What is bleisure?
Redefining the Balance Between Work, Life, and Travel
As someone who values connection, personal fulfilment, and self-care, I understand how challenging it can be to balance it all. For years, I sought ways to combine my love for travel with my professional goals. It’s not about work-work-work and then play—I never believed in that. Instead, I’ve embraced a mindset where leisure and productivity coexist. That belief is what Bleisure embodies.
What is bleisure?
Bleisure is the art of combining business and leisure to create a life you love. It challenges the outdated notion that rest is merely a reward for hard work. Instead, Bleisure encourages us to design our lives intentionally, integrating joy and productivity seamlessly.
But let’s clarify where the term comes from.
Jacob Strand, a future forecaster with The Future Laboratory, and Myriam Rayman, a journalist and futurologist, first coined the term in 2009. Their vision introduced the concept of blending business and leisure travel. For me, this term captured the essence of the life I had already been building—one where travel, work, and self-care are beautifully interwoven.
My own definition of Bleisure takes this concept further. For me, it’s about finding harmony between the different aspects of life – work, travel, and self-care – rather than treating them as separate silos. Bleisure isn’t just about adding leisure to work trips; it’s about building a lifestyle that supports your well-being and aligns with your values.
Self-care is central to this harmony. It’s about recognising that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking time to rest, recharge, and nourish yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential. When you prioritise self-care, you show up more fully for your work, loved ones, and passions. Bleisure allows you to integrate moments of joy, adventure, and connection into your everyday life.
Focusing on this balance makes Bleisure more than a travel hack; it’s a way of living intentionally and sustainably. Whether it’s a long weekend away, a few extra hours after a meeting to explore a new city, or simply choosing to work from an inspiring location, Bleisure empowers you to design a life you love – one that feeds your mind, body, and soul.
Why bleisure matters?
Adopting the Bleisure lifestyle offers several benefits:
- Enhanced well-being: Regular breaks, whether small or grand, prevent burnout and support mental health.
- Boosted productivity: New environments can spark fresh ideas and inspiration.
- Deeper connections: Travel fosters bonds, whether you bring loved ones along or meet new people.
When I embraced Bleisure, travel became more than just an escape. It became a way to replenish my energy and improve my work.
How to embrace a bleisure lifestyle
You don’t have to overhaul your routine to integrate Bleisure into your life. Start with these steps:
- Extend business trips: Add a leisure day after a conference or meeting to explore your surroundings.
- Plan mini getaways: Long weekends can work wonders for your mindset.
- Work joyfully: Choose inspiring workday locations, such as a café or a beach. Looking out a new window for the day can be the refreshing change you need to bring new ideas and feel the change.
Living my bleisure life
I witnessed Bleisure through my father, who extended his business trips to include leisure time. Later, I embraced this lifestyle, turning work trips into opportunities for exploration and connection.
Now, Bleisure is the cornerstone of my life and business. It’s not just about travel; it’s about living intentionally. Whether planning your next trip or looking for small ways to integrate joy into your workdays, Bleisure is a way to reclaim your time and live a life you love now.
You don’t have to wait for one day or someday in the future to enjoy travel, rest and the things you want. This is the anti-retirement plan. Bleisure is about living now and enjoying your life at any age and every stage.
Your next step
What could your Bleisure life look like?
Start small. Add a leisure day to your next work trip or plan a staycation that recharges you. If you’re ready to dive deeper, download my journal prompts to begin creating your Leisure life today.
Because life is happening now, let’s live it fully.