Rough year of self induced stress for me so I’m taking two weeks off. What would you do?<p>Where I live, I have no friends and family. Looking for ideas to reset and have a good, productive time off
Personally two things come to mind: Hedonistic or Noble<p>Hedonistic:
Fly to Amsterdam one way, buy a few doses of truffles, smoke some weed, see some boobs or whatever floats your boat I dunno. Then go to centraal station, buy the first train ticket and keep traveling. Stay in hostels, be open to meeting people. Every hostel will point you to walking tours in the morning, and usually a group will go together. Just join that group.<p>Saying "Hey, I've got some mushrooms, why don't we all go find somewhere to do them and hike" is actually a great icebreaker at a hostel. It's how I met my (sober) wife. Making friends at hostels throughout Europe was how I rebuilt my life after burning out on my 100% tech social network.<p>--<p>Nobel: Call up Habitat for Humanity, tell them you have 2 weeks free and want to help out on a build if they have any open in the country. I did this as well, it's how I learned carpentry.
Travel. Dont over think it. Go now, go light. Just book a hotel\hostel somewhere out of the beaten path for a few days to get your bearings then explore and wing it. You dont need\want an itenary, doors will open to you unkown when you take the first steps there. Visiting natural wonders is a good way to guide you..
Many workaholics feel the need to do something productive during holidays. That's a paradox !<p>During a time off, you're allowed to do nothing and to rest. Nobody will judge you.<p>If you afraid of being lonely and have a budget, you can travel, discover new things or culture, meet people and embrace your life as the song "Sea, Sex and Sun".
Sleep a lot, eat your favorite foods, eat healthy, work out, just go sit on a beach or park bench, work on a dream project you always wanted to start on. Just things that come to mind.
Get busy with something even if that is vacationing. Just don't sit around and sleep+idle you will regret it. If you can't do anything else wander about aimlessly in your city and discover stuff.
Best holiday I had in recent memory was in a cottage overlooking a big river with no electricity - so I read books all day, swam, and had some good pizza.
If you have a license, take a road trip, they can be quite relaxing solo. Every morning when you wake up just look at the map and figure out where you want to reach that day and take it from there.
Can you get into a silent meditation retreat?<p>I just got out of one, and all the things I learned about myself, and how I relate to my emotions has been fascinating.
Nothing. Do nothing. Bore yourself out of your mind. Resist wanting to do anything useful or productive. Look, listen and smell your surroundings. Remind yourself what it means to be alive. You now have time to gaze what the sky looks like again, or appreciate how nice your floors or walls are. Do this until you
genuinely want to do something again.
I just started a month off of work (same situation as you) and will be returning at the start of January. I’m going to be keeping up with a running training plan I started a few months ago, trying to read a book every day or two, going to the coffee shop I like, and that’s it.
Specifically because it's December, take a look at whitewater rafting in Chile on the Futaleufu River. Not cheap but looks absolutely amazing. (if it was summer I'd suggest Middle Fork of Idaho's Salmon River, which I've done and strongly recommend!)
If you're struggling with self induced stress, try <i>not</i> to have a "productive" time off.<p>Go travel, somewhere you've always wanted to go. Or get high and play video games if that's more your speed.<p>Do whatever seems fun, don't be occupied with productivity.
Go to the closest library, get as many completely different books as catch your interest. Go home and spend at least 10 minutes with each book, of course going longer if you are enjoying it.<p>Take a break every once in a while for a light exercise.<p>Spend as little time with technology as possible.<p>Repeat daily.<p>That’s it.
Look inward, focus on yourself. Don't be sorry about it. If that means rest, or doing 'nothing' all day looking out a window or in nature don't feel bad it.
Buy and download Elder Scrolls online. Drop me your user name and you can join my clan (depending on where you play it).<p>You’ll have friends that will fast become family :) it is a challenging but achievable game with a lot of depth.