You don’t have to take a break from growing your brand just because you’re on vacation.
If you like to unplug on vacation like I do, you might not want to hear this, but…a vacation is the perfect time to work on your brand.
Why?
Taking a break from your normal routine is a great way to get your brain in creativity mode. When we remove ourselves from our everyday stressors, we often remove those mental blocks that sometimes drain us of our energy without even realizing it.
Here are a few easy things you can work on while in vacation mode.
Daydream – Hopefully you have at least a few quiet moments to yourself on vacation. Why not use them to relax and let your mind wander? When I’m on vacation, I forget about my everyday realities and suddenly anything seems possible. When I’m not worried about the practicalities of say, a long commute or family responsibilities, I find that my mind takes me to new places I wouldn’t dream of during my daily routine at home.
When you’re relaxed and your mind is free, daydreaming can help you crystallize your ambitions and help you trouble shoot new solutions. Let different scenarios float through your mind and pay attention to how you feel. Are you excited? Happy? Anxious about a possible change? Keep a phone or notebook nearby to jot down any new ideas that come to mind.
Research – You’re probably already scrolling through your Instagram feed, right? You might as well take some of that time to think about your brand. Do you love someone’s particular style? Are you always drawn to the same types of posts? Create a brand folder and save anything that catches your attention. I have a folder called “inspiration” where I save anything that interests me creatively or gets me excited to try something new.
Get yourself in the habit of thinking about your brand while you scroll and make a point to keep track of what interests you. It’s simple and over time you will have a catalog of compelling ideas to help you shape your own brand and interests.
Read – This one is obvious, but still I’ve gone on many vacations with a long queue of books on my Kindle only to come home with barely a book completed. Make a point to read those books, blogs, or magazines you’ve been meaning to get to. Reading is not just entertaining and educational; it makes new connections in our brains which allows us to create all kinds of new opportunities for ourselves.
Talk to people – Networking isn’t just for business meetings. New surroundings mean new people to get to know. Chat with the other patrons waiting for drinks at the pool bar or in that long line for ice cream after the beach. Take a few minutes to socialize and get to know the people around you. You don’ have to force it, in fact you can usually tell very quickly if someone is open to a conversation. If they are, get to know a little bit about them. Be sure to have a few talking points ready about yourself that clearly communicates your brand.
Take a brain break – Allow yourself space to think. Sometimes just taking a break from an idea you’ve been working on is enough to help you identify a solution. If you’re out enjoying the outdoors or exploring an amusement park with your family, take the time to enjoy the moment. And don’t be surprised if some new ideas appear. When they do, be sure to make yourself a note and then go back to having fun.
Vacation is about enjoying new experiences and taking a break from the ordinary. I encourage you to take a few minutes out of your day to get creative with your brand, and then set an intention to get to work on your new ideas when you are back to your daily routine. This way you can really enjoy yourself and know that you’ve made good use of your time when your mind is at its best.