I’ve removed all distractions and delegated all work and home responsibilities during my Rejuvacation. Do I simply stare at the wall the whole time or is there something to do?

The answer is a bit complex, and it is important to force yourself to not require yourself to have “something to do” while you’re away. If that “to do” list is too long, you could sabotage your time way and end up disappointed if you don’t get through your list of relaxation activities. While you should let your disposition dictate when you wake, eat, go outside, etc., there is productive time to be had.

There are two things that should happen on any Rejuvacation.

First, get some rest. Rest, rest, and more rest. Use your time away to catch up on the most precious resource that every parent desperately needs. Go to bed early and wake up late. Take a mid-morning nap. Snooze whenever you get a chance. Sit around and let your mind go blank, swatting out anything that pops in relative to work or home life.

Speaking of letting your mind go blank, there must be a word about technology here. Have you ever awoken from a 2 hour social media coma, guilty and wondering what it was you were supposed to be doing in the first place? Or have you endlessly watched others on social media present a life narrative that made you feel ill about your own reality? Neither of these cases is helpful. Technology has a choke-hold on even the best of us, limiting our ability to be present and focused on our inner self. With this in mind, put your phone down. Log out of all (ALL) of your social media accounts, and go tech silent for your time away. Only use your device for functional purposes (checking directions, logging in to the hotel app, etc.). If you’re in a hotel, lock it away in the room safe so you’re not thinking about it. This is your precious time to rest and relax – days like this don’t come around often. Spend your time focused on you.

Second, reconnect with yourself. As parents, we exist in a reality where so many voices (each kid, spouse, etc.) are simultaneously present in our minds that it is difficult to hear our own. This is a dedicated time to listen to your own voice.

To help you out a bit, the pages which follow include writing prompts to guide your thinking. Write freely and make mistakes. This exercise is about you rejuvenating through self-rediscovery.  

Success does not mean answering every single question provided. Answer as many or as few as you want – the goal is to focus on YOU. Simply take your time with each question, and give yourself permission to explore your thoughts and feelings honestly.