Sorry I've been gone for the last 10 days. It was my Spring Break at college and my husband's 4 days home this month fell at the same time. When he's home, he becomes my #1 priority and I go mostly offline. We also did a quick getaway during break. Let me explain the power of a getaway, even if it's just overnight or a weekend.
In many places, winter is really long. Here, our summer is like that. In both cases, you feel pretty trapped, like you have to hibernate until better weather comes along. The increased stress levels of having to deal with the day-to-day stuff of life, the curve balls others throw at you, the winter illnesses that either keep coming back or are almost impossible to get rid of, and then dealing with it all while fighting nature's elements - it does get to people. Many find themselves on a daily basis with thoughts like, "I can't wait til this season is over" or "how many more months til I can take a vacation", or "will there even be enough time and money to take off for a week this year"? Does that sound familiar? Are you at that point? Here's where a getaway comes in. 
What about getting away for just a quick trip? Maybe you want to head north or south (to better weather) for a weekend? Maybe you just need to get out of your town for an overnight in the mountains, or by the water, or to a friend/relative's house? In some cases, maybe you just need to get in your car Saturday morning, drive somewhere secluded by yourself, stay in a cheap (but safe) place, wake up refreshed, clear your head, and be home by dark the next day. It may not seem like much, but it really can do a lot of things for you. Consider the following:
1. Without time to rest and recharge, you burn out faster - in your job, or worse, in your relationships.
2. Connect with real people - OFFLINE. Get away with friends, or your family, or a relative.
3. When you take time to recharge, you increase both your creativity and productivity.
4. Take time to listen to your own head, your thoughts, your desires, your "gut", and untie some of those knots in your life.
5. Every marriage could use a spark now and then. A getaway where you two are the only focus can do wonders for your relationship.
6. Make time for hobbies - bicycling through the wooded paths, walking along the beach, fishing, photography, whatever you enjoy but haven't had time to do lately.
7. Consider your health. Chronic stress leads to a lack of ability to fight off infections, sleep suffers, digestion suffers, depression, anxiety, and irritability set in, not to mention increased risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other illnesses. Your body NEEDS time off now and then.
Plan your next getaway. It may be just an overnight visit during Easter or other upcoming holiday, maybe it'll be sooner than that. In any case, start planning your quick getaway this week.
