Best way to Refresh?

F5

1. i'd say go for this, especially if you can tour the Mediterranean and also get up to the Autobahn

2) Not the best time to go to Brazil, unless it's in the north, Rio is in the low 70s, still nice but definitely not warm enough to go in the water. Would recommend Columbia if you want some latin beach

3) Never tried but sounds fun

Gym

Golf

Sleep for a week. Spend the next week at a massage parlor. Happy endings all around.

I would say go somewhere really quiet. Many people are afraid of complete boredom, but when you're on the verge of burnout, its exactly what you need -emptiness. Even if the only thing on the menu is getting a massage or a walk on the beach. For that; I have heard excellent things about columbia. I would say AVOID bustling nightlife cities/the car rental idea... you can get back into the traffic/exhaust fumes when you get home.

Go be productive and save money and hit the gym hard and then go relax in the sauna for a while.

Or you could get really drunk one night with friends. After that I always feel like i got my fun out and can focus now.

I'd go somewhere tropical and do nothing but eat, sleep, and eat/nap on the beach.

This is a great opportunity. I can't really speak for Europe/Latin America, but I can say that if you go to Asia/Japan:

1) Stay at a hostel. Though perhaps grungy, hostels are a fantastic way to meet really interesting people, and more importantly, people outside of finance. They're also really cheap. If you're doing this vacation right you shouldn't be spending that much time in the room anyways.

2) You could try staying at a Buddhist monastery. From what I've heard this could conceivably be free/relatively inexpensive, with healthy food (usually vegetarian), and who know who you'll meet there. Hands down best way to "detox". I had a friend that did this for a short period of time (albeit, at a Chinese monastery), and he came back a completely different person- he knows exactly what he wants, he's become a vegetarian now, doesn't binge drink anymore, and he's frighteningly efficient with his work (running his own business in China). He's also a lot happier. The entire thing didn't cost a single cent, and he wasn't even there that long. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience if you have the time.

Whatever you do, try to do something that your mind is actively engaged in. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but hear me out. Idling at a beach alone is good at first, but your mind will inevitably start thinking about work again. I can guarantee it and as human beings, we're predisposed towards it. Instead, ask yourself the following questions:

Have I done this before? How will I look back on this? Does this make a good story and compelling experience?

I can't find the link but I recently read an article where most of the "enjoyment/pleasure" derived from traveling actually comes from after the trip, not during it. As such, you may not as get much fulfillment from this experience if it's a repeat of something you've previously done.

1 is really good. Drive through the alps and stay in small hotels in the mountains, very relaxing. I can provide you with names of hotels, so feel free to PM.

A trip I really liked for relaxing was sailing around the greek Islands. Or just stay at one of the good hotels in Santorini, which is the most beautiful and relaxing of them. I can provide names too.

I also liked what In the Flesh Said. Sleep 12 hours a day, go for a drive, read books you have been wanting to read forever, watch movies you've wanted to see, go for a drive, a round of golf every other day, go for walks in the city, go a couple of days to the countryside close-by.... Really relaxing.

Take a day off, buy a hooker

Go boating

Amsterdam.

I will recommend you to go gym and massage parlor to increase your stamina and strength. You will feel fresh, stress free and relax by doing this.

Definitely F9.

What I find most relaxing is doing something creative. Now for artists and writers that might be a bit of a conundrum but they could attempt something creative that is not their profession. I find writing and making music the most relaxing. And I also hope the stuff I've written never sees the light of day! But the zen is in the process of creating. And yes, its important not to obsess about how perfect your creation is or it will defeat the whole purpose. Create and move on something else. And when you get better at it, it will literally be the joy of your life.