How often do we postpone the lifestyle changes we know we need to make, skip physical activity and indulge in the very foods we promise to give up?
The reasons range from life getting in the way of our good intentions, to bad weather and a lack of motivation. We promise to start the new lifestyle when a crisis passes or a project we’ve been working on comes to an end. But… Life is a work in progress!
That list of things to do will keep growing no matter how many items we cross off it, and as our 24/7 culture pulls us in many directions at once, switching off gets harder with each new technology we embrace. Somehow we have to find a way to multi-task and find time for ourselves whilst life rages on around us. Easier said than done, isn’t it?
As we get older (and hopefully wiser), it becomes even more important to keep the balance between work and play, to have some fun to make up for our endless duties, and to remember to look after ourselves whilst we take care of others. Which is why holidays are so crucial… Escaping the world of chores, targets and performance reviews does not necessarily mean retreating to the other side of the world, just finding a little oasis, a peaceful time for self-reflection, and sometimes just time without email or Facebook notifications. Not only will this help us switch off and de-stress, it also means opening up to new experiences and recharging our batteries.
We don’t need scientists to tell us that holidays are good for our wellbeing but if you are one of those people who feel chained to the laptop, believing that their work would suffer if they took a break, here are a few reasons to book some time off.
Taking a holiday helps lower our blood pressure, improves sleep and decreases our perception of stress. It results in a better mood, increased energy levels and improved libido, creating more satisfaction with our relationships. Removing ourselves from our usual routine gives us a brighter outlook on life, while coming home after a break often makes it clearer what we want to achieve and why. In other words, feeling relaxed after a week or two away might just provide the motivation to tackle those lifestyle changes we need to make, whether it is going on a diet or starting a new way of dealing with work stress.
In case you need a further incentive to unplug, here is a surprising benefit of going on holiday: despite the fact that many of us over-indulge while away, a significant proportion of holiday-makers actually come back home in a better physical shape. Whether it is the ‘sunshine effect’ of topping up the vitamin D levels, being more active or simply living in a bikini for a week, holidays have a wonderful way of melting off some of that excess weight accumulated around our waistlines. With a mental boost like that, the challenges of our lives back at home will seem a lot more manageable. So stop worrying about the to-do lists and take time off work for a holiday, you won’t regret it!