THE WEEKLY PAGE 📝 No. 214
Different types of getaways + what to read, watch, listen to and enjoy...
As the summer nears, I hope you’re able to plan a little time to rest and recharge. Whether that means a few days at home to kick back and catch up with friends, a long weekend at the lake, or finally making your way to the National Mustard Museum (I’m a big fan!).
But have you ever considered the different types of getaways that exist and what kind you want to prioritize (or avoid 😁)? I’m not sure this has ever been done before, but today I’m gonna try to break down the way that I, at least, think of these:
🏖 Vacation: A getaway focused on escaping everyday life, relaxation, and truly recharging yourself. Usually has little or no agenda. Ex: flying to an all-inclusive resort and soaking up sun on the beach for a week.
🗺 Trip: A getaway that might still be about escaping everyday life, but has more of an agenda or clear goal. You might return a bit rested, but it probably involved some element of physical or mental exertion, planning, logistics, etc. Ex. Roadtripping to Montana to hike and camp in Glacier National Park for four days.
💆🏻♀️ Holiday: Although holiday and vacation are sometimes used interchangeably, I personally think holiday should get a classification all it’s own. In my mind, a holiday is typically even more low-pressure than a vacation. You might not travel as far and your only goal is to go slow and recharge your energy. Ex. Spending a long weekend at a cute Airbnb or your own cabin within 3-4 hours of your home.
🏠 Staycation: The underrated one! Imagine a string of days at home without overbooking yourself with visitors and brunch plans. Do spa nights in your own bathroom! Be a tourist in your own city! Make a dinner reservation! Try seeing the area you live in through fresh eyes! Visit a museum! If it sounds fun, book a hotel!
📚 Think Week: This one was coined by Bill Gates, who has famously taken a “Think Week” every year since the 1990s. Armed with a supply of Diet Coke and a stack of books + reading material, Gates secludes himself at a tiny, off-the-grid cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s how Gate’s defines a Think Week: "Think Week is a time when I can be creative and push my own thinking. It's a time to step outside the day-to-day demands of my job and really focus on the big picture."
🧠 Absorption Vacation: This one was coined by fellow Substacker
, and as she explains it, can involve any activity as long as it’s something you are able to be fully absorbed by such as puzzles, knitting, meditating, baking, or reading. The only rule is that you have to throw yourself fully into it — becoming totally, entirely, 100% absorbed by that specific activity. You can take an Absorption Vacation alone or with others — as long as they are on the same page and ready to be fully immersed in the activity, too. We do this with board games!I’m curious if you agree with my classifications and definitions? Anything you’d change or add? Head to the comments and let me know:
Also wanted to take a moment and say a heartfelt thank you for all the kind responses to the piece I published last weekend, “What To Do When Your Dog is Dying 🐾”. It’s comforting to know so many of you found the information helpful.
Enjoy your weekend,
📚 READ: Reproductive rights will be a big issue at the US ballot box this November. These are two pieces I read recently that I thought were really insightful on key aspects:
A Letter to My 1-Year Old Son About His Abortion: At least 60% of people who receive abortions already have children. Sometimes, those abortions allow them to go on to have healthy pregnancies that they wouldn’t have been able to have without access to abortion. In this letter to his son, writer Matt Tente shares the abortion he and his wife endured before their successful pregnancy. Read it here.
No One Wants to Talk About The People Who Get Abortions Later in Pregnancy: The idea of “late-term” abortion is a political lightning rod — and one that is ripe for harmful disinformation. This article is an important read, highlighting the small percentage of abortions (less than 1%) that occur after 21 weeks. Who receives them? Typically people who have received a fatal fetal diagnosis or children under the age of 18. Read it here.
📺 WATCH: Josh had a 2-day work trip recently, and I’d been saving The Idea of You for *exactly* such an occasion. I’m not going to lie and say it was a cinematic masterpiece, but it was really entertaining and Anne Hathaway is absolutely flourishing in her 40s. The movie chronicles the romance between a 40-something single mother and a famous 24-year old musician. Watch the Trailer.
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🎧 LISTEN: Most of you are easing into a 3-day weekend with Memorial Day coming up on Monday. If you plan on firing up the ol’ BBQ be sure to toss on this playlist of crowd pleasing classics:
🧡 ENJOY: Speaking of holiday weekends and BBQs, I couldn’t help but add this colorful salad to my weekend plans. Love the way the orecchiette pasta looks — a bit more elevated than the shell-shaped noodles we’re used to seeing in pasta salads (is that just a Midwest thing?! 🤣). Grab the recipe here.
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I love the breakdown of different types of getaways! Completely agree
The "think week" sounds the most decadent of all those options. 😊