“A holiday is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” – Earl Wilson

It’s holiday time! It’s supposed to be chilled out, but is it?

Pack up, hit the road early, and try to make the most of every minute of your precious holiday time. It’s often less about relaxing and more about doing. You try to tick off a checklist of activities, get photos of every moment, and battle crowds at every tourist spot. But is this not the opposite of a holiday. Shouldn’t it be about ease, quiet, recovery and relaxation?

Listen, we’ve all done it. We’ve all run ourselves ragged on holiday and come home more exhausted than when we left. Maybe the days were packed with activities, but you still felt like something was missing. Maybe you forgot to slow down, to really rest, and just let go.

Here are six ways to shift gears and create a holiday experience that’s actually restorative.

1. When Your Break Becomes Another To-Do List

It’s easy to fall into the trap of scheduling one more thing, because “it’s a holiday, so why not?” The truth is, even though holidays feel like a break, when they’re packed with non-stop activities, it’s not.

Take a moment and look at your holiday schedule. Is it overly ambitious? Are you cramming too much in? Sometimes the best vacation activity is doing nothing at all. In fact, I tend to ‘plan’ nothing on days in between activity days. The only plan on those days is to not make a plan!

2. Slower Days, Deeper Moments

I’m talking about a slow morning, a leisurely breakfast, and enjoying the simple things. Maybe it’s sitting outside with a cup of coffee, letting the morning sun warm your face, or taking a gentle walk through a park. These moments allow you to actually be present, rather than just whizzing through activities just to make sure you’ve ‘done it’!

In this slower pace, you’ll likely notice more. Whether it’s the taste of a freshly brewed cup, the sound of birdsong, or just the way the world feels quieter.

3. Unplug to Recharge

Here we go again. My favourite gripe. Technology!

The whole point of a holiday is to disconnect from the usual stressors, yes? To forget about work, obligations, emails, texts, and social media. And yet, because of our phones, we’re still somewhere else. You could argue that the more connected you are, the less restful your holiday will be.

Try setting clear boundaries with your tech. Consider having ‘tech-free’ blocks during the day or even taking a full 24-hour break from screens. Allow your mind to recharge by truly disconnecting from the virtual world.

4. Travel Light—Emotionally and Literally

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the sheer stuff you’ve brought with you? It’s not just about physical baggage, either. And then there’s the emotional baggage: stress about work, guilt about taking time off, the pressure to have a ‘perfect’ holiday, and so it goes on.

This holiday, pack light. This isn’t just about clothes. It’s about letting go of the mental clutter too. Allow yourself to travel with fewer expectations and fewer worries.

5. Bring the Retreat Home With You

The best holidays aren’t the ones that are over before you know it. The best holidays are the ones that leave a lasting impact. When you return home, don’t just slip back into the old routine. Instead, try to integrate the things that helped you feel restored while on holiday, whether that’s carving out time for more quiet moments, continuing to slow down, or honouring your need for rest more regularly.

Don’t let the peace you cultivated on your holiday evaporate. Find ways to carry it with you.

By Chris Thomson