Road trip rambling… Have a snack rather than a banquet..

Sometimes when you need a break, it doesn’t need to be a big deal that requires a plane ride. Or for that matter needing a passport.

My husband and I worked out years ago that we were better to have several  short breaks than waiting for a long holiday. So, we rarely took two weeks or more, but rather would tack a day or two either side of a weekend. That way we could have regular breaks – a wee snack – to recharge our batteries, rather like a coffee and something sweet might get us through to the end of our working day. Longer breaks usually were reserved for travel overseas  A banquet of different experiences and countries.

At the moment we have just come back from a short break in Akaroa and have just packed our bags for three days in Kaikoura. The good thing about these short – snack – breaks is they are usually accessible by car. That means that we can have the luxury of not having a limit on baggage. We have packed everything, including a teapot, which wouldn’t get past the airport scanners. What Englishman can go away and not have a teapot for that rejuvenating cup of tea?

We have also packed a large container which usually holds my baking, for all my medications, plus a few extras just in case. I have blister packs, but at the moment am on a number of extras for pain, so that adds up. Much more than a normal blister pack would hold. That’s it in the foreground.

We also have a list of what I need to take each time, so that we both know what I am taking. I also have taken an extra week with me just in case. Another thing I have done is to put a pair of reading glasses in the container. The writing on the blister packs is quite small, so ensuring glasses are available is a good idea.

So, do whatever works for you, but we have found regular small breaks work for us. The important thing is to find a way to recharge your batteries.

I used to say to student Social Workers, “the time to take a break is when you feel too busy to take a break”. Just a 10 minute coffee break at work or a long weekend can make a big difference in how we cope.

Find your way to take a break, it’s important to look after yourself.

You are the only one who can truly look after you!