3619: Why You Need to Take a Minimalist Vacation by Amy Slenker-Smith of SimplyEnough

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER_03] Wenn jemand Charles und Melanie gesagt hätte, dass sie nach ihrem Tinder-Match gemeinsam einen Channel mit Crazy-Aufgaben starten, also wirklich crazy, fünf Tage auf einer einsamen Insel verbringen, eine Zipline an einem Gurt runterrasen, eine Million Views knacken, eine Wand mit Saugnöpfen hochklettern und Falschirm springen in Ägypten? Das hätten die beiden niemals geglaubt. Aber das ist das Ding mit Tinder. Es führt dich an Orte, die du nie erwartet hättest. Wohin es dich auch führt. It starts with a swipe. Tinder.

[00:00:29] [SPEAKER_01] Kennt ihr auch diesen einen Freund, der morgens einfach so ruckzuck aus dem Bett und danach aus dem Grinsen gar nicht mehr rauskommt? Der sogar noch vor dem ersten Kaffee unverschämt gut gelaunt ist und mit der Morgensonne um die Wette strahlt? Furchtbar. Ekelhaft. Wie kann man nur so...

[00:00:44] [SPEAKER_02] Ausgeruht sein? Ganz einfach. Trainiere deinen Schlaf und werde auch du zum Morgenmenschen. Mit der Galaxy Watch 7 oder dem Galaxy Ring und der Samsung Health App.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00] Das ist ein Minimalist Monday edition von Optimal Living Daily. Warum du musst dich an Minimalist vacationen? By Amy Slanker-Smith of SimplyEnough.net. Und ich bin Justin Malek, reading to you mit permission von den Autors. Ich cover lots of topics like personal development, self-help, mindfulness, happiness, and minimalism like today. So with that, let's get right to today's post as we optimize your life.

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_00] Why you need to take a minimalist vacation by Amy Slanker-Smith of SimplyEnough.net. Two of my favorite things are minimalism and travel. So naturally I enjoy a minimalist vacation. In early 2020, I spent five glorious days in the sun and sand. Nothing could have been better for my health than wellness. In hindsight, we were lucky to sneak this trip in before the world fell apart. There's something about a view of the ocean. It was a couple's only trip to Jamaica.

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_00] My husband and I were so excited because we had not been back to the island since our honeymoon. A lot has changed in 20 plus years, not just on the island, but for us too. We are indeed older, wiser, and living more simply, even on vacation. Old Amy on vacation. The old Amy had some pretty bad vacation habits. She tried to stay connected to work, family, and friends. She was tethered to all of it as if she never left.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_00] Old Amy packed a large suitcase and carried on a work laptop to be productive during the flight. And she even sacrificed vacation time to take conference calls and respond to emails. Her suitcase was heavy and full of things she did not need and would never wear. Thank goodness we said goodbye to old Amy. In fact, long before I left the corporate world, this was one area I got right. And yet, I see my former bad habits in others as we travel.

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_00] Not everyone subscribes to my minimalist vacation. From cell phones at the beach, to printing in the business center, to skipping the last day of vacation in order to repack all the stuff in those large bags. It's hard not to notice. I get it. This used to be my kind of vacation too. Having done both, a minimalist vacation has so many benefits. Here's why you need one. Packing light is less hassle.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_00] We carry on small bags. No matter the length of the trip, I carry on to a flight. I have a travel backpack that I love and I can easily maneuver it through a busy airport. Carry-ons mean less time getting to and from your destination, no time wasted at baggage claim, and less time unpacking the car. If needed, laundry is always an option. And carry-ons save baggage fees with no risk of lost or stolen luggage.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00] I've witnessed how lost luggage can ruin an entire trip. In the end, the travelers spent their vacation complaining about the airline, calling lost and found, and shopping to replace everything. With small bags, we spent our last morning on the beach instead of repacking. Before our flight, we returned to the room to shower, change, and pack up in less than an hour. Bottom line, less luggage equals more vacation.

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_00] Become a better boss and employee. I stopped working during vacations. I do absolutely nothing. Zero. Silch. Easier said than done, right? Wrong. With a little planning, it can be done. In my corporate days, I managed a large team and wanted to set the right example in all aspects of leadership, including time off. Every year, I took two weeks off without working or checking my email. Soon,

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_00] my employees, and even my boss, followed my lead, citing the example I set. We all returned, rested, and recharged, and hit the ground running at the office with increased energy and focus. While I was away, it was an opportunity for my team to rise to the occasion and do what I taught them. I delegated important responsibilities and communicated deadlines before I left. I sent an email, out-of-office replier, citing no access to email, and included alternate points of contact.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_00] Then, I temporarily turned off the email push to my phone so that I could truly disconnect instead of worrying about a subject line that would pull me back into work, both mentally and physically. Finally, I told my team how much I appreciated their help, and I expressed the faith I had in them. Then, as I drove away, I said to myself, I trust my team, and I'll be a better leader after these two weeks off. You will too, and you'll be a better spouse and parent too.

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_00] Set up trusted childcare. When you're leaving town without the kids, it can be challenging. There's childcare to arrange, carpools to coordinate, and grocery shopping to do, but all this advanced preparation and planning is worth it. Don't fall into the trap of, well, they can just call me. I typed up a detailed list of our son's schedule and activities, as well as phone numbers for neighbors and friends who could help with any situation. Pro tip, I reused this list

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_00] each time we travel. Most days, I left my phone in the hotel room. We did FaceTime with our son once or twice, but the rest of the time, his grandparents were in charge, and they loved having the one-on-one time with him. They even negotiated some carpool changes in our absence. Finally, we hired a college student to handle a drive that was too challenging for his grandparents, and we arranged a carpool pickup for the early morning swim meet. Life went on without us. The time my son spends with his grandparents

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00] is precious, but we also invest in a village of friends and neighbors and support each other. We know we cannot do it alone, and taking a break is healthy for moms and dads. Studies show that kids feel more secure when parents travel without them because they experience our return. And in this very connected world, it's important to be a little less accessible from time to time. Quote, leaving your child with the confidence that they are strong and resilient enough to be without you

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_00] for chunks of time helps them believe in themselves, which is a belief they can take into adulthood. End quote. Now it's your turn. The world is open. Schedule a minimalist vacation. You just listened to the post titled Why You Need to Take a Minimalist Vacation by Amy Slanker-Smith of SimplyEnough.net. And I'll be right back with my commentary. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business

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[00:09:43] [SPEAKER_00] first order with code OLD at liquidiv.com Thank you to Amy. If you do find you're more like old Amy where you feel tethered to work or people while you're on vacation one thing you can consider is something along the lines of meditation or yoga style retreats generally they discourage cell phones some might even hold on to it for you. I know when I went to a personal development retreat they kept our devices sure you can sneak

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_00] away with it but it's better to turn it in and have that freedom. There's some trust there but I think it's okay. Anyway that's a decent way to have a getaway and not be tethered you pretty much tell everyone that you're going to be unreachable and that's that. I couldn't agree more about packing light. I really strive for this. Just like Amy I generally just carry on one bag and a backpack. Whether it's international or not that's what I shoot for. I just feel like that weight both

[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_00] literally and figuratively being lifted away feels so much less stressful carrying less especially not worrying about lost luggage like she mentioned. But we're all different. You have to find what works best for you. Hopefully there's something in this one that got you thinking. So thank you to Amy for this one. Thank you for being here. It really means a lot. I'll be curating articles for you here again tomorrow so have a great rest of your day and start to your week and I'll see you tomorrow where you're optimal life always.