I plan my holidays. I plan every day’s schedule. Plan what activities I will participate in throughout my holiday. Now most people will bark at this, “Holiday is for relaxation, so planning it will stress me out”.

Yet, I ask you, when you last went on holiday, did you come back more or less stressed? Was it truly as relaxing as you desired it to be?

This article is for you, if you need help to holiday correctly, to get the most out of your time off and to ensure that you are not only ready but you are fired up again when you go back to your normal existence. If you holiday correctly, you will engage different parts of your brain allowing you to be more effective and more creative and ultimately more able to serve humanity when you return.

Step 1

Know the purpose of the holiday! This will allow you to match the daily activities to the intention of your holiday.

For example: 

On a holiday to a new destination (especially overseas travel) the intention is to explore and see the beauty and therefore you will normally participate in various outings. 

Or on a December holiday to the beach the purpose is to rest, recuperate and renew for the new year.

Hopefully, you can see the difference in the intention and purpose behind these two holidays. 

Step 2 

Know the outcome you wish to achieve from your holiday!  This will allow you to be realistic with how you will feel when you return from your holiday. 

The exploring holiday will give you a different experience of “relaxation” rather than the true December beach holiday.

In most instances you may need a few days when you get back from the exploring holiday, to recover and refocus before you start work. 

Step 3  

Know your return-to-work plan! The return from a holiday will always dictate your first few days or few weeks of being back at work. 

Most people come back from holiday and the next day it is straight back to work. If you have had a truly relaxed holiday this is acceptable, but on average, it is best to give yourself a day or two before you start work.

In this way, you can prepare yourself and realign your rituals and routines with your renewed focus for your work. 

Step 4

Know yourself!  When on holiday it is important to feed the “Ying” to your normal “Yang,” or the other way round, depending on how you swing.

Ideally, do all the things you do not get a chance to do during your normal terms of life. Do the things that feed your soul. For example, in my case I always wake up early in the morning and go to bed early. So, on holiday I flip this around completely. 

Step 5

Know your game plans! You must have personal time every day for at least 1 hour where you contemplate life, your existence and everything in between.

I usually schedule an important “meeting” on the couch every afternoon, when I am on holiday, where I have a lovely snooze. In this snooze state, I allow my mind to wander into the meditative realms of my subconscious.

When I wake up, I jot down my thoughts and remembrances and process them to understand what it means to my life going forward. 

Step 6

Know that this takes time to perfect!  So, holiday often, even if you do not leave home, but make sure you take time off every 6 weeks. And don’t forget to ask Dr T for specific advice for your next holiday.  

 

Enjoy your next holiday.