The first day of vacation can be a strange one. You’ve been looking forward to it for weeks, maybe months. You finally arrive, unpack your bags, and sit down with a deep breath… only to realise your mind is still back at work. The emails. The to-do list. The tiny voice asking if you set your out-of-office message. Sound familiar? Getting into holiday mode isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. But there are ways to ease into it, so you don’t spend half your break trying to calm your brain down.
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Decompress
When you first arrive, give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing. Don’t plan an itinerary for day one. Don’t feel guilty about taking a nap. Travel can take more out of you than you expect, and pushing yourself to “make the most of it” right away can backfire. Instead, try this: unpack slowly, take a shower, and sit outside for a while. Feel the air. Notice the sounds. Maybe have a drink, or take a slow walk around your surroundings with no agenda.
Create A Small Ritual
It helps to mark the start of your holiday with something small and personal. Something that signals to your brain: We’re switching gears now.
Maybe it’s watching the sunset on your first evening. Some people like to write a few lines in a travel journal or go for a quiet swim. The ritual doesn’t matter as much as the intention behind it. You’re drawing a line between your usual pace and the slower rhythm you’re choosing for the days ahead.
Leave Your Work Behind
If you’re someone who checks their phone every few minutes, this part might sting a little. But it’s important. The quickest way to ruin a holiday is to bring your work brain with you.
Before you leave, make sure someone can handle things while you’re away. Set that out-of-office message and trust it. Delete your email app if you have to. The first 48 hours are often the hardest because your brain still expects to be “on.” But once you push through, you’ll start to feel that mental space opening up.
Help Your Body Catch Up
Stress doesn’t just live in your thoughts. It sticks around in your body too. So, part of unwinding means helping your body calm down. Stretch. Hydrate. Eat something light. Go barefoot on grass or sand. Get a full night’s sleep.
If you have trouble relaxing, natural helpers can make a difference. Some people find that taking gummies from CBDistillery before bed helps them settle in and sleep better. A rested body makes it easier for your mind to follow.
Do One Thing Slowly
Once you’ve rested, pick one thing you really want to do and do it without rushing. It could be reading a few pages of a book, swimming, or sitting at a café and people-watching. The point is to give yourself the luxury of time. You don’t have to “maximize” your holiday. You don’t have to see everything. Doing less, but being present for it, can feel far richer than trying to cram in every experience.
Sometimes, you won’t feel relaxed until day two or three. That’s normal. The mental fog of work takes time to lift. Each morning, take note of something that feels good, the way the sunlight hits your window, how your coffee tastes, the sound of the waves. Unwinding is a practice, not a single act. The more you allow yourself to slow down, the faster the holiday magic arrives.
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