Hurry brings grumpiness

Vacation is an odd time.

When we’ve planned trips most of the vacation time is consumed by travel, packed itinaries, and times spent with people we love.

During a recent vacation we had an amazing time with friends, quite packed with events. It was a wonderful event all around.

What was intersting though, is toward the end we also spent a few days at a hotel on a beach. We had no plans to be anywhere, and were able to spend time just relaxing.

I’m always a little unsure of what to do with myself on vacation. There’s no prescribed rhythm, each day is a little different. Sometimes it just becomes stressful because of all the unexpected things that come up.

When we’ve had staycations I’ve found it takes me a few days to get into a true relaxation mode because my mind expects to work.

Something starts to happen though, toward the end of the time away from work. I notice that I worry less about what’s happening hour to hour, and time stretches out to encompass whatever we’re doing. It’s an amazing feeling.

I start to worry less about all the things I could be doing, and try to make each day about one or two things that interest me.

Juxtopose that to the first day back at work and I find myself hurrying through everything. I’m trying to juggle all the things in my waking hours that matter. That version of me eventually gets back to becoming efficient at all things, but in the transitions I feel more grumpy and snippy.

It’s not ideal.

But maybe, despite all that, the transitions help me appreciate the beauties of just living and remind me why I’m here and what matters most.

Or maybe I just need to find a way to be less stressed about things.