Self-diagnosing the need for a holiday

Self-diagnosing the need for a holiday

It all begins with a the click of a button on Outlook to send my Out of Office, followed by a confident strut as I exit the building. My holiday awaits. 

I have always loved travelling the world. Experiencing new cultures; trying new food; listening to local music; and watching my skin turn golden brown while the tips of my hair lighten. 

Since I started working four years ago, holidays have become a whole new experience. The daily grind holds me prisoner to the dreaded alarm that always seems to interrupt my dreams and makes me beg for its snooze button. Then I face a two hour commute, with all the other tired workers squashed together like sardines—it's fair to say, a day’s work sometimes feels complete before you even set foot in the office. 

After experiencing and living the London commute, an approaching holiday comforts and warms my mind, body and heart. 

My most recent trip was no different. I felt worn out—the kind where coffee wasn't quite doing the trick (usually my body's not so subtle hint of telling me I need a break)—my muscles were sore from leg day, and the soft nudge of someone on the tube was supporting my fond thoughts towards the service (cue sarcastic tone)—it was time. 

As I side stepped down the plane steps, I sniffed in the unfamiliar scent, whilst being hit with warm air. I immediately took a breath, removed my cardigan, and felt my shoulders loosen. 

While lying on a sunbed that afternoon (with an immovable smile on my face and my boyfriend sporting a matching grin), looking over an infinity pool on the edge of a cliff top, I once again understood the importance of a break. 

Often, you can be so swept up in your daily routine that you forget to take a moment for yourself. A moment to think. A moment to relax. This is also true as a couple. You can spend day in, day out with someone, but there is no time like the quality time you have together on holiday. 

Photo by Anna Demianenko on Unsplash

This holiday wasn't going to be full of trips and sight seeing activities—we had decided this trip was going to be guilt-free time for us to be us. 

One of the days we lay there for 7 hours—chatting, napping, reading, swimming, and just relaxing. It was peaceful, serene, tranquil. That is a whole working day lying down, doing whatever we wanted, when we wanted—completely guilt-free. 

It allows you to reconnect, not only as a couple, but also to yourself. It is a time that allows me to step away and reassess what is important to me. It is a time to generate new ideas to come back with a fresh, enthusiastic approach. It is a time to catch up with sleep. It is a time to allow your mind, body and soul to repair. 

As Alan Cohen very rightly says, ‘There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.’