I almost never plan a holiday. The last one I planned was 3 years ago and consisted of 3 days in Denmark, which ended badly; long-distance relationships suck, especially when you try them with insensitive a-holes. But I digress, my apologies.
This year I had some other financial plans that I wanted to do first, so in my mind I had already forgotten about the idea of a holiday. But I’ve been working almost nonstop since november and I haven’t been out much. Especially during the time I worked fulltime with the 2 hour commute, I was a hermit after work. So it’s time for a holiday. Still, I was really not looking forward to making holiday plans. I’d have to go alone since I have no partner or available friend, and where was I supposed to go? Moreover, having a business which means no working = no money makes me reluctant to take time off. I need all the money I can get.
But I needed to get out anyway. I figured the location itself isn’t even important, as long as it features a good hotel with decent service which will enable me to just stay in bed and relax. I decided to go to Berlin. That thought turned into “well maybe not Berlin, I can go to Center Parcs and hang out in a bungalow”, which turned into “that’s too expensive, I’m not going”. But now that I got a fairly decent payment for my job, I started thinking about it again, and clicked a trip together on a pretty cool website I used to translate for.
Yesterday I got my new American Express card, which I’m testing for free this year to see if I like it. And before I knew it I’d paid for my trip with it. And now I can’t wait! Even the hotel alone will make me want to stay there, since I went with something more luxurious than I ever did.
I’ve seen many people experience holiday stress, but I think mine is different. I experience stress at the idea of committing myself to taking time off. When I do go, I know from experience that I love it. But planning it is something else entirely. I do know I want to push myself to do this more often. I might actually be going to Center Parcs as well this year!
nice story!
I really hope you had good days off there and came in a an complete relaxation. See you soon, Jolande
Booking for conferences and project meetings almost make me not wanting to go to holiday at all … Except my last visits in Noordwijkerhout and Passau that rather made me wish I was on holiday rather than working :P
Booking holidays is t3h awesome! I love having it in my diary and counting down the days. Unfortunately I haven’t been on a proper, planned holiday for a couple of years, and I miss it too :)
Although I tend to just dump everything once I go…and then I come home to a real mess. Doesn’t really make for a good start again once the hol’s over….