Life can be frantic, chaotic, and loud.  From the moment the gun fires in the morning when the alarm clock goes off it is a race from start to finish.  To get through our day with whatever it is that we must slog through to make it so that we can make a living, stay out of trouble, and be a productive member of society.  We go home, eat our dinner, go to sleep.  The alarm goes off the next day and we start anew - a crazy, and at the same time, monotonous cycle.  We want to get away from it all and go on a long, relaxing vacation but more often than not it is just not possible.  My solution?  Take a mini-vacation for one day.

What can you do in a day though you may ask.  Not a lot, which is the whole point:

1. Set the date, and inform everybody: A Wednesday preferably so that it can be set smack dab in the middle of the workweek as a nice little break.  Request a vacation day at work and make arrangements for friends and family to leave you alone and pick up the slack(especially if you have kids to take care of)
2. Location, location, location: Pick out a place where there can be few distractions.  The park on a weekday can be a good place to go.  Others have a favorite hiking trail.  It can even be a backyard of a friends house (as long as your friend is not there of course).
3. Spend it alone:  This is going to be “me time” so no friends or family allowed.  Tell them you just want to have a day of solitude, they’ll understand.
4. Turn all your electronic devices OFF: Turn of your phone, pager, PDA.  You may not be open to the idea initially but this is important.  The world will continue to turn even if people cannot get a hold of you for a day.  Everything should be ok since you’ve made arrangements with everybody beforehand, right?  No radio or TV either, you want to be alone with your thoughts on this one (no matter how unappealing the prospect might be ^_^)
5. Pack enough food and beverages to last a day: You want to stay hydrated so bring plenty of water with you.  You want to have everything that you need readily available so you can spend the day uninterrupted.
6. Bring a blanket: Or something to lay on.  If you prefer to sit, a lawn chair works too.
7. Bring sunscreen:  You’re going to be spending this day outdoors so proper UV protection is necessary.  You can also bring a portable umbrella with you if you like.
8. Take off your watch: For the purposes of this day you will not need your watch.  It’s another distraction that you can do without.  The setting of the sun will be what you’ll use to determine when the day is done.
9. Ready, set, sit:  Or lay down.  Or walk around.  Skeptical already?  Don’t knock it till you try it.
10. Let your mind wander:  Just lay back and look at the clouds.  Initially you’ll be thinking of work and family.  This is normal, acknowledge these feelings and let them go.  Don’t think of anything in particular, just let your mind guide you naturally to whatever thoughts come and go.  It may seem boring and pointless but that’s the whole point of this exercise.  To get lost in your thoughts while being free from distractions.  To connect with yourself again on a basic level.  To do a “reset” of sorts.

Next thing you’ll know the sky will be dark and a whole day has passed.  How do you feel?  What did you think of?  You may be surprised of what came to you.  You don’t need to share it with anybody.  You can write it in a journal if you like, but the thoughts of that day should stay with you.

It’s a break from your regular routine, and sometimes that in itself is enough.

So, what do you think of doing nothing for a day?