Embrace blue space
Love to watch the crashing waves? A sea view positively impacts breathing and heart rate, and creates a good mood, according to research. Spending just two hours a week at the seaside is beneficial for mental health*. Can’t get to the coast? A walk by a river, canal or lake will have the same de-stressing effect.
Savour mealtimes
Whether you’re breakfasting at a hotel buffet or dining al fresco by the waterfront, more often than not you’re sat at a table while you’re away. This helps you to be more aware of what, and how much, you’re eating. In fact, children who have breakfast at a table with their families are up to 40% less likely to be overweight, according to a study**. It’s also important not to rush your meals. ‘Focus on every mouthful and on your senses,’ says mindful-eating consultant Emma Randall. ‘Does it smell great? Are you enjoying the taste?’
Make time to meditate
It will help you hang on to a lighter, brighter outlook. ‘Meditation gives us a chance to quieten the mind, find connection, calm down and activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us to recover from stressful situations,’ says yoga instructor Hannah Barrett. When you’re short on time, even a quick session will ground you – search for ‘5-minute meditation’ on Youtube.
Have a digital detox
On holiday, you’re often too busy having fun to bother with your phone. And this is a welcome break considering that too much time on devices is linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and sleep issues. ‘The benefit of screen-time withdrawal is that it forces us to realise our reliance on phones so we can set digital boundaries,’ explains digital-health expert Dr Rachael Kent. ‘Set limits on your screen use and stick to it.’ This could mean deleting specific apps or pledging to stop scrolling in bed. Take total tech breaks too if you can – try an hour, an afternoon, a weekend or longer if your lifestyle allows it.
Prioritise sex
It’s no surprise that we enjoy more intimacy when we’re on holiday, simply because we’re feeling more relaxed. In fact, Brits have more sex in August than in any other month, according to a poll by lovehoney. co.uk. It’s good for us too, enhancing our relationships while reducing stress levels. Keen to get the benefits even when you’re back at home? Spend more time together and don’t expect it just to happen. Actively seek sexy headspace by experimenting with ‘mental framing’. This means thinking about what turns you on. It could be a specific storyline or emotion – most women need this to get in the mood, says clinical sexologist Megwyn White.
Ditch daytime drinking
Cocktails by the pool, wine with lunch, G&TS mid-afternoon – it can be easy to slip into daytime drinking on holiday, but overindulging may make it harder to stop when autumn arrives, and having a post-holiday detox can dampen mood. If you continue drinking once you’re home, aim to stick within the government’s recommended limit of 14 units a week, and set yourself a time that you can’t drink before – say 6pm – and push this back by 30 minutes each night until you don’t feel like that glass of red any more.