Inside Marcy's Mind
Having hosted the Aging aint for Sissie's podcast for two years, I wanted to expand what I could discuss. This podcast will touch on the fun of aging and whatever has crossed my mind! Please join me as I walk through life! #retirement #travel #fun #aginggracefully Link in my bio! Listen now!
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Inside Marcy's Mind
Skip the Stress, Keep the Slippers: A Guide to Genuine Vacation Mode
Ever notice how it takes the first three days of your vacation just to remember how to relax? You're not alone. That magical "vacation mode" we're all chasing often feels more elusive than a reasonably priced airport coffee.
I'm diving into the psychology of why we struggle to decompress when traveling and sharing practical strategies to help you slip into relaxation mode faster. From the surprising power of brushing your teeth slowly (yes, really!) to the liberation of scheduling a completely unstructured day, these expert-backed tips will transform how you approach your precious time away.
The modern pressure to stay connected means many of us are treating vacations like an extension of our workday—just with better scenery. But as I explain, "You are not the duct tape holding that company together. Even duct tape gets some breaks." Learning to create proper boundaries with work, pack strategically with emotional support items (my travel slippers are non-negotiable), and establish small vacation rituals can make all the difference between returning home refreshed or needing a vacation from your vacation.
My own travel mishaps—like forgetting my contact case and paying $7 for a replacement—highlight why preparation matters. But beyond the practical aspects, this episode explores something deeper: our cultural inability to truly slow down and be present. The frantic need to see everything and document every moment often robs us of the very joy we traveled to find.
Whether you're planning an international adventure or a simple weekend getaway, these insights will help you maximize enjoyment without maximizing stress. Life is too short to spend three days decompressing from packing, and your piña colada is getting warm. Join me to discover how to make every moment of your next trip count.
Hello and welcome to Inside Marci's Mind. My name is Marci Backus and I am your host. Well, welcome, welcome back. You may hear some major jet noises in the background. It is well for my video people. This is where I live, downtown Chicago, and it is the air and water show this weekend. So the jets are zooming by our buildings and heading out to the lake which is right here, and I'll go there. This is practice and I'll go at three o'clock today.
Speaker 1:But I want to welcome you back to Inside Marci's Mind, the show where I share the deep philosophical wisdom I've gathered from years of life experience. And by philosophical wisdom I mean mostly sarcastic observations about how ridiculous life can be, and that is. I am nothing but sarcastic in my life. Today we're talking about vacation mode. You know the mythical state of relaxation you're supposed to achieve, the second your feet hit the sand or the hotel lobby, except for in reality, it takes the first three days of your 10 day trip just to remember how to breathe. Normally, I mean, nothing says relax like frantically running through the airport and flip-flops holding your iced latte like it's a medical device keeping you alive. So I've got some tips, backed by experts and sprinkled with my own real-life commentary on how to actually enjoy your vacation instead of treating it like a competitive sport. But before we get to that, I will update you on me. Life is going well.
Speaker 1:I got great news that I no longer have a blood clot. So talk about traveling. I had a blood clot in my leg from traveling and unfortunately, due to some other of my medical issues, I cannot treat a blood clot, so I just have to pray and hope it doesn't break off, go to my lungs and kill me. So it is good news to know that it is no longer there. We survived this one. We've got a plan for traveling, because I've got a lot of traveling coming up, heading to Arizona next week, so I'll be coming to you from Arizona, or I may do it the night before I'm here. I will be going then to the state of Washington for a wedding, and then I will be going then to the state of Washington for a wedding, and then I will be going back to California to see Kyle and then I will be going to Ireland. So I had to get a plan, together with my hematologist, on how to best treat me so that I could live my life and not just sit in this room. So we've got that under control.
Speaker 1:The next thing I wanted to talk to you funny talking about my intro of running through with your ice latte. So I finally joined the Stanley cup craze, but a faux Stanley cup, because I'm not paying the price for a Stanley cup, and I'm glad I didn't, because the reason I got one was I carry. I do have a cup, similar. It has no handle. The one I have has no handle. The new one has a handle and I thought I have crunchy hands, as my nephew Alan, my great nephew Alan calls them. My hands are not great, so trying to hold onto a cup without a handle is hard for me. But little did I know that once you fill this sucker up with water, ice and your whatever I put in, I am a crystal light.
Speaker 1:Grape and fruit punch fan Brings me back to my childhood Love. It Makes me drink a lot of water. These things weigh a ton, holy cow. Take me a sip right there. They're really heavy. It'll be good. It'll get my hands some straight. So I do like it. It works great.
Speaker 1:Going on a little road trip with some friends this coming week here heading to Michigan what else, aaron Watershow, craig and I are doing our Friday McDonald's lunch and then heading down to the lake to watch them practice. Life is good. Have a great life. I have no complaints. We've been looking at two-bedroom units in our building Nothing that floats my boat yet. We'll see Looking at some properties when I go to Arizona. That may be another option. So again, life is good, life is full, and let's do this.
Speaker 1:Let's get this podcast going on how to relax while you're traveling. I don't know if that resonates with any of you, but it does with me, so hang in there. We're going to get started with that, all right. So talking about slowing down, relaxing when we travel, so the first thing I'm going to tell you and it's interesting, I did it today the first thing I'm going to tell you sounds weird, but the more you think about it, it's going to make sense Brush your teeth slowly. Now I want you to think about that for a minute. Think about how you brush your teeth. Brush your teeth slowly.
Speaker 1:According to a psychologist, nicole Jane Hobbs, slowing down your most mundane tasks can help you relax. So think about it, not just for traveling, but just in life. So, yes, when you're being told to brush your teeth like you're auditioning for a toothpaste commercial in slow motion. I did it this morning and, you know, didn't create any miracles in my life, but it was a little more relaxing. It didn't create any miracles in my life, but it was a little more relaxing.
Speaker 1:Now, personally, if I brush my teeth too slowly, my brain starts planning tomorrow's to-do list, redecorating my living room and wondering if I should have gotten a different color nail polish. And that is a fact. If I slow things down too much, my mind I am a happy wanderer mind. My mind will wander anytime anything takes too long. So you've got to find that balance. But I do get the point.
Speaker 1:Vacations are about slowing down, not turning every moment into a NASCAR pit stop. So if you can catch yourself power walking through the resort like you're late for a meeting, stop and stroll, meander, limp a little if you have to, your body, your blood pressure, will thank you. So the first point of a relaxing vacation is to slow down, and that's why it takes three days to start feeling like you're decompressing. A main part of that is the slowing down you want to, like it says even in the airport give yourself enough time. Craig and I are lucky enough to be able to go into the clubs and enjoy them, so I like to get to the airport early. I enjoy getting my cappuccino, my free cappuccino, and my free breakfast. I mean, who doesn't like a free, a freebie? Right, be ready to go, get up early, have your clothes ready, be packed the night before. We're going to talk about that a little bit more in the next segment, so I don't want to get too much into it, but just think about slowing down, taking a breath, taking a beat Prep.
Speaker 1:Like a pro Etsy's trend expert says, the secret is packing smart and honestly. Yes, because nothing kills a vacation vibe faster than realizing you forgot your phone charger and now have to pay for 37 dollars for one in the hotel gift shop. That is a fact. I forgot my contact case at my last, on my last trip. I don't know how I have one that lives in there, maybe I thought I was going to replace it. I buy them in bulk from Amazon $7 for a contact case, and so I totally get it.
Speaker 1:So so the the pro tip is keep a little stash of travel-only essentials chargers, adapters, toiletries right in your suitcase year-round. I do and as a matter of fact, it's come in very handy when I've been in the hospital, the emergency room, the last couple of times, because when Craig comes home, I have it right here in this cabinet. It's in a yellow zipper, it's in a gray zipper bag Not that you need to know what color, but I like to be precise has my headphone. It has everything I need for travel the cord for the car if we're going to have apple car play my cord blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But all I tell Craig is, bring me that, and it has everything I need. So I do do that. I keep my toiletries and that's one of the things I'm going to do today Go through my toiletries, update my travel bag because with all the travel I have coming up, I want to make sure I have everything I need. So you don't want to be tearing through the house screaming where's my curling iron, where are my cords, like a bad reality show contest. You just don't, you don't. You want to be prepared. I have.
Speaker 1:I've done several podcasts on packing. You all know that I pack, carry on only with a backpack that has wheels. That goes with that. Um, it makes a little stacking set. One goes when I travel with Craig. I have one that goes overhead, one that goes under the seat in front of me. My purse fits in that. So I have two items.
Speaker 1:When I travel without Craig, because my shoulders are wonky and my hands are wonky, I do, I do pack, I do excuse me, I do check my carry on, but it still is. If push came to shove, I can bring it to the gate and have them check it there. I can get it through TSA. It is approved, it's small, it's everything. So the next thing is bring your emotional support items. And again, we're talking about how to get into vacation mode quicker than waiting the three days that the experts say it takes.
Speaker 1:So, whatever you pack, joanna Gaines travels with her favorite candle. I love this idea because, yes, sometimes your vacation lodging looks quaint in the photos and then in person you realize quaint is a code for smells faintly of wet carpet. I don't know where Joanna gains vacations, but a lot of places frown upon open flames. So you know, take a diffuser, take your essential oils, take something. I do realize that fragrance puts people in the mood. I write in the summer use coconut perfume, I use. Every perfume that I use smells like a vacation. So, again, pack whatever makes you feel at home your slippers, your favorite blanket, maybe even your own pillow. Maybe not your coffee maker, unless you want to have some follow-up questions, but you get. What I'm saying is those things at home that make you feel comfortable. I take slippers, I love slippers. I don't like walking on carpet in hotel rooms. I like slippers, so I always take slippers.
Speaker 1:Create a ritual. Travel expert Samantha Brown says you should have one small ritual on vacation, like starting every morning at the same coffee shop or reading on your balcony. And the reason I like this one is because you get a little anchor in all the chaos and, if you're like me, it also ensures you don't spend every morning Googling best brunch spots near me while your blood sugar plummets and you become unhinged version of yourself. So if your hotel, let's say, has breakfast included, start every day the same, go down and get your breakfast. I've done this on many a vacation and I love it. When we were in Hawaii, I would go down and have breakfast every morning on the patio and the waterfalls and the ocean and just the whole thing. And and it gets you into that vacation mode before you head off into doing all of the things that you do during the day, of the things that you do during the day.
Speaker 1:The next thing is set a clear work window. Now here's the controversial part. They say it's okay to check in on work. Yeah, sure, if you want to, but the trick is to have a time limit. I disagree with this. I think we are too connected all the time. I think when you're on vacation, you should never check in on at work. If it's something you have to do, create a window every day, do it have a time slot. When that 15 minutes is up, be done, walk away. You know you can wake up, go to the coffee shop, sit and do 20 minutes of emails, what have you? But again, I, I really struggle with this one. I, I just say no, but if you have to, you have to create a time limit, create a window. Don't let it ruin your vacation.
Speaker 1:I especially think if you have kids, craig. Craig has done a little bit of work while we've traveled as adults. Doesn't bother me, he does it, he fits it in, it's not a big deal, it never inhibits anything that we're doing. But if you have children, be present for those kids. Craig, when we had the kids never took business on vacation Never, kids. Craig, when we had the kids, never took business on vacation, never, ever, and it made a big difference. He also never brought work home. I will say that about Craig.
Speaker 1:I know that's different nowadays with work at home, but we didn't have the constant connection to work and I think it's okay to not be constantly connected. If they're paying you from eight to five, that's when you should be working, and if you're on vacation and you're using your PTO, they shouldn't be bothering you, and if you are, you should be making the big bucks. So I'm just going to put that out there. Put your phone on, do not disturb, delete the work apps, turn off notifications and see. This is what I believe. That way, the only alerts you get are the good kind Like happy hour starts now, the buffet has fresh donuts. You know, log into your resort, log out of work. Trust me, slack will survive without you for even a few days. You are not the duct tape holding that company together. Even duct tape gets some breaks. I'm telling you people, this constant being connected to work is not healthy.
Speaker 1:So if you're retired, like me, I do the same thing with the things that I volunteer. I am a volunteer at church. Craig and I especially me run a book club through church, a book group through church. I am the head of the stewardship committee and we're starting that. But I limit myself. That too. I'm not going to work on that all the time.
Speaker 1:When you're traveling, hit the spa. Yes, I said the spa. I always go. I get a massage. When the kids were young, we used to go to Hawaii every Thanksgiving. Craig had an office there. We'd spend the whole week of Thanksgiving there and my biggest thing on Thanksgiving morning was to get a massage while the kids did surfing lessons in Kaanapali. It's the one place you can check your email without risking electrocution, whether it's a massage, a facial or this thing called the sound bath, which I'm pretty sure is just laying down while someone plays relaxing space noises. It's worth it. I've never done a sound bath. Sounds like a good idea.
Speaker 1:If you're on a budget, you can create your own spa moment. Put some cucumbers on your eyes, you know, just put yourself in the bathroom in the bathtub. You may not have a bathtub at home, but you have one there. Just again. Unwind. Schedule a schedule-free day. Here's my favorite tip, and this is true Make sure that you schedule in a day where you plan nothing, you sleep in, you eat breakfast in your robe and you let the day unfold. If you make it to the beach, great. If you make it no further than the hotel bed with room service fries, that's also great.
Speaker 1:So Lynn and I, when we used to travel with the kids, we went to Disney World a lot. So we would do, I believe, two days at Disney World and then we would have our pool day, our hotel day where we didn't do anything, and then we always went at that time there was only Islands of Adventure over at Universal Studios. The kids love that we do an Islands of Adventure day. So we would usually have, I think, six days total, two travel days. But we always scheduled the kids a day where we didn't do anything, where we did the pool at the resort. We enjoyed our resort and it made a big difference.
Speaker 1:Another idea grab a notebook. Interior designer Bobby Burke suggests sketching instead of journaling, your hotel room, a beautiful doorway, some flowers. Now, I can't draw at all. If I tried to draw my surroundings it would look like a toddler's art project gone wrong. But hey, the point is to slow down. So that's another thing slowing down.
Speaker 1:All of this is about slowing down. Well, I think I've given you a lot to think about. The main thing is slow down as fast as you can on a vacation Is that ridiculous? Put yourself in vacation mode. Get yourself ready. Put on that coconut perfume two days before you start your vacation. If you're doing a road trip, go buy your great snacks. Get yourself ready. Get your car ready. Make sure you're prepared. Don't run around like a chicken with your head cut off getting ready. Take your time to get ready. Plan out your clothes. Get the kids packed. We all have enough clothes to wear. We can pack days in advance. I hope this has given you some things to think about and ways to slow down for your vacation. So there you have it Ways to actually enjoy your vacation without turning it into a frantic scavenger hunt. Remember you don't have to do everything. You don't have to see every site. Sometimes the best travel memories come from the unplanned moments like laughing over a bad hotel coffee or watching a sunset that you didn't have to sprint to catch. So give yourself permission to slow down, skip a few things and, most importantly, pack your emotional support slippers. You will thank me, remember.
Speaker 1:You can get all of my podcasts at InsideMarci'sMlinecom. I also have another podcast, aging Ain't for Sissies. On that podcast, we're going to talk about what are we talking about? On that one today, we're talking about the test 10 best free or cheap online courses for seniors or retirees. Keeping that education going, and you can. That is called Aging Ape for Sissies. You can get episodes of all my podcasts anywhere you get podcasts. You can get them on my website agingapeforsissiespodcastcom. Insidemarciesmindcom. Share this with your friends. Help me grow. Both of these podcasts are growing. We're doing great. I just want to keep growing, so I am now putting them. I have not done it yet. I've been videoing these. They will be on YouTube so you can watch them on YouTube as well as listen. This has been Inside Marci's Mind. Now go plan that trip and promise me you won't spend the first three days trying to decompress from packing. Life is too short and your pina colada is getting warm. Go out and do something positive.
