What is it about a holiday that whispers the promise of a fresh start?
Whether it's the sea breeze, the removal of time pressures or the intoxicating feeling of anonymity from your everyday life, something about holidays seems the ideal time to hit the reset button.
For me, this year got off to a challenging start.
Dealing with grief, worrying about the end of a demanding contract job and what would come next, the endless grey weather in the UK, a long commute, raising small childen - I’ll admit I got stuck in a bit of a rut. I was coming from a place of fear, rather than plenty. I was trapped in anxiety and not looking after my health. I didn't even feel inspired to write here.
Then, in that everyday miraculous way, things started to turn a corner.
I found better ways to process my bereavement. I secured a new permanent job that I not only needed, but wanted and was excited about. I began to focus on the future again and want to make plans and improve myself.
Our amazing two and a half week break to Thailand has been the ultimate reset to top all that off. After a tough year, we wanted to make major nice memories with the kids and show them a part of the world and culture away from Europe.
New Year's Resolutions are one thing - you either love them or hate them, and I’m all for them - but holiday resets can be just the mid-year refresh you need.
Instead of just packing your suitcase and jetting off, why not take the time to reset not just your physical environment, but your mental and emotional spaces too?
The Perfect Time To Reset
Holidays offer us more than just an escape from our daily routines - they’re a chance to step back, detach, and look at our lives with fresh perspective. Away from a constant round of work, social life and everything in between, a vacation gives you the space to gain clarity on what's currently working for you and what’s not.
The Key To Clarity
Starting is simple - just grab a notebook or use the notes app on your phone to ask some simple, yet far-reaching, questions. What have been the highlights of your year so far? What challenges have come up, and how did you deal with them? What do you wish you had more or less of in your life? Are there any habits you've picked up that you need to let go of?
This process of self-reflection is the key to gaining an understanding of what truly matters to you.
For me, I knew I was holding on to a lot of unresolved pain and grief after the death of my mother and my mother-in-law, then my father being diagnosed with dementia, in the past few years.
I was angry at the unfairness of the world, at all the things that had been left unsaid, at all the future days I'd never get to spend with them. I was burying this pain and frustration by focusing too much on status at work - going for a high-profile job that meant lots of extra pressure (and distraction) and a four-hour round trip into the office.
The impact of that was leading me to become disconnected from my husband, children and friends,because I was pouring all my energy into work and had nothing left to give.
In turn, that was leading me to lapse into unhealthy habits - not sleeping enough, drinking too much - that were affecting my health and wellbeing. It had become a self-created vicious cycle that I felt too mired in to break.
Stepping outside of the routine and flying across the world gave a much-needed reset from those bad habits.
I had the chance to go for my boss’ job, and did an unsuccessful interview, which had left me feeling ‘less than’ and anxious about what was next. Time away made me realise how all the things affecting my life and wellbeing negatively were connected.
I wanted to put my family first. I wanted a job I enjoyed, that was less pressured and closer to home so the balance was there. I wanted to become happy and stop chasing oblivion through self-desctructive habits.
No one else could fix it for me, and I had to make a change and start focusing on better choices.
Writing A New Story
Someone wise once said that our lives are the sum of the stories we tell ourselves. We create these narratives about our own limitations, shortcomings and capabilities and then we inhabit them.
How fucked up is that?
So taking time out of our ‘real lives’ is a chance to be the author of a new story about ourselves. When you're not in the rush of daily life, you can be freer, think more creatively and take the pressure out of goal-setting.
Maybe you want to refocus on your health, learn something new, make exciting plans to look forward to, or put more of your time towards people and things that you love.
Whatever it is that you want to do, whoever it is that you want to be - write it down and make a plan. What steps do you need to take to make it happen? Be realistic sure, but also give yourself the chance to dream a little.
Remember, these goals don’t have to be life-changing resolutions. Sometimes, smaller, more manageable goals are what you need to create lasting change. The key is to align these goals with the insights you’ve gained from your reflections.
This way, when you return home, you’re not just jumping back into the same old routine—you’re stepping into a life that’s more aligned with your true self.
Hit The Reset Button
Physically, holidays are a great chance to make change. If you've been overworking, under-exercising or just feeling out of sorts, a break from routine can help you to recalibrate.
A holiday is a golden opportunity to hit refresh on your physical health. Whether you’ve been overworking, under-exercising, or just feeling out of sorts, a break from the norm can help you recalibrate your body.
What this means is different for everyone. It could mean trying out a morning yoga session on the sand. It could be going for longer walks to explore your new location. Maybe it's fitting in a swim before dinner. Sometimes, it can even be taking a complete break from your usual workout routine.
The beauty of a holiday is that you can be flexible with your schedule, allowing you to experiment and find what feels good for your body.
Next, focus on what you’re putting into your body. Holidays often come with indulgent meals, and that’s perfectly okay—balance is key. But alongside the treats, try to incorporate fresh, local produce into your meals.
Explore the local markets, try new fruits and vegetables, and savor the flavors. This not only nourishes your body but also connects you more deeply with the place you’re visiting.
Staying hydrated is another simple but effective way to perform a physical reset. Keep a water bottle with you at all times, especially if you’re spending your days in the sun. Add a slice of lemon or cucumber for a refreshing twist.
Finally, make rest a priority. Sleep in, take naps, and listen to your body. Often, our busy lives at home don’t allow for enough rest, leading to burnout. Use your holiday to catch up on sleep and reestablish healthy sleep patterns.
This will leave you feeling rejuvenated and more energized when you return home.
Disconnect to Reconnect
Your mental health deserves just as much attention as your physical health, especially during a holiday. This is your chance to declutter your mind, let go of stress, and cultivate a sense of peace and calm.
One of the most powerful things you can do for your mental health during a holiday is to disconnect from technology. Turn off your work emails, limit your time on social media, and give yourself permission to be fully present in the moment. I’ve been enjoying writing, getting into some great beach reads and just sitting soaking in the beautiful surroundings in Khao Lak.
This digital detox allows your mind to reset, helping you reconnect with yourself and the people you’re with. You might be surprised at how much lighter and more at peace you feel without the constant influx of information and distractions.
Allow yourself to ‘just be’ for a while, without all the constant demands.
Like Elsa Says, Let It Go
Lastly, use this time to let go of anything that’s been weighing on your mind. Maybe it’s a grudge, a fear, or a negative thought pattern. Reflect on these things, and then, consciously decide to release them.
This might involve writing them down and tearing up the paper, speaking to a trusted friend, or just making a mental note to move forward without them.
This mental decluttering can be incredibly liberating, making space for new, positive thoughts and experiences to take root.
Realising I was holding on to the wrong things and getting quite stuck in bad habits was key for me. I needed to be the author of some positive changes. My holiday reset and asking myself what I really wanted and needed has led to these goals:
Perform A Microbiome Makeover - Our gut health is shockingly important - for our physical health but also for our mental wellbeing (our happy hormones are literally manufactured in our gut). I realised that feeling bloated and unhappy a lot of the time, having a low mood, and making the wrong choices with my diet are probably all interlinked.
So my goal is to do a post-holiday gut reset. I'll be posting more on that later.
Map Out A Social Quarter - In the rush of daily life, and getting absorbed in a demanding job, I've realised that all the special things I want to do with my family and friends gets put off a lot. Time rushes by, and before I know it, months have passed and the plans I've been meaning to put into action haven't happened.
Using time on holiday, I wrote a big list of all the things I'd like to do for fun between now and Christmas, from hosting a cocktail night for friends to taking my daughter to Newstead Abbey for a picnic, throwing the kids a Halloween tea party, fitting in a proper date night with the husband to a festive trip to the seasonal market at Chatsworth House.
Planning these things out and assigning them to the calendar not only makes sure they actually happen, but also gives lots of little pleasure-bombs to look forward to. That creates the balance in life that's really needed to stay happy and avoid bad habits creeping in.
Embrace A New Job and Daily Routine - In choosing a new job closer to home, that will hopefully give my life new balance, I have a chance to create a new daily routine focused on wellness and happiness. I want to go into my new job rested, refreshed and with better habits.
From using AI to organise my calendar and plan my tasks, to making sure I have a new morning routine that gives me energy, and building a new exercise and diet plan, I’ve realised that the key to my overall mood is not so much the grand big events like holidays, but actually the daily environment I’m in and the micro ways I live my life.
Getting these right will be the most important step to staying in balance with style and grace.
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A holiday reset is more than just a temporary break—it’s an opportunity to realign with your true self and make lasting changes that will benefit you long after your suitcase is unpacked.
By taking stock of your life, resetting your physical health, and nurturing your mental well-being, you can return from your holiday not just relaxed, but truly renewed.
So the next time you find yourself on a getaway, remember to take a moment (or several) to reset—your future self will thank you.
Here's to a season of recharging, reinventing and most importantly, delivering it all with finesse.
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