How can you make everyday life more like a holiday?

Sunset in Zadar, Croatia

What is it about holidays that isn’t present in our everyday life?

This is a question I asked myself while relaxing by the pool in Croatia recently. Many of us look forward to the opportunity to get away on a holiday. We even talk of ‘needing’ a holiday, but what is it that makes holidays different from our everyday? Why do we long for them? And how can we bring more of the holiday vibe into our every day life to make the periods in between more pleasant.

For many of us holidays are a time to relax, explore and experience new things. It's a time to break free from the daily routine, from work and stress, and indulge in activities that bring us joy. An opportunity to enjoy the qualities of other parts of the world (hello sunshine and new cuisine!)

But what happens when the holiday is over, and we return to our everyday life? How do we hold on to some of that holiday feeling and avoid slipping back into the same old routine?

Here are some ideas of ways that we can incorporate some of the things we love about holidays into our everyday life.

1.First, let's talk about relaxation. On holiday, we often take the time to rest and rejuvenate. We can bring this into our everyday life by taking small breaks throughout the day. Whether it's a 10-minute walk outside, or simply closing our eyes and taking a few deep breaths, taking a moment to relax can do wonders for our mental and physical health.

2. Secondly, holidays are a time for adventure and exploration. We can bring this spirit into our everyday life by trying new things. This could be as simple as trying a new restaurant or recipe, taking a different route to work, or trying a new activity for the first time. Trying new things can help us stay curious and keep our minds active and engaged.

3. Lastly, holidays are often a time for quality time with loved ones. We can bring this into our everyday life by setting aside time for the people who matter most to us. Whether it's a weekly dinner with family or a phone call to a friend, taking the time to connect with others can bring us joy and strengthen our relationships - don’t forget to put down those phones and make eye contact!

Bringing what we love about our vacations into our everyday life is possible with a little effort and intention. In order for this to really be effective it needs to be personal, so it helps to clearly identify what it is specifically that you personally get from being on holiday, and then you can consider how you might be able to bring more elements of that into your every day life.

Let me share a few of my personal examples:

I love to be warm, and I feel like the sunshine adds a happy, hopeful glow to the world, so being somewhere warm and sunny is always a big bonus - the UK is not exactly dependable on that front!

I try to make sure I get outside on sunny days in the UK - either by working from the garden or taking a walk. My desk is next to the window to make the most of natural light & I have a SAD lamp to give me more light during the winter months - this makes a real difference to my mood and alertness.

I love having new experiences, exploring a new area, trying different food and learning something new.

I look for new areas to visit and explore, go to different locations to work, and cook new recipes at home. I try to be curious about new things - especially in conversation when someone mentions something that might seem a little boring - I try to understand what the other person finds interesting about it.

No work, or commitments in the diary means I don’t need to keep checking my phone or be accessible, so I can switch off and not think about anything else - I find this really freeing and calming.

This one is a bit more tricky, but I try to schedule in some phone free time so at least for that period I don’t need to be checking on things. I’ll often turn off my phone for an hour or two or go for a walk without it - this is easier if you don’t have children / people depending on you but even if you can just manage 15 mins without your phone it can feel very freeing.

Settling in to devour a good book, without the need to keep an eye on the clock is a wonderfully relaxing and indulgent experience for me.

I could put aside an evening / weekend morning for a reading session - I can set an alarm if I need to - that way I have some control over the time spent but don’t need to keep clock watching.

Being able to spending a good amount of quality time with my husband, sharing new experiences without having to attend to our independent schedules helps me to feel happy, connected, loved and secure.

We don’t have the opportunity to spend much time together due to our schedules, but when we are together we put down our phones and connect. We can share new experiences in our local area or at home by making a bit of effort instead of just going with routine.

Having money put aside to spend on dinners out and having fun, means I don’t think too much about what I’m spending as I’ve already created a budget for enjoying myself.

Put aside a budget each month for fun, so I can do something joyful without needing to overthink it.

By taking time consider the benefits we get from our holidays we can infuse our daily routine with some of the same qualities that we experience on holiday. While I’m not suggesting that this will stop you wanting to have a holiday, it might make the moments in between holidays a bit more fun and enjoyable, so you leave for your next holiday feeling energised and excited rather than exhausted and desperately in need of a break!

So how can you make your everyday life a bit more like your holidays?