97. Prepare to Relax: A 6-Step Strategy

As women physicians, going on vacation to relax sounds way easier than it actually is. That’s why we need to prepare and make a plan to make relaxation possible. We’re diving into my top six tips to help you prepare to relax and have the vacation or time off that you deserve.   Top 6 Tips to Prepare to Relax Decide the goal of the trip Get your thought work going now to create feelings of calm and relaxation Get comfortable with being restless now Prepare your body with nutrition and exercise to take a rest Plan your work time and stick to it Keep your packing simple   Allow Yourself to Feel Restless First of all, I want you to think about the goal of your vacation. Why are you going on holiday? Consider what your intended outcome is; once you have this in mind, it’s so much easier to prepare yourself to start relaxing. Next, it’s all about working through all your thoughts before you actually get to your destination. Think back to your previous vacations - what things did you hyper-focus on that meant you couldn’t relax? I recommend working through all your thoughts and coming up with solutions to them so that you can go away knowing you’ve already settled them. Third, we’re looking at the feeling of restlessness. It’s such an uncomfortable feeling that’s more than just feeling bored or antsy. It’s something that you just might feel when you’re on vacation, but I want to remind you that sitting down and doing nothing is one of the healthiest and most productive things you can do.   Setting Boundaries is Important, Even on Vacation! Next, I recommend preparing your body to go away and relax. I’m not talking about getting your bikini body ready, because, my friend, your body is already a bikini body! But eating well and exercising before a trip will help you feel calmer, especially since you likely won’t stick to your regular routine.  My fifth tip is to figure out and set the boundaries around when you’re going to work - if you are. Before you go away, set out when you’ll look at your emails, check your phone, and do work - and stick to those times. If you’re going to work, it’s essential to you and the people you’re away with that you respect your boundaries. Finally, keep your packing simple. It’s so tempting to go overboard and pack way too much - but tell me honestly, did you actually wear and use all those extra things? I walk you through my perfect packing system, I hope it helps you! Do you find it difficult to relax when you’re going away? What are some of your tips to help you get in the right frame of mind so you don’t spend the first three days of your vacation stressed out? Let me know in the comments on the episode page what works for you or how you’ll be implementing my tips!   In This Episode  Why you need to consider the goal of your vacation [6:30] How to pre-think about the thoughts that will stress you on vacation [14:00] How to understand the feeling of restlessness [15:15] How to prepare and fuel your body for vacation [19:00] What you need to prepare to work while on vacation [23:00] How to simplify your packing [26:00]   Quotes “I think the idea is to know yourself so you can plan your thoughts so you can, ultimately, relax the way that you want to.” [12:59] “Sitting down and doing nothing, in a meditative state, is so productive and we underestimate that so incredibly much.” [17:05] “You’re going to start thinking about how you’re going to prepare your body. But not preparing your body for wearing a bathing suit on the beach! It’s preparing your body so that you can have a better opportunity to relax in the way that you really want to.” [22:09]   Resources Mentioned Transform with Ali Novitsky: FREE Training Series The Women Physicians Wellness Conference Check out the full episode page here Find Life Coaching for Women Physicians Online Follow Dr. Ali Novitsky on Facebook | Instagram  Subscribe to Life Coaching for Women Physicians on Apple Podcasts Podcast production by the team at Counterweight Creative   Related Episodes Episode 92: Taking Care of Our Mental Health with Dr. Sylvia Gonzalez Episode 91: Creating More Energy- STAT Episode 95: Choosing Health Not Diet Culture