Banner image courtesy of Alex Bertha
Holidays are supposed to be a chance to recharge, but it’s tempting to fall back into bad habits during your time off. Checking work emails by the pool or scrolling through social media before breakfast can leave you feeling only half-rested when you come back.
Unplugging takes a conscious effort, but with a few simple strategies, you can ensure your time away is a proper reset.
Step Away from the Digital Noise
The phone in your pocket is often the barrier to switching off. Work messages and endless notifications can prevent you from embracing the slower pace of holiday life. To set boundaries before you leave, create an out-of-office reply that clearly communicates that you won’t be checking emails. Once abroad, silence or disable notifications from work apps, and don’t hesitate to securely leave your phone or laptop in the hotel room for stretches of the day.
Temporarily deleting apps like Teams and Slack on your phone can be helpful if you need to use Google Maps for directions while out and about. Seeing a manager’s name in your notifications bar can instantly dampen your enjoyment of a city tour. By reducing phone distractions, you create opportunities to connect with the people you’re travelling with and the surroundings of your destination.
Choose Simplicity with All-Inclusive Holidays
Decision fatigue, the constant questions of what to eat and what to do tonight, can leave you feeling as tired as the daily grind you’re trying to escape. To avoid micro-decisions abroad, you can book all-inclusive holidays to take the stress out of decision-making.
By prepaying for meals and activities, you remove the stress of budgeting or hunting for restaurants. Everything you need is on hand, leaving you free to focus on enjoyment. If you enjoy lounging by the pool with a cocktail or prefer joining in with resort activities, the simplicity of an all-inclusive package removes unnecessary hassle to help you relax.
Create a Holiday Routine that Feels Different
A holiday should feel like a clear break from your usual routine, so avoid mirroring the patterns you keep at home. If you’re usually up early and rushing to the office, allow yourself a slow start with a leisurely breakfast. If evenings usually mean commuting or television, replace them with a sunset walk along the beach or a quiet drink on the balcony.
The key is to build a rhythm that signals to your brain that this isn’t business as usual. Even small shifts like taking an afternoon swim without checking the time can help create a sense of novelty and freedom.
Be Present in the Experience
Remember to put down the camera throughout the day and focus on your surroundings. Watching waves roll in or birds flying over the coastline is more calming without pressuring yourself to get the perfect shot, as is savouring every bite of a local delicacy instead of creating the perfect Instagram story.
Mindfulness on holiday doesn’t mean meditating for hours; it’s about being aware of what’s happening around you in the present moment. It has been proven to relax the mind and improve sleep, so try to get into the habit and maintain it after your holiday has ended.