Cabo San Lucas aka Paradise

Whenever I leave NYC, whether it’s for a weekend trip or a two week long European adventure,  everything just clicks into place and I feel f*cking great about myself. After arriving at my hotel and freshening up, my hair is perfect, my make up is gorgeous and everything fits as it should. Once I come back home, my hair gets frizzy, my make-up runs, and everything fits like a one year old’s onesie. Being on vacation just makes me feel amazing in general, and about myself. I tend to pack things I would never wear at home; that blazer that always seems too tight, those heels that are just a little too pointy, that dress that’s a little short and that lipstick that is so blindingly red it hurts to look at it.

It’s a strange phenomenon, how good I feel and feel about myself,  but I can’t be the only one experiencing it. Being in a different place just gives you a confidence that you don’t have at home, but that you should. I’ve been thinking a lot  about how to achieve this and I’ve come up with 5 ways to feel good inside and out and continue that “vacation” state of mind all year long.

1. Carve out time for yourself

When I’m on vacation, I’m a lady of leisure. I sleep in and then take as long as I need to get ready to go out and face the day. I spend that extra half hour on straightening my hair, ironing my blazer (it gets weirdly wrinkled in my suitcase), and applying liquid eyeliner. At home, if I have enough time to drag a comb through my hair in the morning it’s deemed a successful day. But seriously, can I get up 15 minutes earlier so I don’t look like a wet rat when I leave the house? I guesssss (gettin’ a little whiny), and you can too!

2. Splurge on yourself

I don’t necessarily mean you need to go out and spend a ton of money on yourself. When you’re on vacation, what makes you feel good? Is it those great big cozy bathrobes? The amazing products that some nice hotels provide?  Whatever it is, when you’re on vacation, you feel pampered. The same concept should be applied at home. Buy that great big cozy bathrobe and cozy slippers to wear after you shower. Even if you can’t afford to spend $200 on a bathrobe or even more on designer sheets,  that doesn’t mean you can’t find them for less. Hello, sales, sample sales and Century 21. It’s my mecca.

3. Create a “me” space

Whether you’re a gal or guy, having a space that’s uniquely yours is so very important to both your mental/spiritual and physical being. Even if you live alone and you think of your entire home as uniquely yours, I’m referring to an area that is…special. For me, it’s creating somewhere I can get ready in the morning, a place that’s both beautiful, functional and very me. Make-up on cute silver trays, jewelry in tiny dishes, a big, beautiful mirror, all sitting atop an antique table with a big cozy chair that can double as a reading space. I don’t quite have this yet, but when I move into my new apartment, it’ll be the first space I create. Whatever space you choose just make-sure it’s free from distractions. Don’t create a special “work” space or “computer” space, that’s not the point. The point is to have a space where you can disengage from the world and have a moment of calm.

4. Have an  “I’ll try anything once” attitude

When you’re on holiday, you’re different.  You’re willing to take more risks, be more open,  do and try things that you might not when you’re at home. Cliff diving? Swimming with sharks? Dancing on a stage? Eating fried grasshoppers (look left..yup, I’m about to eat one)? Why not adopt that same attitide at home and actually live. I’m not suggesting you should do anything dangerous or completely out-of-character for you, but if you would do it on vacation, then why not do it at home? Instead of hitting up the same bars and lounges, do something exciting, even plan an itinerary for yourself as if you were on vacation. When you allow yourself to be open to new and different experiences, and even seek those experiences out, you’ll feel a lot different about life.

5. Have the “I’ll never see these people again so it doesn’t matter” mentality

Like the suggestion before this one, adopting this mentatlity allows you to be more open to new experiences.  You’re not stressing, you’re not thinking about work every second of the day nor about what everyone at work, on the street and at home is thinking of you. When you allow yourself to just be you without worrying about being judged, you’ll feel a lot happier. Living in a place like NYC, it’s sometimes hard to remember that you don’t have to compete every second of every day. Even if this sounds likes total bullshit, it’s not. You can be happy, even in a place that seems made for loneliness.

Related Stories: