Senior to Senior: Take a Vacation

Does it feel weird thinking that you need a vacation? Seriously, once you are retired, isn’t every day a vacation? Maybe so, maybe not. If you are still programed to be busy all the time and if anxiety has become your middle name, you may need to get away. Sometimes, it takes a vacation to pry you away from the news and all the other negatives in the world. Get away from work (whether voluntary or paid) and forget all the commitments that you probably shouldn’t have made in the first place. A change of scenery is a good thing. If nothing else, it makes you appreciate “home.” If, on your vacation, you find that you are bored, not sleeping well or missing your old routines, you are missing the point. The point being that you are trying to recharge your batteries and restore order to your life. Keep your older body in mind and plan a “senior friendly” vacation. Enjoy spending quality time with family or friends but make your vacation about you. Spend time outdoors. Be spiritual. Be active. Be calm. Select your destination carefully and consider your needs. Handicap accessibility and comfortable sleeping arrangements are paramount. Be sure that you have your medications and dietary supplements with you and stop complaining. I remember my aunt and my mother complaining that nothing was ever as good as it was at home. Don’t miss the point of why you needed to get away. Stick to a routine (this means regular eating and sleeping schedules) and allow yourself plenty of quiet time. Take a few projects to work on so that you aren’t left twiddling your thumbs while others go off on one more adventure. Take things slowly and take care of yourself. Scope out where the nearest hospital is located, just in case, but then put your mind at ease. With a little bit of planning, knowing your limits, and knowing what you want to achieve from your “vacation,” you can return home a new person or at least a better, more relaxed, version of you.