10 tips for a vacay mindset while stuck at home
It’s official. Travel is a distant dream for now. But being stuck at home doesn’t have to hamper your wanderlust. You can still travel the world. You just need to reframe your mindset.
If you’re anything like Annabelle Needles, the content creator and video editor behind Evergreen Lane Productions, it’s easier said than done considering we tend to have two personas: one for home and another for travel. Psychologists call this Holiday Personality Syndrome (HPS). And yes, this is a thing. TravelSupermarket uncovered this phenomenon several years back, defining it as a temporary change of character that occurs during a getaway.
Annabelle couldn’t agree more, “My home self tends to settle into a routine; while my travel self is much more adventurous, observant, and engaged. I look at things from a different perspective – soaking up all the details and living in the moment.”
When we travel, the rules and boundaries of everyday life seem to no longer apply. Why then can’t we have the same perspective while stuck at home?
According to a survey commissioned in 2018 by Swiss International Air Lines, travel has the power to shape our personality. “We are what we remember. Travel memories take a prioritized position within the realm of personal experiences, which is why they are major pillars of our personality,” says neuropsychologist professor Lutz Jäncke from the University of Zurich’s department of psychology. Professor Jäncke goes on to note that because we have good travel experiences – away from daily life – we are able to absorb lots of little details that create strong memories.
For Annabelle, a trip to Provence with her mother was the catalyst for her travel lust. “We were having a meal and asparagus with hollandaise sauce was on the menu. I remember that our waiter was kind of cute so I ordered the dish despite being a very picky eater,” she says.
This memory may sound silly, but it was a pivotal moment. “That trip made me realize the upside of stepping out of my comfort zone.”
Her father’s travel philosophy also helps to keep her travel attitude in check. “My dad travels as if he’ll be back. That thought totally relieves the pressure to see it all at once. I feel that is such a beautiful way to travel.”
And since travel is on hold indefinitely, we need to rethink how we create memories. Annabelle recommends thinking about your go-to things to do when you’re on vacation and asking yourself, “Why can’t I create similar memories when I’m at home?”
Here are some of Annabelle’s ways to feed your wanderlust during the travel ban:
#1. Make a point to watch the sunset or sunrise, as it’s a proven way to boost your mental and physical wellbeing. Plus the colors can be absolutely amazing.
#2. Take a walk, exploring without an agenda. Annabelle says her best days are strolling around different neighborhoods and getting a feel for the local culture and community.
#3. Bring your camera to your city’s most photographed spot and try to take a photo that you’ve never seen before.
#4. Eat your way around the world. Get into the mood with a Spotify playlist and cook a meal from that place you’ve wanted to visit.
#5. Pack a picnic and head to your favorite outdoor spot. Annabelle says this is one of the activities she always does in Europe but rarely does at home in the US.
#6. Use Duolingo to start learning a new language. Or look into an online language class. Many travel guides and bloggers are now offering courses during their off time.
#7. Order takeout from a place you’ve never tried before – bonus points for supporting small, local businesses!
#8. Learn the names of local flora and take a nature walk to see if you can spot anything.
#9. Sit back and travel from your armchair. Get lost in travel shows and travel memoirs.
#10. Weed through your archives and turn your photos into a scrapbook or coffee table book.
P.S. and a shameless plug because I love what Annabelle is doing: If you want to get your video memories off your phone and into your life, check out her YouTube channel or subscribe to her email list!
