I accompanied my husband during his recent business trip to Puerto Rico. We stayed in the beautiful and serene Palmas del Mar area — a resort community located in Humacao.
I was not sure what I was going to do during the day while Alex worked. I usually like to plan some activities when I travel, but I found myself not doing much. Initially, this was a little challenging. I felt like I was being lazy, and I should be exploring the area. I told myself not to feel guilty and gave myself permission to just rest. It sounds simple enough, but when we find ourselves constantly busy, doing something, or in motion, staying still or resting may feel strange or unproductive.
This reminded me of my blog post, “Rest, an Essential Self-Care Practice” about getting rest when I was sick. I felt bad for taking a sick day from work even though I needed it.
It helped that it was the rainy season because I didn’t feel as bad for staying in my room. I would leave my room to eat or go to the pool when the rain stopped. I opted for the pool to avoid the dangerous rip tides, undercurrents, and the strong smell of the beach.
Aside from my one excursion to the nearby Pterocarpus Forest (a 51-acre swamp forest), most days, I just relaxed, took naps, and sat by the pool.
After Alex was done working, we would eat dinner. We ventured out to other parts of Palmas del Mar and ate at local restaurants.
By the end of the trip, I felt refreshed, and I was glad I gave myself permission for this much-needed rest.
