What is your ideal vacation?
For many people, once-in-a-lifetime experiences include traveling to popular destinations. During their stay, they try to cram every tourist attraction and activity into his week. Because if you don’t, you won’t have time to do it in a year.
But for more and more people, the ideal vacation is in a place cut off from other people, usually in a secluded area in nature, with few tourist activities or distractions. .
This new trend in travel is called “quiet vacation.”
Photo of a rock arch in Bohemian Switzerland, Czech Republic visited by Mr. de Vore
Provided by: Sahara Rose de Voir
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The quest to reclaim ourselves after the pandemic
These holidays are mainly characterized by spending time alone in secluded places, surrounded by nature. Wi-Fi is sparse, if available, and everyday distractions are left at home.
“There’s a concept in emotion research called ideal emotion. It’s this measure we can take about how you want to feel, what is your ideal?” University of California, Irvine says Sarah Pressman, professor of psychological science at . “And in the United States and many Western countries, the ideal is high energy. Excitement.”
So what keeps so many people away from high-energy vacations?
Pressman suggested that increased stress levels may have been to blame, exacerbated by the pandemic.
“This is probably evidence that we’re not recovering now in the way that we once could,” Pressman said. Pandemic work structures, post-pandemic hybrid work models, and even constant phone use have meant that people no longer truly feel like they’re off work.
Pressman also pointed out that social media and the constant news cycle can have a negative impact on mental health and increase feelings of ongoing stress.
“Staying at home doesn’t actually mean you’re resting,” she says.
Health benefits of a “quiet vacation”
A break from everyday life has many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.
Pressman has researched the benefits of vacation and leisure, and one study found that people who take more time off have better overall health, and those who do have a range of physical symptoms associated with poorer health. It has been shown that the symptoms of metabolic syndrome are showing signs of decreasing. According to Pressman, vacations can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
“We’ve seen that stress reactivity decreases and even heart rate and blood pressure decrease after taking a vacation,” she says.
The tendency to take especially quiet vacations can have unique benefits for a person’s mental health and emotional well-being. Their focus on nature and emphasis on solitude gives people space and time to reflect and de-stress.
A giant sequoia tree dwarfs the surrounding forest along the 100 Giants Trail in Northern California’s Sequoia National Monument. It is among these giant trees that President Clinton proclaimed the monument.
david mcnew
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Getty Images
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Research shows that spending time in nature not only reduces stress, but also changes stress hormones and may improve cognitive functions such as alertness, Pressman said. That’s what it means.
“I think these quiet getaways are doubly beneficial because you go there and get the bounty of nature, but at the same time you don’t have to check your email or worry about work. By not worrying or worrying, you can also cut off the sources of stress. “Once you know what you’re missing, you can actually free yourself from it,” says Pressman. said.
A growing industry for quiet vacationers
Blending in with nature is exactly what John Staff had in mind when he created his work. run awayoffers small cabins on the outskirts of major cities across the United States for this kind of tranquil getaway.
“What we need as a people is more balance in our lives,” the staffer says. “It’s a way to get away from the noisy city, a stressful job, and a dirty apartment.”
Staff said the quiet holiday also gives people a chance to reflect on their lives. Away from distractions, people finally have time to check in with themselves.
At the getaway, visitors are encouraged to leave their cell phones in a locked box and immerse themselves in the nature that surrounds them.
“In today’s world, it’s really tough because your boss is always pushing new deadlines and digital distractions interrupt almost every moment of your day,” the staffer said. “In those situations, it’s very difficult to stop, take a deep breath, and really check in with yourself and what you need.”
According to our staff, even just a day or two of free time to escape the hassles of everyday life can go a long way in helping you value your life more.
Sahara Rose de Vore, Founder and CEO travel coach networkstates that travel, especially solo travel, is “a powerful tool for self-discovery, transformation, healing, self-empowerment, and more.”
She believes the growing trend of people using vacations to disconnect from the world and reconnect with themselves is part of a larger pattern where people are becoming more intentional with their vacations.
How to plan a quiet vacation alone
For those looking for a quiet getaway, de Voer recommended looking to smaller cities and towns just outside the major hubs. If you want a quiet vacation abroad, you can fly into a major airport and from there take an inexpensive bus or train to far-flung destinations. The same goes for locations within your state.
De Voer also suggested choosing a location with natural features.
“Personally, I like hiking and places with lots of water and nature, such as lakes and ponds,” De Voer said. “The beach is very therapeutic for me. It’s just the power of blue space.”
De Vole’s photo from his visit to Lake Olhid in Macedonia
Provided by: Sahara Rose de Voir
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When traveling alone, it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings, de Voer said. If you are traveling alone, be careful with your valuables and essentials. De Voer said to keep your ID, cell phone and charger on you at all times. We have everything you need in case your luggage is stolen.
While a quiet vacation involves disconnecting from others, at least when traveling to a new location, de Voer recommends keeping family and friends up to date and letting them know your estimated time of arrival or departure. he recommended.
If you’re planning a quiet getaway with your partner, be sure to discuss what you personally want from your vacation, de Voer says.
“I want to find a balance within that, so that when I take this quiet vacation, I don’t have to sacrifice what I want to do because of someone else, or feel the stress, expectations, or pressure of having to always do what I want to do.” If not, we have other activities in mind,” de Voer said. “But it starts with really understanding each other’s needs and desires and intentions for this trip.”
But what if you don’t have time to take a full vacation or even a long weekend?
Pressman said the practice and effects of a “quiet vacation” can be achieved even in everyday leisure. The idea of eliminating sources of stress or taking a break from social media or work applies no matter where you are or what you do.
“Mindfulness and other forms of meditation are extremely beneficial in reducing stress and improving health. They also just give our brains a break from constant multitasking and noise,” says Press. Mann says.
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