At first glance, it might not seem worth it to take a short trip for just a few days. After all, you can always find chores that need to done at home, or movies you haven’t seen on Netflix. Many people wait until they can take a full week away from work and home obligations to get away. For your own health and well-being, reconsider. Here are 10 of my favorite things about taking a short trip.
1. IT IS EASIER TO PACK
You can fit everything you need for a few days into a backpack. Packing takes just a few minutes, and if you forget something, going without for a day or two is not the end of the world.
2. A SHORT REST IS ENERGIZING
Whether you sit on the beach or read a book in a hammock at a charming Bed & Breakfast, getting out of your own space can be what you really need to chill out and keep those “To Do” lists from running through your head, sabotaging the intention of a restful weekend at home.
3. A SHORT ADVENTURE IS INVIGORATING
Do you sit at a desk all week? A hike, a bike ride, an amusement park, or museum might be the ticket to clear the cobwebs, get the body moving and feel like a human being again. Having new experiences and learning new things boosts our mood. Seven days of adventure can be exhausting, but just a day or two sends you back to the office with fresh perspective.
4. FISH AND COMPANY STINK AFTER THREE DAYS
For a short visit, your friends are glad to have houseguests. Only very close friends and relatives should really stay longer. Some would argue that is debatable. Accommodations are the most expensive part of travel. If you have a free place to stay and an open invitation, take advantage of the opportunity. Be sure to reciprocate, by inviting your friends to visit and be a tourist in your town.
5. LAST MINUTE HOTEL DEALS MAKE IT A NO BRAINER
If you don’t have a free place to crash, check the hotel apps for last minute deals and specials. Locations a drive or a train ride away make it easy to take advantage of last minute specials. You might find an opportunity to stay in a special place you thought you’d never be able to afford.
6. ENJOY YOUR TRAVELING COMPANIONS WITHOUT GETTING TIRED OF EACH OTHER
This works both ways. Trust me, after a week your most annoying traveling companions will get as sick of you as you are of them. However, for just a couple of days, most people can stay positive and polite, and the trip ends with everyone wanting to plan another adventure.
7. THE MAIL DOESN’T PILE UP WHILE YOU ARE GONE
Being gone a few days, especially over a weekend, means there isn’t a pile of bills and junk mail waiting for you when you get home. After a long trip, just going through the mail can become a half-day project.
8. YOU DON’T CREATE MUCH DIRTY LAUNDRY
One of the biggest fun busters after a long trip is the piles of dirty laundry that need attention. Sure, you will still come home with dirty clothes on a short trip, but probably not enough to fill the washer.
9. YOU DON’T GAIN AS MUCH WEIGHT ON A SHORT TRIP
Who doesn’t love to eat on a trip? Trying new places means trying new foods. Unless we’re careful, overindulging gets the best of us before we have a chance to get home and hop on the scale for a reality check. Short trips give us the enjoyment of letting loose and enjoying the local cuisine, knowing we will be home and back on track in time to minimize the damage.
10. YOU KNOCK MORE PLACES OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST
There is more to travel than just checking places off your bucket list. However, with short trips you can get to more places in a year. A short trip doesn’t have to be the only time you go to a particular location. Look at it as a great survey to get the flavor of a place, to decide if you want to go back in the future and spend more time.
1 comment
Thank you for these practical “reminders” and “inviters.” Three days is enough for a little relief from the everyday, and just enough time to be introduced to somewhere, someone, or something new.
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