You’ve long since graduated high school, but just because you can no longer (honestly) sing “No more pencils, no more books / No more teachers’ dirty looks,” doesn’t mean you have to abandon the thrill of summer vacation. These tips are brought to you by Starbucks, your summer starting point for all-day refreshment. Let’s go!
1. Get out of the office. This one’s a no-brainer, but if your boss gives you grief, make sure to remind her/him that, according to the New York Times , “A growing body of evidence shows that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves productivity and creativity.” Hit the pavement and enjoy summer! Sneak out for an Iced Coffee to get you going in the morning, an Iced Tea during lunch, or a Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage for a lightly caffeinated, late-afternoon pick-me-up. Schedule a short workout at a nearby gym. Heck, just walk around the block and soak in some Vitamin D (we’re big fans of The High Line here in NYC).
2. Work with a summer-worthy soundtrack. If you can’t get to the fiesta, bring the party jams to you. We like using Stereomood, which tailors playlists to your vibe. (Check out pre-loaded lists for Summer and Lost in Jamaica, or type in your own mood and rock out.) Your office-mates may appreciate the use of headphones…
3. Eat with the season. Nothing is more depressing than subsisting on bad office food when summer’s bounty is all around. We can pretty much guarantee that you’ll feel miles away, biting into a juicy, ripe mango at your desk. Other fresh fruits and veg that scream “summer”: watermelon, corn, peas, stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, and plums, squash, and berries.
4. Take a virtual trip. OK, you’re still technically at your desk, but there are some travel videos that do everything but physically transport you to vacation destinations around the globe. Explore professionally edited time-lapse snorkel videos from Australia, a day in Venice, or a trek to Machu Picchu. This Pinterest page is a great place to start.
5. Meditate. Hold up, give us a chance here. We’re not asking you to go full lotus. There are few things more revitalizing than taking a cognizant break from everything around you for a short time. If it sounds intimidating, start by focusing on your breath. Take 100 breaths, count them, and try not to think about anything else. Tiny Buddha has tips from there. We like to come out of our summer meditations by refocusing on an aspirational destination like this one. Welcome to your adult summer vacation!