Simple Holiday Pleasures To Carry-On Into Your Weekly Routine
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morning espresso sipped on a quiet balcony. Slipping between cool, pressed sheets after a long day exploring in the sun. Laughter spilling out as easily as that second bottle of vino. These are the holiday pleasures that leave us with a little more bounce in our step and space in our mind. But once our bags are unpacked and the stories have been recounted, it’s often not long until that vacation high we swore we’d hold onto starts to fade.
Without the late wake-up calls or the irresistible thrill of unexplored landscapes, we settle into our familiar patterns and soon find ourselves counting the days until our next far-flung getaway. But what if we could bring some more of that holiday joie de vivre into our daily lives? The simple things that come so naturally to us when we’re away, but that we tend to forgo once home. Consider the below your reminder to continually find time to nourish your traveling soul, even while home.
Art by @kaleiraher
Discovery mode: on
What better holiday pleasure is there than the feeling of discovering something new? On vacation, we comb blogs, Instagram and Google Maps for the most delicious dinner spots with locally sourced ingredients. We seek out off-the-beaten-path towns or under-the-radar beaches. But once back to our normal routine, that sense of discovery often ceases. We take the same routes from the grocery store to home, or order in from our tried-and-true favorite.
So instead of stifling that desire for discovery, embrace it at home. Hop on Google Maps and use your talents to sniff out the best restaurants in a part of town you rarely go to. Missing the rustic charm of an agriturismo? Search for community-supported agriculture projects you can visit and purchase from close to home. In the mood for some culture? Find out what the local dance or theater troupes are offering these days. Keep an open mind and we bet you’ll be surprised by what you can find.
Did someone say, people watching?
If you ask us, one of the best parts of a holiday is the permission we give ourselves to do nothing more than sip on a coffee and watch the locals pass by. There’s an art to people watching — to noticing the little details. The deep purple color of a woman’s scarf, or the way someone carries themself, hurrying along or leisurely making their way to their destination. While it can feel indulgent to sit back and stare (discreetly, of course) when there are to-do lists and laundry waiting, that’s exactly the point.
We could all benefit from some uninterrupted time dedicated to noticing the world and people around us. So, pick up a drink from your favorite coffee shop and find a bench. If it’s cold, bundle up or find a window with a view. Let yourself be inspired by what you see and feel your mind relaxing without the burden of having to make every moment ‘productive.’
Indulge in a sense of place while pampering
One of the ultimate holiday luxuries is treating yourself to a decadent spa treatment. And while your bathroom may not come complete with a sauna or steam room (and if it does, hats off to you), it’s really about carving out a little space to focus on yourself and treat your body with care.
Many of our favorite spas around the world sell their products, usually rich with locally sourced ingredients and steeped in tradition. Indulging in these products is a great way to support these spas from afar while providing yourself with a sense of place while pampering. We’re also no strangers to slathering ourselves in a white clay mask and pretending we’re in the warm pools of the Blue Lagoon. Or, taking a milk and honey bath like we did in Cairo. What’s important is setting time aside — be it two hours or 15 minutes — to slow down, breathe and allow yourself to be transported.
