The Sweetness of Doing Nothing (and Why It’s the Secret to a Better Trip)
There’s a quiet magic in the moment your itinerary ends and real life begins—the kind of travel moment that isn’t pinned on a Google Map or packed into a timed schedule.
It’s sipping an espresso in a tucked-away Parisian café while people pass by with baguettes and tiny dogs.
It’s stumbling into your breakfast spot in Lisbon—the one with the flaky pastries and the older man who smiles when he sees you for the third day in a row.
It’s sitting down for an Aperol Spritz in Venice—not rushing to the next attraction, but actually letting the city move around you.
It’s the art of doing nothing. And honestly? It might be my favorite part of every trip.
Your trip doesn’t need to be packed to be full.
It took me a while to embrace this. In the early years of travel, I’d cram our schedule full of every “must-do” and “top 10” experience. We’d come home fulfilled—but exhausted. Now, as a mom, a planner, and someone who’s deeply passionate about travel that feels good, I build in time to wander, rest, and just be wherever I am.
Some of the best moments we’ve had while traveling weren’t on our itinerary—they happened when we left room to breathe.
What “Doing Nothing” Actually Looks Like on the Road
It’s not truly nothing, of course. It’s just unstructured, open time that lets you:
Find your rhythm in a new place
Notice details you’d otherwise miss
Discover a local spot that feels like yours
Make room for spontaneous experiences and connections
When I think back on my favorite travel memories, they’re rarely about checking boxes. They’re about slow mornings, repeat café visits, and getting to know a city by heart, not by list.
How I Plan for the Unplanned
If you’re someone who likes structure (hi, same), here’s how I balance intentional flexibility in my trips:
I only plan 1–2 “anchored” activities per day—a morning museum ticket or an evening dinner reservation.
I try to leave afternoons or early evenings open for whatever feels right in the moment.
I research great neighborhoods to walk through or cafés to try—but I don’t slot them into the calendar.
I remind myself: this trip isn’t a checklist—it’s an experience.
Culture Isn’t Just in the Museums
Culture happens in quiet corners, too.
It happens when you linger at a café long enough to see the after-school rush of parents and kids.
When you overhear snippets of conversation you don’t understand, but still feel.
When the barista starts remembering your order.
When a city starts to feel—if only for a few days—like a version of home.
And the only way to experience that side of travel is to leave space for it.
So go ahead—do nothing.
Sit. Sip. Watch the world.
Skip the checklist one afternoon.
Make your coffee slowly. Stay for the sunset. Take the long way back.
Because sometimes, the best parts of travel are the parts you didn’t plan.
Want help building a beautifully flexible itinerary that leaves room for moments like this?
Let’s plan your trip with intention—and space to fall in love with the unexpected. Work with me
