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How to Plan the Perfect Girls' Getaway
Has quality time with your closest friends been reduced to group emails and late-night texts? Here are three ways to stop daydreaming and start planning the trip of a lifetime.
Photo: O, The Oprah Magazine
Whether your best friends live next door or across the country, you still deserve to nurture all the relationships that have stood the test of time. Consider how a short getaway could help you feel more connected to your friends. Follow these three steps to get going on your adventure and celebrate your relationships.
1. GET UNSTUCK
Can't imagine how your ideal vacation could actually happen? Instead of listing all the reasons why it would be impossible, work backward and visualize all the fabulous moments you would cherish: toasting your friends at dinner, having uninterrupted conversations and enjoying picture-perfect occasions. Make a list of all the ways an escape with your besties would actually enrich your life. A study from the University of Cornell revealed that taking those vacation days can actually help reduce stress and lead to a greater sense of well-being. In fact, simply planning a vacation can offer a real boost to your happiness.*
Need some inspiration for the ultimate retreat? While the Girls' Getaway Cruise with Oprah and Gayle is sold out, you can join O, The Oprah Magazine on a cruise aboard Holland America Line for the Adventure of Your Life Cruises featuring similar Caribbean and Alaska itineraries and special appearances by thought leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and O, The Oprah Magazine editors.
2. COMMIT TO CONNECTING
Stash your phones and laptops in your bag and reconnect, old school. We all get caught up in our digital lives but getting away with your family or your closest friends means taking the time to step away from our screens and bond with each other, face to face. Time away means being able to ask great questions and really listen.
Make a pact to get lost together. Think about all the ways you can indulge in some well-earned group fun from horseback riding in the surf, taking long walks or just hanging out by the pool. If you're up for a little adventure, nudge each other out of your comfort zones and plan an exciting itinerary that's a first for everyone. Holland America Line enhances every journey with a variety of different activities: enjoy a travel guide presentation, get hands-on instruction and cooking, take a local tour or go on a hike that brings you closer to the natural world.
And don't forget to schedule some down time. Side-by-side spa treatments, anyone?
3. TRY SOMETHING NEW
Every trip has the power to be transformative. The short pause in your routine might remind you of your core priorities and all the things you put on the back burner. Vacation mode just might prove to be an opportunity to take a beat and map out a plan for real change. Make a list of the things you truly aspire to do, and what’s holding you back. Shake up bad habits or consider life's biggest questions. With a little planning, you may find it's easier to work new aspirations and healthy habits into your day-to-day routine when you return home.
If wellness is a priority, hundreds of Holland America Line cruises feature O-inspired programs to help you make positive, lasting change. Click here to explore onboard activities such as Let’s Breathe, featuring a Sound Bath to help you experience a gentle yet powerful experience for the mind and body.
If your closest pals love their book club, your vacation could be a real page turner. Travelers aboard Holland America Line cruises are invited to visit O's Reading Room to connect with other guests and discover new authors and great new reads.
Or maybe something new means somewhere new. There’s something for everyone with upcoming cruises, like Alaska (August 11, 2018) or the Eastern Caribbean (October 28, 2018).
*Source: Cornell University
1. GET UNSTUCK
Can't imagine how your ideal vacation could actually happen? Instead of listing all the reasons why it would be impossible, work backward and visualize all the fabulous moments you would cherish: toasting your friends at dinner, having uninterrupted conversations and enjoying picture-perfect occasions. Make a list of all the ways an escape with your besties would actually enrich your life. A study from the University of Cornell revealed that taking those vacation days can actually help reduce stress and lead to a greater sense of well-being. In fact, simply planning a vacation can offer a real boost to your happiness.*
Need some inspiration for the ultimate retreat? While the Girls' Getaway Cruise with Oprah and Gayle is sold out, you can join O, The Oprah Magazine on a cruise aboard Holland America Line for the Adventure of Your Life Cruises featuring similar Caribbean and Alaska itineraries and special appearances by thought leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and O, The Oprah Magazine editors.
2. COMMIT TO CONNECTING
Stash your phones and laptops in your bag and reconnect, old school. We all get caught up in our digital lives but getting away with your family or your closest friends means taking the time to step away from our screens and bond with each other, face to face. Time away means being able to ask great questions and really listen.
Make a pact to get lost together. Think about all the ways you can indulge in some well-earned group fun from horseback riding in the surf, taking long walks or just hanging out by the pool. If you're up for a little adventure, nudge each other out of your comfort zones and plan an exciting itinerary that's a first for everyone. Holland America Line enhances every journey with a variety of different activities: enjoy a travel guide presentation, get hands-on instruction and cooking, take a local tour or go on a hike that brings you closer to the natural world.
And don't forget to schedule some down time. Side-by-side spa treatments, anyone?
3. TRY SOMETHING NEW
Every trip has the power to be transformative. The short pause in your routine might remind you of your core priorities and all the things you put on the back burner. Vacation mode just might prove to be an opportunity to take a beat and map out a plan for real change. Make a list of the things you truly aspire to do, and what’s holding you back. Shake up bad habits or consider life's biggest questions. With a little planning, you may find it's easier to work new aspirations and healthy habits into your day-to-day routine when you return home.
If wellness is a priority, hundreds of Holland America Line cruises feature O-inspired programs to help you make positive, lasting change. Click here to explore onboard activities such as Let’s Breathe, featuring a Sound Bath to help you experience a gentle yet powerful experience for the mind and body.
If your closest pals love their book club, your vacation could be a real page turner. Travelers aboard Holland America Line cruises are invited to visit O's Reading Room to connect with other guests and discover new authors and great new reads.
Or maybe something new means somewhere new. There’s something for everyone with upcoming cruises, like Alaska (August 11, 2018) or the Eastern Caribbean (October 28, 2018).
*Source: Cornell University
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