You spend months looking forward to your holiday, but when you’ve put your bags down and opened the veranda doors of your villa to let in the salty sea air, it can take a while to clear your mind and relax.
In the wise words of Pooh, A.A. Milne’s endearing Bear of Little Brain:

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favourite day,” said Pooh.

As Pooh shows us, one of the best ways of emptying your mind is by focusing on the present moment. Studies show that practicing present moment awareness can help you relax, pay attention and feel happier.

Jon Kabat-Zinn (the ‘father’ of secular mindfulness) says, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.”

5 Top Tips for creating a mindful holiday:

1. Come to your senses. Take the time to taste that first sip of tea, to feel the crisp bedsheets, to breathe in the sea air and watch the sea gulls soaring in the sky, and listen to the waves breaking on the shore.
2. Use your breath to slow down and focus. Long, deep breaths in and out will help reduce stress and draw you back into your body.
3. Create unstructured time. Let go of your long list of holiday activities and any residual FOMO. Enjoy where you are right now.
4. Be creative. Write in your journal, work on that painting, try out a new craft.
5. Disconnect to reconnect. Put your phone on silent. Hold your partner’s hand while you watch the kids build sandcastles. Haul out those board games that remind you of your childhood.

Breathing in deeply and soaking in your surroundings will fill you with a deep sense of wellbeing.

And that is what holidays are all about.