We wait for vacation like we wait for a bad Tinder date to end: with impatience, hope... and a slight urge to run away. And let's be honest: after eleven months of running around, dreaming of a hammock, a Spritz, and doing nothing is perfectly legitimate.
But here's the thing: living for the holidays isn't exactly what you'd call a fulfilling life plan.
Ikigai —that lovely Japanese philosophy we love to talk about at Ikigai Box —offers us another path. A life where every day (yes, even Mondays) has a little taste of meaning, pleasure, and purpose. A life where we don't count the days before "escaping," because we have nothing to run away from.
And yet… sometimes it’s during the holidays that it all begins.
1 | What ikigai is not: the work-metro-beach trip
No, ikigai is not “working like a galley slave 50 weeks a year to be able to go on a trek in Peru and take 400 photos of llamas.”
It's a bit like saying that happiness is dessert: we eat broccoli all year round just for a spoonful of tiramisu.
We've all had that moment when we say to our colleagues with a heavy heart, "Only 7 more sleeps and I'm on vacation." A clear sign that the other 358 days aren't inspiring us much.
But ikigai isn't a lifeline, nor an emotional parachute . Rather, it's a common thread, a little something that makes routine... less routine. It motivates us even on Tuesday mornings, when it's raining, the coffee machine is broken, and the STM has decided to go on strike.
So no, “living for the holidays” is not ikigai.
But... what if it was there, between two naps, that your ikigai was saying hello to you?
2 | What vacations can reveal (spoiler: a lot)
There's a strange phenomenon that happens as soon as we break away from our routine: our brain starts thinking for itself again.
We start doing “free” things:
- cooking with music (and not to “feed the kids in 15 minutes flat”),
- talking with neighbors without praying inwardly that they will shorten it,
- tinker with a piece of furniture or embroider a temari just “to see what it looks like”,
- Stretch in the morning because it feels good… not because the physio told us to.
This is where the magic happens. When we move beyond doing for the sake of doing and begin to enjoy doing for the sake of being. Being well, being yourself, being curious.
A hobby picked up on vacation can sometimes become a passion. A moment of silence can awaken a buried desire. A laugh around a campfire can remind us of what truly matters.
It is no coincidence that some people have found their vocation between two hikes or during a pottery workshop on the North Shore.
3 | 5 Little Clues That Your Ikigai Is Hiding in Your Vacation
💡Thought you were just having a good time? What if your vacation just gave you a clue about your ikigai? Here are some subtle signs that your fleeting joy might deserve a little more attention:
1. You lose track of time by doing a “useless” activity.
Have you spent two hours stacking pebbles, drawing shells, or embroidering a pattern... without even looking at your watch? Bingo. This moment outside of time, when you are absorbed, is one of the markers of the famous flow ... and perhaps a clue for your ikigai. Learn more about ikigai in this article .
2. You found yourself saying, “I wish I could do this more often.”
It came out all by itself, over a slow-cooked meal, a sunrise stroll, or a shell-painting session with the kids. This little sentence is often more revealing than 12 months of to-do lists.
3. You felt proud (and not just because the pizza dough rose well)
A true sense of accomplishment, even a tiny one, is a powerful signal. Perhaps it wasn't the dough, but the act of creating, accomplishing a sporting feat, sharing, or sharing a good time with those around you that touched you.
4. You had a sincere conversation and it felt so good.
Whether it's with a stranger at the hostel or your suddenly talkative teenager, these genuine exchanges awaken our need for connection. If you feel this strongly, your ikigai may lie in connecting with others.
5. You stopped wanting to be “useful” for 5 minutes… and it was magic
What if this were your superpower? To be, just to be . Not to perform, nor to please, nor to prove. It is often in this relaxation that deep desires and sincere impulses are born—those that build a solid ikigai.
4| How to extend your ikigai upon return (without going to live in a yurt)
The holidays are over, that's a fact. The daily grind is back. But your ikigai can stay.
Here are some simple ideas to avoid the boomerang effect of “work-metro-depression”:
✅ Identify what made you feel good. Was it the free time? The contact with nature? Not looking at the clock? There's surely a little treasure to bring back from your vacation (and it's not the bottle of rum).
✅ Ritualize a little ikigai time into your week. No need to revolutionize your life. Start with 15 minutes of doing something just for you, like observing a bonsai sapling or writing aimlessly.
✅ Find a bridge activity. Did you love cooking on vacation? Save that pleasure for Saturdays. Discovered temari embroidery? Incorporate it into your evenings. Did you enjoy lounging outside? Make it a habit, even for five minutes.
✅ Remember that ikigai is a journey. It's built little by little, not with "back-to-school resolutions." Be curious, kind to yourself, and have fun.
At Ikigai Box , we firmly believe that ikigai is built every day... but we admit that vacations really help us rediscover it! In August, we're also taking a little break. It's a chance to slow down, savor the moment, and spark some new ideas—and why not try a hobby that could change everything.
Perhaps it is by taking the time to embroider without pressure, to water a young shoot, or to create with your hands that you will put your finger on a little happiness to cultivate all year round.
So, if you enjoyed discovering an activity this summer, or if you want to extend this sweet feeling of freedom into September, think about treating yourself to a creative box at the start of the school year.
🎁 The holidays are over, but your ikigai is just beginning.
👉 Discover our boxes to continue exploring, creating, and breathing, even after the holidays.
