While visiting Chicago, I not only had a great time exploring and relaxing, but I also learned a few things that I implemented into my own life. I am sharing these with you because I believe these habits will transform your life, especially on your next vacation.
1. The Power of Affirmations
As I mentioned in my previous blog, I stayed at a friend’s house. It was my first time seeing her place, and the first thing I noticed at every inch and corner of her space was post-it notes filled with affirmations. They were in her kitchen, office area, living room, bathroom, and bedroom. They were everywhere, and I couldn’t help but study them as if I were at the museum. Her affirmation ranged from “Do the hard thing!”, “No matter how unrealistic it sounds, it’s going to happen”, and “I am deserving and capable”. I loved it, to the point I did the same thing in my room back at home. I wrote post-it notes with my favorite affirmations and placed them on my mirror. This helps me start my day off on a positive note, and it feels great to say them aloud while getting ready for the day, especially when I’m styling my hair in the mirror. Affirmations are powerful because the words we speak aloud and in our minds hold truth in terms of what we believe about ourselves and the world. They shape how we see reality, and if we are not mindful of them, it can keep us stuck. Or they could enhace our life for the better!
2. Meal Prepping
During my stay, I did not have to worry about food at all. If I bought food, it was because I wanted to, not because I had to. My friend made this possible because she meal preps every week. She works a 9-5 job, so instead of using energy every morning, afternoon, and night on deciding what to eat, she spends every Sunday evening making her meals for the week. This, along with the affirmations, was something I adopted into my life lately. And I will say, it has been helpful and stress-free. Not contemplating what to eat and if I should spend another $20-$30 at a restaurant, when I could put it towards groceries has improved my life. I will say though, it will take patience and planning, so if you’re not into cooking or know how to cook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have some great creators and recipes on there. To also help you out, I recommend either creating a notes app or using a journal to create a meal plan for the week (foods you like to eat and want to try out), so that you have options leading up to your grocery shopping and cooking day in advance.
3. Walk
Walk | One thing about me, I am willing to walk 30-40 mins to my destination just to keep my figure snatched. I am for my health, and I like to save money. It’s one of the best way to kill two birds with one stone in my opinion. However, being a tourist in Chicago, I made sure to take the bus and train to get around, but after making it to my desired location (and doing some scoping/inquiring about the neighborhoods), I moved on foot. What I loved about this is that I got to take in the environment. Sometimes when you’re in a car, you can miss some things, like a small bakery or a street market. So, during my walks, I made sure to capture everything that I found to be interesting and visit other businesses on my way to my next destination before catching the next ride home.
These habits have enhanced me into the woman I am today. It is a part of the lifestyle I admire for myself, being traveling, saving money, and pouring love into myself. I hope these lessons inspired you to take your next trip and to add helpful habits to your life so that you can feel your best and stress-free.