The last thing I want to experience during my holidays is waking up in the morning and asking myself “what do I do now?”. Vacation time is so rare that I want to enjoy and savour each and every moment of it: I don’t want to waste time wondering what to do. I also don’t want to regret “not having trained more” when I get back to the studio. I aim to feel refreshed, inspired and ready to go back to my regular schedule by the end of my break. Check out my article: “To train or to rest?” for tips on how to make the most of your holidays. But how do I achieve this objective? To make the best out of your vacation time, follow these guidelines and build your own vacation plan.
How long are my holidays?
Start by answering this question. Set a clear beginning and a clear end of your vacation time. It might seem obvious and silly to do so, but realizing and acknowledging how much time you have will help you structure your time more efficiently.
What do I want to get out of my holidays?
The second step is to define the outcome. “What do I want to do more or less of?” “What will make my holidays successful?”. Ask yourself these questions to find out what you really want from your holidays.
In my case, I want to enjoy my family, therefore I want to have more family time. I also want to dedicate time to my hobbies to get out of my usual routine and find new inspiration. I will feel recharged and inspired if I will enjoy my family and fun with hobbies I rarely have the time for. This will make my holidays successful.
What commitments do I have?
Just because you’re on holiday, it does not mean that you can’t have any commitments. A dentist appointment, an event organized by your dance school / company, a virtual party and so on. List your commitments first to remember them and plan all the rest around them.
What do I enjoy?
Once you know your commitments, think of a couple of things you really enjoy doing. You’ve already identified what will make your holidays successful. Which activities will help you fulfill that goal?
For me, I enjoy reading, knitting, baking, going for long walks in nature with my dog and watching ballet. During my holidays, I want to dedicate time to all of these activities so I will schedule them in my calendar as well.
Shall I keep training?
Now, the famous question: shall I keep training during the holidays? If yes, how much?
Taking a break is wonderful and much needed, but remaining active during your break is important as well, for your well-being and also to avoid getting back to dance feeling 116 years old.
My teacher advises me to schedule a training session (a barre, some center work, small jumps, some pointe work) at least once every 3 days to maintain movement habits among other things. During the holidays I make sure to follow this guideline; but I don’t limit myself to it if I feel the need to do more or less. How much you should train and for how long depends on your personal goals. With this said, keep in mind that rest is just as important as work.
And now?
Now it’s time to make your plan concrete. Download here a customisable weekly calendar that I designed uniquely for you and follow the step-by-step process we saw in this article to make the most out of your holidays. Schedule your commitments, create time for the activities you enjoy and plan ahead your training time. You can also see what My vacation calendar looks like!
I hope you found this article useful. If you liked it, let me know what will make your holidays successful! I am curious to find out!