Things I am not doing: I am not calling home for messages. I am not reading texts or emails on my phone. I am not scrolling for news. My phone, in fact, is in my bedside drawer at the hotel. The hardest part for me: not doing Wordle.

Going for walks is an allowable do nothing activity so strolling – as distinguished from scrolling….– around the cute beach-side town of Rehoboth, Delaware a couple of hours east of Washington, DC is allowed. Shopping, not so much. Reading t-shirts in a shop, okay. “If a man says he will fix it, he will. There’s no need to remind him every six months.” Now that’s worth an appreciative look. “I’m going to go stand outside, so if anyone asks, tell them I’m outstanding.” “Exercise? I thought you said extra fries.” That could be a Thrasher’s reference but more on that later…..

Maybe I’d better explain. I travel a lot. It’s my work and most trips are filled with story-gathering activities round-the-clock. Have to do all the must-sees and track down those unknowns off the beaten track. Lots of planning, organizing, researching – even the restaurants have to be studied. So the idea of a do-nothing vacation had a lot of appeal. Relaxing. Stress-free. Laid-back. I just didn’t know how much work it was going to be.

Restaurants are tricky. Rather than seeking out the umbrella-clad cocktail du jour, I was much happier hanging out at a local bar mid-day with my go-to Fireball over light ice. I’m an exercise fiend at home but here, raising a glass from the top of Whisky Jack’s bar – could any name be more perfect for what I was seeking out? – was about as much exertion as I could muster. The resultant smile on my face almost pushed me over the top. I think I was getting the hang of this do-nothing concept.

Rather than research the de rigueur restaurants of Rehoboth, I opted instead to stop for ice cream and the area’s famous Thrasher’s French Fries. Reading the weird ice cream flavors in the street-front parlor that boasts 100 different flavors was almost as much fun as reading t-shirts: “I Don’t Give a Fork,” “May the 4th be With You,” and “Better than Sex.” Reading a hundred ice cream flavors is time-consuming. How fortunate there was nothing I actually needed to DO.

Sitting on a boardwalk bench with my fries – somehow unlike any other (Thrasher’s refuse to provide ketchup because, I assume, that would tarnish the original flavor) – and people watching. Does that count as an activity? So many different humans going in so many different directions, all so intent on their own drummers – it was exhausting to watch. I was just happy to stay exactly where I was, watching the seagulls, busily squawking and hurtling toward a dropped French fry. Seagulls are actually more exhausting. I felt even more of a need to just unwind.

Truth be told, at one beach bar it was so bright and noisy I found it very hard to chill out the way I’d envisioned. Next time – dark, quiet and low key. So first night out, big mistake.

Feeding – so to speak – my preference for down-and-dirty restaurants as opposed to white-tablecloth, the comfortable and casual Gogg’s perfectly matched my mind-numbing mood on night out number two.

Alright so there was a menu with 100 rums, rivaling the 100 ice cream flavors. Could get testy. Resisting the threat of stressful decision-making angst, I simply opted for my favorites, thus enjoying the novelty of such variety while avoiding indulging in executive-level anxiety. A win-win. I didn’t have to do anything but eat and drink.

But, of course, any further activity-involved nightlife did not qualify. Back to my do-nothing balcony. Listening to waves never disappoints.

So yes, there are arcades in Rehoboth I didn’t go to. I didn’t bike-ride on the Boardwalk. I avoided mini-golf. Although I did at times find myself lusting after all the emails I wasn’t reading. Again, hard work to do nothing.

The next day, on the beach again, I didn’t for one minute miss playing frisbee while relaxing on my chaise lounge.The one exception to my inactivity, however, was to indulge in one of my most fun undertakings: diving into waves! I allowed myself that delightful diversion before returning to a renewed level of slothness. And maybe one more relaxing drink at Whisky Jack’s.

So is this all much ado about nothing? You bet!

The post A Do-Nothing Vacation Takes Work appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Alice’s Table & 1-800-Flowers

Alice’s Table is the ultimate way to bring joy to yourself and keep it going for several days. Flowers are delivered to your door, and then simply zoom in and listen to Alice who is a bubbly fun instructor who will tell you how to arrange your flowers and create masterpieces. Not only is it fun, but über relaxing as when you concentrate on something artistic, it is a great way to forget everything and get into the “flow”.

I have done this class several times, and created beautiful displays with farm fresh flowers that last for days. Also, you learn secrets on how to keep your flowers and displays lasting. Bringing nature, especially beautiful flowers brings joy to your home. Do it yourself or order it for a friend, its a great gift for yourself or someone you love.

Stick Together

Stuck at home, well stick together and have as much as fun as possible. The perfect family activity for adults and kids of all ages. Relaxing for adults and an extra bonus it provides a great way to tune those fine motor skills for little ones. Also, if you have kids that sitting is not a skill they use often, this one might tempt them to stay focused.

Each StickTogether kit comes with a coded poster grid, a color key, colored stickers and instructions / suggestions for making your StickTogether experience a success. They also include extra stickers. The StickTogether mosaic puzzle kits come in two sizes:

• Standard Format 40” x 36” poster (3,996 stickers)
• Large Format 60” x 36” poster (7,040 stickers)

Blue Lotus Chai

This is a wonderful way to start your day, and I drink this tea daily. It’s special because it is the fancy Chai tea all ground together. Packed with black tea and natural spices like ground cloves and nutmeg. Blue Lotus Chai is a delicious, pure, authentic spiced tea that is easy and quick to prepare. It comes in a variety of flavours, and I have tried them all and find them equally tasty.

ChiUniverse Yoga Mats

Miss your regular yoga class? Hard to concentrate with your little one by your side? ChiUniverse Yoga mats came up with the answer to make a little meditation possible. These fun yoga mats have a creative element to them with pictures that guide you through the poses.

The mat comes in Kid and Tween/Teen/Adult sizes. Inside every mat is a double sided how-to game poster of 200 poses. There is a worldwide downloadable app, free kids videos online, and a card game deck as an alternative to screen time. It is a comprehensive learning program, and the symbol system is a Universal Language.

LEGO

Remarkably relaxing Lego is perfect for adults too, as one is required to focus on the task at hand. Lego has released phenomenal new items such as the LEGO ART series. Additionally, they have the sets that allow you to travel the world without leaving your house. The sets are easy for those who have a sense for building, otherwise it is best to have your kids do it with you- as they are usually more savvy and terrrific builders who can help guide you!!!

BeeSpa Hand + Foot Cream

If you never have a chance to sit you are in great company. BeeSpa Hand + Foot Cream is a wonderful product to use. I suggest you get a large container, as once you use it, you will use it all the time. Not only will it help your skin absorb the effects of your massage, but it will help protect your skin with 16% of the formula made with beeswax that helps fight against viruses and bacteria. Also solves your dry, cracked hands and feet from all those outdoor workouts and typing away on your keyboard.

SpectraSpray

Now more than ever vitamins matter to stay healthy and safe. A practical solution that is also light weight is SpectraSpray. They also offer a practical solution with their SpectraSpray Travel Wellness Kit if you are traveling or driving too.

The travel-sized kit includes B12, Sleep Support and an Immune Support, that’s complete with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc and Lysine.

Firefly’s Ready Go Power Toothbrush

It might sound silly, but daily tasks that you have to remind your little ones to do can be stressful. This is a fun way to get your kids to brush, and tick off one item that stressed you out off the do to list.

Firefly’s Ready Go Power Toothbrush is a great way to maintain good oral hygiene as well as teach them the dentist-recommended time for proper cleaning of two minutes. Another way to make it fun is to have your child choose their favorite flavor or favorite character with Firefly’s Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste. It even comes with a mystery prize!

Alina Cosmetics

If you have been spending time mixing and matching and creating your own special face care routine, then try out Alina Cosmetics oils. This is for the savvy person who likes to create their own way to take care of their skin. The oils are unscented so if you like one with a scent, it is best to also include your own fragrance to the mix.

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The post Relax, Rejuvenate and Refresh – 9 Ways to Do It appeared first on Traveling Archive.