It's almost a tendency collectively hammered into our psyche - that of the concept of 'earning rest'. While this may be a great marker for productivity,
the loop will only last as long as your body keeps up. Timing yourself out of the rat race, then, is less an indulgence and more a need of the hour. And the earning demographic has very clear gauge of this - given the booming tourism global tourism industries. But what used to be simple and soulful vacations back in the day, have become increasingly overwrought itineraries. While travelling overseas is of course a wholly thrilling experience, off-late, it may feel like you're still on the merry-go-round of running through to-do lists - except these may just be more fun. This is where the travel trend of 'dusking' comes in - and it is exactly what it sounds like.
What is Dusking?
Two rules - slow down, and watch the sunset while you're at it. The first is technically option, though if you truly want to enjoy the latter - which is the non-negotiable factor - you're going to have to inadvertently lean into it. And more likely than not, your body will thank you for it. The 'routine' here is simple. Lazy days lead into you stepping out during golden hour with one sole goal - to watch the sun set over the horizon. The exercise should typically exclude phones and any other trappings of productivity. Because the belief you must end each day with a set of achievements is the exact toxicity that hustle culture prides itself on - and the least you can do is at least not carry it over into your vacation.
Why Dusking May be Worth the Hype
We are so used to having our nervous systems feeling fried at all times that a little hit of genuine nothingness or actual relaxation feels foreign - because truthfully, how many times have you complained over 'losing' a perfectly good day while on vacation, just because you didn't make it to a landmark or an Instagram hotspot? No doubt there are those that are true and blue adrenaline junkies and live for power-packed vacation adventures. But if your corporate life has left you completely depleted, your very expensive vacation is not your window to prove a point - it is to reclaim and replenish yourself. And contrary to the diktats of hustle culture, doing 'nothing' isn't a crime. As a matter of fact, it is the perfect set up to begin normalising the absence of stimuli for our bodies and mind.
There's a 'Global Dusking Index'
And Europe is winning big on it! A Euro News report references tourist internet connectivity company, Holafly, which came out with its Global Dusking Index. And this is no hoax. The index has been created across data mapping atmospheric beauty across four layers. These span natural factors like clear skies as well as subjective intel like dream tourist destinations. A parameter called 'atmospheric quality' is what makes a sunset visually impactful - physical Science affirms this. After all the permutations and combinations, the tourist destinations that topped the Global Dusking Index were Bali in Indonesia, Tenerife in Spain, Amalfi Coast in Italy and the Maldives.
