Calmcation and How it Combats Hustle Culture
If your idea of a vacation includes sunrise hikes, a packed itinerary, and a Google doc with tabs…congratulations, you’ve been influenced by perfectionism or hustle culture. Don’t get me wrong, I still jam-pack my itineraries because PTO seems so hard to come by nowadays. Sunrise hikes are still a beloved keepsake for my trips. But if all of your vacations have looked like project proposals, then it might be time for a calmcation.
A calmcation is exactly what it sounds like: a vacation designed for rest. Like, real rest. Not “I slept for four hours between excursions and posted a reel” rest or “I must try every activity at this resort” rest. I’m talking long, unscheduled mornings, quiet meals, intentional nothingness. For awhile, this seemed like a waste. But after 8 years of traveling, I’ve found that in a world obsessed with doing, not doing is rebellion.
What Is a Calmcation?
It’s a deliberate pause. A vacation that prioritizes slowing down and not checking boxes. A calmcation could be a week in a remote cabin with no Wi-Fi, a solo Airbnb stay in a sleepy coastal town, or a low-stimulation resort in the mountains. It’s less about location and more about intention.
Calmcation vs. Vacation
Traditional vacations often turn into performative escapes—where the pressure to “see it all” turns leisure into labor. A calmcation prioritizes:
- No alarm clocks (at least before 8 A.M. anyway, free breakfast means meeting older folks who are ready to chit-chat)
- Quiet nature over tourist traps
- Minimal packing (think: two outfits, one book, and your favorite skincare)
- Presence over proof (removing the need to post clears mental space for slowing down and noticing)
Some of the Best Places to Do Absolutely Nothing In
- Ojai, California – Peaceful desert magic
- Oregon Coast, Oregon – Misty mornings and scenic drives
- Isle of Skye, Scotland – Broody, fog-wrapped days
- Ubud, Bali – Lush rice fields and gentle rain
- Marfa, Texas – Weird, quiet, wonderful
- Lake Bled, Slovenia – Slow ferry rides and alpine stillness
What Not to Bring, I Beg You!
- Your laptop (seriously)
- “Just in case” work projects
- Cortisol, cortisol, cortisol
My Failed Attempt at Relaxing in Banff, CA
I once booked a week long getaway to unplug over the holidays in the beautiful Canadian Rockies… and brought two books, a bullet journal, and my laptop “just in case” a client fire came about. I ended up sick with a cold my first 3 days there, missed out on two hikes, and came back more tired. Clients will always find something for you to do once they know you’re available (so rest deeply when you can rest). It wasn’t until I did nothing – staring out a balcony and drinking tea with a sourdough scone – that I actually felt restored. Turns out, rest needs to be planned, but as the only bullet point on your to-do list.
Try a Calmcation This Weekend:
Book a local calmcation right where you live. If you can only do it at home, pick a room that you don’t spend a lot of time in. Then transform it into a space just for you. Move paints in there, your favorite houseplant, and even your bed and spend the weekend in there. No agenda. Just doing what feels best for your body. See what happens when you stop performing and start being. It’s one step closer to a homecoming, I promise!