Holiday tips: Five ways to switch off completely and relax

Covid-19 and the consequent lockdowns have made it difficult for employees and entrepreneurs to completely switch off once they are on holiday, due to the blurry lines between work, home and play.

People are unable to switch off completely these days when they have down time, which means they are also unable to reap the benefits from taking time off from work. These holiday tips may help you to reap the benefits from your next trip.

Shaun Lamont, managing director of First Group Hotels and Resorts, says: “The stress of the last year has seen people work harder than ever to protect their livelihoods, which is why taking a well-deserved break has become more important than ever.”

He says they have witnessed it first-hand – the lines of pleasure being blurred by business as guests are being plagued with work while on holiday. Lamont says a holiday is the equivalent of sending your brain in for its annual service and you need to ensure you maximise the health benefits of a holiday by totally embracing the moment.

According to the American Psychological Association, going on holiday improves your physical health by decreasing the risk of heart disease and improving mental health by reducing depression and anxiety.

Five holiday tips to reap the benefits of taking it slow:

Hand over properly

There is no way you will be able to enjoy a stress-free, work-free holiday if you didn’t do a proper hand over. Utilise your email signature and ease yourself and everyone around you into the idea of you being away from the office by notifying them ahead of time.

Also, find a reliable and capable colleague who can be your point of contact while you are away and hand over all outstanding pieces of work to that person.

Notify clients, managers and employees that you will be unavailable for the set holiday dates and remember to set up an out-of-office reply message for any emails coming in. You can also update your voicemail (if you still have one).

Sort out lingering issues

If there are any lingering issues that need to be sorted out or payments that need to be done, sort it out before you leave on your well-deserved holiday. You don’t want to be stressed out about something that could have been dealt with prior to departure.

Switch off your phone

This is probably one of the most difficult ones as one’s phone is not only a phone, but also a camera and so much more these days.

Still, for a person who is always available, this might perhaps be just what you need. Unless you turn your phone off completely, there will still be messages, emails, news alerts and app notifications. Vowing to check your phone only once per day could make a huge difference for your mental health while on holiday.

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Take time while on holiday

Decide to do less when you are on holiday.

Don’t try to fill your days with packed itineraries. Pick one thing per day – a site to see, a restaurant to visit, a morning hike, an adventurous activity – and use the rest of the day to relax. Lounge by the pool, read, take a nap.

There is no point in returning from holiday unrested just because you didn’t take time to rest.

Pick your holiday stay carefully

Depending on what your and your family’s preferences are when it comes to relaxing while on holiday, choose accommodation that will help you to take it slow. Camping might be fun, but if you are going away for only three days, packing and putting up tents might just tire you out.

If you are travelling with children, choose a family-friendly resort. If you are going away without the kids, pick a quiet accommodation spot. If you’re not one for the beach, rather opt for the bush. No one wants to be miserable on holiday just because they didn’t choose the right vacation spot.

Also, if cooking is part of relaxation for you, choose a self-catering option that is kitted out with all the cooking utensils you might need. Otherwise, consider opting for accommodation that includes all meals. That way, you don’t have to worry about shopping for groceries or preparing family meals while you’re on holiday.

Be present while on vacation

In a digital age, it is almost second nature to want to share and post your whereabouts and experiences on social media instantly. One of the best holiday tips you can take with you, is to make a point of being in the moment and making memories with your travel buddies.

Capture the moment, by all means, but turn off the data or Wi-Fi on your phone to prevent you from feeling tempted to share and to check notifications all the time. In fact, using a camera instead of your phone might work even better! You can post the pictures later, which is a great way to relive the special moments once more.