Is This a Vacation or Just Parenting in a New Location

Or is it just a challenge we give ourselves, to see how far we can go before our nerves give in, our voices sharpen, and we unleash that mom voice, you know, the one so powerful it could terrify even the neighbor into brushing their teeth?

Let me say this as someone who’s lived it: traveling with kids is work. It’s exhausting. No matter their age, you’re the one keeping them busy, keeping them safe, keeping them occupied, and sometimes just keeping them out of trouble. Honestly? It can feel even more draining than staying at home, unless, of course, another holiday meal in the company of your crazy uncle (the one who won’t stop talking politics) and the aunt who pinches cheeks until your kids cry feels like a deeper form of torture than being your children’s tour guide, personal assistant, and snack provider rolled into one. Maybe we call it holidays because we all end up dazed and confused.

That’s why I admire every parent who dares to pack up, board a plane, and call it a “break.” Because let’s face it: sleeping in like we used to before kids? That’s not happening anymore. Our little people want every waking moment with us, and rightfully so. Which leaves us parents with very little chance for true rest and recovery.

But here’s the question that changed things for me: what does rest even mean if it’s not just

sleep?

The Seven Types of Rest

Most of us think if we could just get one full night, eight glorious, uninterrupted hours, we’d be fine. But the truth is, sleep is only one piece of the puzzle. Exhaustion doesn’t just live in our bodies; it seeps into our minds, our emotions, our senses, and even our social lives.

That’s why experts describe seven kinds of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual. And when you understand them, you realize it’s not just your

body that’s tired, it’s your mind from constant decision-making, your emotions from holding everyone’s feelings, your senses from overstimulation, and your spirit from losing touch with beauty and meaning.

So what can you do when sleep is short, vacations are chaotic, and you still need to replenish on all those levels?

Enter Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra, often called yogic sleep or non-sleep deep rest (NSDR), is one of the simplest, most effective practices I’ve ever found for moms. Unlike meditation, which asks you to focus, or yoga, which asks you to move, Yoga Nidra asks only this: lie down, get comfortable, and listen.

It’s a guided practice, usually 10, 30 minutes long, where a teacher’s voice takes you through

breath, body awareness, and visualization. Your body stays completely still while your mind drifts into that healing state between waking and sleeping. Science shows it can lower stress hormones, calm the nervous system, and restore energy in ways that go far beyond a nap.

And here’s the best part: twenty minutes of Yoga Nidra can feel like two hours of sleep.

Andrew Huberman has a lovely guided NSDR on Youtube and quite frankly that is the next

best thing to fantasizing about Alejandro.

How and When to Use It as a Mom

On Vacation: Sneak in a session while the baby naps or the kids are watching a movie. Noise-canceling headphones and a bed in a dark hotel room are perfect.

During the Day: Instead of scrolling your phone when you’re exhausted, cue up a Yoga Nidra audio track. You’ll feel reset without grogginess.

At Night: If you struggle to fall asleep after being “on” all day, it’s the most gentle transition into deep rest.

With Kids Around: Believe it or not, children often love lying down with you during a Nidra track. They won’t follow all of it, but they’ll soak up the calm energy.

Togetherness, Recharged

The beauty of Yoga Nidra is that it touches all the forms of rest. Your body gets physical rest.

Your mind gets a break from overthinking. Your senses get quiet. Your emotions soften. Your creativity stirs. Even your spirit feels nourished by the stillness.

So while family travel will always be a little chaotic, the spills, the bathroom stops, the sticky fingers, practices like Yoga Nidra give us a reset button. They make us less reactive, more present, and a lot more patient.

Because rest isn’t selfish. It’s the invisible fuel that lets us actually enjoy the very togetherness we work so hard to create.