It helps to refresh and reset yourself. If you are constantly moving around during your travels, you are going to get burnt out. Take a day to stay in, order some take out, catch up on shows or movies, and relax yourself before you head out again. Don’t consider it a wasted day.
My rule of thumb is to take one day off for every week of travel. It helped me to reenergize myself. I am an introvert so I was on a work travel this week where I had to do all day meetings and have team dinners. It was a nightmare for me to have to be constantly on the move and talking. I took a day off Thursday, got some Nandos and stayed in my hotel watching TV shows. I actually got a good night’s rest that night and was able to recharge for the rest of my trip.
Especially as you get older. On my last trip, I felt a little guilty about taking a rest day here or there between locations. But I realized I need a rest day sometimes to enjoy the rest of the vacation now; it’s not a waste if it helps you enjoy the rest of the trip to the fullest.
While everyone’s needs & time they can get off are different, I do find this the best method while travelling.
Usually on day 7, I still want to explore and go. But eventually, as days or weeks go by, you would just be more and more tired. We at least do 1 relax day per week. We probably still do something, like visit some shops in the nearby area. But that’s it.
@henrystort
Yea, the best version of this day in more developed countries is to find the best mall in the area. Usually, there will be some interesting stores, a food court, maybe even a cinema with English subtitles.
I don’t take a ‘rest day,’ but I do take a ‘low effort day.’ It’s the day I take a boat tour to the islands and visit an island winery for a tasting experience. Or I hop on the Hop On Hop Off bus and don’t hop off for the full loop, followed by a trip to the ballet.
Basically, any day where I’m just passively enjoying my surroundings without having to walk/hike or navigate anywhere works as a reset.
I recently did this. I’d been going full force for days in cold and rain, and hit the wall. I was kinda mad at myself for being ‘lazy’, but it ended up being one of my most memorable days, planning next steps, munching on unfamiliar snacks, watching local television, enjoying my lovely hotel, and it primed me for the best experience of my trip the next day.
I prefer on longer trips just to not have a rigid schedule and to take most mornings slowly vs. taking a whole day off. I just don’t like sitting around hotel rooms/Air BnBs all day. I just use long travel days as rest days. Spending 6 hours on a train is relaxing to me.
So smart. I’ve started doing this — not intentionally, but kind of by default just listening to my body. I used to feel guilty about ‘wasting a day’ doing nothing, but as an introvert, I’ve realized it’s so much better to just take a day than try to power through and end up burnt out and miserable for days. Will definitely be incorporating this 7-day practice in a more mindful way.
This is such solid advice! It’s easy to feel like every second of a trip should be packed with activities, but a ‘rest day’ is a game-changer. Taking a day to recharge helps you actually enjoy the rest of the trip instead of just dragging through it. It’s not about doing less; it’s about being able to savor the experience without burning out. A day with takeout, Netflix, and just chilling? Total vibe!
I have been on numerous trips that I loved, but when I look back, I tried to cram waaaaaay too much in and would have felt a lot better physically and emotionally if I’d taken a day to chill.
Taking an ‘off day’ doesn’t necessarily mean lying in bed. It might mean reading a book in the park, going on a long walk without purpose/direction, lying on the beach, or just surfing the internet at a bar or cafe.
I definitely suggest this. I’m chronically ill (MS), and this past vacation was the first time I went into it setting a limit on how much activity I would do.
We usually would schedule prepaid activities, and my own guilt of not going would force me to go and feel the consequences later. This time, I set a limit of only planning activities every other day, with the day post-travel and day before return travel also being days ‘off’.
After getting home, I realized this was the first time in YEARS I didn’t come home and feel the need to take downtime longer than the vacation itself. My running joke to my husband was not to expect me to leave the house for the next month after traveling.