing Christmas Decor
    Stress Free Organizing
    Stuffed Toys
    Teaching Organizing Skills To Kids
    The Danish Art Of Hygge
    To Do Lists
    Too Many Sets Of Dishes
    Wardrobes
    Weekly Planning Sessions

    RSS Feed



    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013

    Laura Coufal

    Laura is the Owner of Clean & Clutter Free, professional organizing services.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • VIRTUAL ORGANIZING
  • Blog
  • Testimonials/Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Resources