You know that point in every trip where you’re just thinking that it might be better to just call it quits and maybe go home early?
Honestly, everyone gets to that point sometimes, no matter how much they love to travel, it just happens.
Yeah, sure, you start off all excited, like the camera in hand, and you’re power-walking through museums and markets, it all feels utterly amazing too.
But of course, if you cram too much in, you just get tired, like physically and mentally. Some people have an issue with using trips as a “do and see literally everything,” and there’s that whole FOMO aspect too.
Sure, it’s understandable, but you’re not relaxing, and you’re usually not experiencing the moment either. That’s when you need a “do nothing” day.
Some people will do this during rainy days, and sure, help yourself to that, but the weather itself shouldn’t matter. You should try and have at least one day (especially if this trip is more than 5 days) where you can just relax. You deserve to have pure, unapologetic stillness.
It Doesn’t Mean You’re Wasting the Trip
People get so weird about this. “Oh, but you’re in Paris, how could you not go out?” Well, an easy answer to this: you’re tired.
Literally, that’s it, that’s all the justification you’ll ever need. Believe it or not, but you don’t need to be busy to have a good time. Seriously, taking a day to do nothing doesn’t mean you’re wasting your trip.
You get to breathe. You get to sleep in, take your time, and stop rushing from one photo-op to another. When you’re not rushing, things just feel different, like magical even.
Just Live the Soft Life
If you’re gonna take a “do nothing” day, go all in. Meaning, you shouldn’t half-commit. Besides, you’re resting, not recovering from guilt.
For example, you should order that ridiculous breakfast in bed. You deserve to take a long shower and use every free hotel lotion you can find, take the (hopefully free) drink from the minibar.
There’s literally no harm in that! If there’s a spa in the hotel, well, why not go to that? If the hotel you’re at has afternoon tea, well, why not do that too?
It just feels nice not needing to rush, not having any plans, and just enjoying some peace. Again, you’re on a trip, just being able to relax is the real luxury here.
You’ll Actually Enjoy the Rest of Your Trip More
Have you ever noticed how when you’re tired, everything gets on your nerves? Like every tiny little thing just sets you off?
Like, people walk too slow just really gets to you. The food takes too long. You start fighting with your travel buddy (or spouse) over something dumb that doesn’t even matter.
Well, that’s due to exhaustion, so yeah, why make yourself exhausted if it leads to being in a bad mood anyway? But yeah, a “do nothing” day fixes all of that. It resets your energy so you can actually enjoy the rest of your trip; it’s honestly that simple.