Finally - time off work. A chance to see friends, visit new places, or catch up on chores. But what really changes during a vacation? Is it just the physical location? The activities that replace the daily grind? At its core, a vacation is more mental than physical.

If you can’t find peace in your own home, will a tropical beach really make a difference? Sure, the Caribbean offers a break from routine, but what separates a glass of wine on a distant shore from one at your kitchen table? The scenery changes, but the experience is shaped by your perspective. If we could shift our perspective, wouldn’t the same sense of escape be possible without the cost or hassle?

Of course, vacations often come with a pressure to catch up - to finish tasks we let slide. But isn’t that time off meant for rest, not playing catch-up? If we weren’t prioritizing those things before, why expect them to actually get done when our goal is to unwind? True rest comes from letting go of that lingering to-do list and embracing the present, wherever that might be.

So how do we take a mental vacation? Maybe it’s about finding those moments daily - a walk, a deep breath, or a quiet pause to reset. Religions have long advocated for dedicated days of reflection, prayer, and community. Perhaps the connections we nurture - whether through a shared task or a heartfelt conversation - are mental vacations in themselves. That might explain why work feels lighter when it’s shared with a friend.

We often hear, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. But most of us don’t love everything we do. For many, vacations aren’t luxuries - they’re lifelines, a way to recharge the soul before diving back into life’s demands. Alternatively, could we shift our mindset to find fulfillment even in the mundane? By reframing work, rest, and connection, could every day feel more complete?

Ultimately, a real vacation doesn’t come from a plane ticket or a packed itinerary. It comes from within. If you’re not happy here, you won’t be happy somewhere else. The key to time off - and perhaps to happiness itself - lies in changing our mental location. Maybe that’s the secret to vacations: learning to take them in our minds, wherever we are.