We all love to get away from it all, but a holiday break is increasingly seen as an indulgence. The annual holiday break is heavily criticised as unsustainable and, ultimately, unnecessary. However, research reveals that these ‘escapes’ can be vitally important to our wellbeing. Somehow, only by physically relocating to a different environment that we allow ourselves to truly unplug and unwind. Recently, the stay-cation, or stay at home vacation has been touted as the way to save the planet and spare the wallet. The trouble is, at the end of your leave, you don’t feel the same sense of rejuvenation. For good reason. A week on the couch at home won’t allow your brain and your body the chance to reboot. At home there’s always the temptation to just check that email once more, or to answer that phone call. At home there’s always the sense that you should be doing something. You can’t ignore the to-do list of things around the house that need attention, such as maintenance or cleaning. Also, crucially, if you try and relax on your couch at home there’s always the nagging possibility of visitors, of interruption. So, you never truly relax.
Wellbeing vacations are essential if we are to function in our busy lives for the rest of the year. In today’s busy world, setting time aside for relaxation is essential. The longstanding idea of a holiday ‘escape’ is an indispensible part of this. It is only through relaxing that we are able to achieve the introspection necessary to assess our lives. Once we step back from the daily grind we can see what’s missing in our lives. Wellbeing vacations are increasingly seen as an essential part of 21st century living. They are cited as fundamental to maintaining a functioning marriage, to keeping up the energy for a highly demanding career, and for allowing ourselves the measure of solitude that is a necessary part of human existence.
When designing your wellbeing vacation, the crucial concept is ‘wellbeing.’ It is important to choose the right kind of holiday for you and your current needs. What seems like heaven to one person will leave another wrung out and exhausted. Equally, transporting yourself to a different physical location only to continue with your day to day life is not a break. In a similar vein, shopping holidays, with an emphasis on spending can leave us feeling hollow and exhausted. The reasons for this are self-evident. Simply put, this kind of vacation is merely a trip to somewhere else, not a holiday, and certainly not an adventure. Wellbeing vacations are something else entirely. They can take many forms, and some of them are surprisingly active and adventurous! A wellbeing vacation is so much more than just lying on the beach. In fact, some of the most successful ‘escapes’ involve cycling, walking, hiking or even climbing in all manner of exotic locations. Imagine two weeks of yoga in an Australian desert, trekking inIndia, volunteering in South East Asia, gardening inEngland, relaxing at a spa and resort in the Carribean. These are all examples of life-changing adventures.
Increasingly people are choosing to partake in life-coaching sessions while on holiday. This can be a unique chance to reassess your priorities and help you to navigate the challenges of a busy life. Others find their escape in volunteering and donating their services to those in need. There are a raft of opportunities out there, and there is certainly something which suits your needs. The key point is that wellbeing vacations are a chance for you to step away from your everyday life, and explore all that the world has to offer. At best they are truly mind-expanding, and allow you to return home feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.