INA WO(A)NDERS: ABOUT SWITCHING OFF ON VACATION
Leave the stress of everyday life behind you and simply switch off: that's what many people want from a vacation. Not that easy, says our author Ina – and jumps into the deep end.
"Where you are with your thoughts?"
Caught, I bit my bottom lip and looked down.
Actually, the plan was perfect. In the midst of a September that seemed to be bursting at the seams with deadlines and new projects, a tiny break lurked. 125 nautical miles without a telephone and without internet reception. From the golden sands of the south of Lanzarote we went to Tenerife's wild, rugged north. A small, windswept bay waited here, where hardly any vacationers, let alone cell phone rays, found their way. For 48 hours I would keep the laptop closed and the cell phone turned off. Would watch the waves undulating, listen to the wind caressing the sails and count shooting stars at night instead of words. That's the plan.
But even though I was so excited about this break, I had trouble switching off. The clouds in the sky rushed past me like fragments of words. An inner voice whispered to-do lists to me in an endless loop. Seagulls screeched reproachfully at me, as if they were personally taking advantage of my break from work. And in my head, thoughts about edible insects, mixed culture in organic farming, natural cosmetics in powder form and a newly minted travel podcast fought a wild but hopeless battle. Without winners and losers. Switching off: no sign.
No wonder. Over the past three weeks I have turned the sailboat I am currently traveling on into my office. From the outside, everything about it looks like vacation, time out and adventure. The wind even blew us an inflatable chair, which, however, is rarely used for sunbathing, sipping cocktails and squeaking into the water. My paddle board spends most of its time leaning casually against the railing, waiting in vain for long exploration tours. The yoga mat is curled up somewhere in the bow cabin, bored. And I've had my guitar in my hand so rarely lately that it'll probably get sunstroke the next time I take it out of the case. So it's no surprise that I found it so difficult to switch off. Because even a floating office remains: an office.
The type of vacation that best suits us and our needs can vary from year to year, month to month, week to week. What's even more crazy is how far in advance many of us plan our trips. Can I really know today whether I have the energy needed for a city trip next spring? Or would I rather retreat to a mountain hut, watch cows grazing and read a lot? To ensure that a vacation gives us what we need, it is advisable to do a small self-assessment before every trip. How fit do I feel? Do I long for peace and retreat? Do I need a change of scenery? Am I ready to find my way in a completely new environment? Or is the holiday apartment I've stayed in so many times possibly the best place to unwind? Do I feel like inspiration, culture and cobblestones? And do I possibly need something to do that takes up all my attention so that I can leave everyday life behind me?
In my case, I now know: something with wallpaper wouldn't have been a bad idea for my time out. Or maybe a night in a tent. At least: after arriving in Tenerife my tension was relieved. With a courageous jump into the water, where another world was waiting for me. Having only ever snorkeled in the overfished Mediterranean, I could hardly get enough of the many sea creatures. Some tiny and almost transparent, others elbow-length and puffy. Some perfectly camouflaged, others eccentrically patterned and even fluorescent. Some danced past me gracefully, others scurried hectically after their crush so as not to lose touch. Some nudged me curiously, others remained motionless in a crevice and seemed to be watching me suspiciously. There it was, my time out. Just a hop and a jump away.
Do you sometimes have difficulty switching off and leaving everyday life behind you, even on vacation? And if so: what do you do about it?
I am always happy to receive feedback, suggestions or questions – either as a comment or directly by e-mail [email protected].
© Photos: Ina Hiester, Pexels / Leonardo-Lamas
Ina Hiester
Ina is a digital nomad and travels through Europe by land and sea. The journalist is always on the lookout for special places for Good Travel, philosophizes about travel in her column, takes photographs, makes music and writes articles on all kinds of environmental and sustainability topics.
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