Holidays and time off work are essential for our physical and mental wellbeing – a time to rest, relax, reduce our stress levels, reset and recharge our batteries. 

Sounds ideal, right? Unfortunately, many of us find that switching off on our holidays is not as easy as we’d like – especially when we’re used to being busy all the time.

So, for those lucky enough to be heading off on holiday this summer, we’ve pulled together 10 top tips to help you relax and unwind while away.

Plan & Prepare

One of the first challenges is that planning and organising a holiday can actually be quite stressful in itself, so one of the most important things to do is plan ahead and make sure you’re prepared.

As the Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “a man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door”.

A study showed that many of us worry about forgetting travel documents, packing and getting to the airport on time, so being extra-prepared and starting your holiday preparations early can give you a sense of comfort and reduce stress levels before you set off.

It’s also a good idea to have a ‘rough’ plan of what you’d like to do while on holiday, so that you can get the most out of your stay. Although it might be stressful knowing where to start, travel planning is thought to help boost your mood and mindset and will help avoid any stress and uncertainty once you arrive.

Give yourself time to settle in

Arriving in a new place can be a little unsettling so give yourself a bit of time and space to settle in before you dive into your holiday plans. 

Travelling is known to temporarily increase your blood pressure on the first day of travel and it can remain elevated for a couple of days. So, give yourself a break from any kind of schedule and allow yourself to adjust to the different pace. Maybe just spend some time chilling in the sun. This will not only help you relax but can also boost serotonin levels which can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Switch off

Resist the temptation to check in on work emails or phone messages, as this will only add to your stress levels and make it harder for you to unwind. If you can’t switch off completely make a pact to only check once a day, prioritise only the most urgent issues and restrict how long you spend on them.

It’s also a good idea to switch off from social media and have a mini digital detox. Checking in on things back home or scrolling through your socials can fatigue your brain and stop you from living in the ‘present’. Shutting off all your devices will help your mind rest and help recharge your ‘batteries’.

Put your worries on hold

If you’re someone who worries about things then it can be quite hard to put your worries aside while on vacation. If you find your worries constantly popping into your head, gently acknowledge them, write them down, then let them go or put them on hold. Telling yourself you will deal with them when you get home!

Practice mindfulness

Before we start this section – we’re not necessarily suggesting that you start meditating on holiday (unless you want to of course). Many of us struggle with meditation so it’s more about finding ways to become more mindful while on your holiday. This could be as simple as taking your time to really notice and think about all the different sights, smells, sounds and tastes of your new environment. 

Research shows that practicing mindfulness as a tourist, increasing your awareness of your surroundings, grounding yourself to the present moment and having a non-judgmental perception about your destination has a positive effect on your wellbeing and will lead to a greater sense of inner peace.

Spend time in nature

Most people spend the majority of their working hours indoors, so holidays give you a great opportunity to enjoy some much-needed fresh air and sunshine. Research has shown that spending time in nature can help improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety and increase feeling of calmness. It has also been found that tourists staying in a green environment produce lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. If you can, seek out natural beauty spots such beaches, forests, mountain trails, lakes, national parks etc and remember to be mindful while you’re there! These trips might also give you the chance to raise your heart rate slightly – maybe with walking, swimming, paddle boarding, biking, hiking – which further increases your ability to relax during the rest of your stay. If you can’t get out and about to explore a really easy and simple thing to do is start each day with a quiet walk along the beach!!

Enjoy some time alone

If you’ve travelled with family or friends, it doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking hour with them. A study by the University of Reading found that chosen periods of solitude can help boost our happiness and wellbeing by reducing stress and increasing feelings of personal freedom. So, don’t be afraid to take a little time out alone to reflect and recharge!

Read a book

Immersing yourself in a good book while on holiday is great for helping your mind to switch off. Research from Sussex University suggests that the simple act of reading a book can reduce stress levels by up to 68% in just 6 minutes. 

Don’t pressure yourself

Don’t feel obliged to rush around seeing and doing all the things. If you want to lie on the beach all day – do so, and don’t feel guilty about it. View it as an investment in your health and wellbeing!

Treat yourself to therapeutic massage

Many holiday destinations and resorts give you the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate indulgence of a therapeutic massage. A wonderful massage with aromatic oils will help to reduce tension, stress and anxiety and will also restore your physical energy and mental clarity so you can relax even further and really enjoy the rest of your stay.

5 of the best essential oils to support your relaxation

There is a plethora of essential oils that can help you to relax and unwind on your holiday, but you obviously can’t take them all! We’ve listed 5 top choices below that you could pop in your suitcase and that are safe to use in the sun (non-phototoxic). 

1. Chamomile is soothing, calming and ideal for chronic worriers.  It has a balancing effect on the mood and can be used to promote relaxation, ease muscular tension and soothe stress related conditions such as nervous tension and insomnia.
2. Frankincense slows and deepens the breathing which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Its calming effect can be particularly useful for chronic worriers, helping to drive out persistent and unwanted thoughts and encouraging the mind to ‘switch off’.
3. Lavender is one of the most versatile and all-round supportive oils. It’s ideal for soothing the nervous system, aiding relaxation and improving sleep.
4. Neroli is extremely relaxing, calming and uplifting and is therefore beneficial for nervous conditions such as stress, depression, fear and anxiety. Its sedative action can also be beneficial for insomnia.
5. Ylang Ylang calms, uplifts and helps create a sense of peace. It is recommended for anger, irritability, nervous tension, anxiety, depression and aiding sleep.

How to use your essential oils while on holiday 

There are many travel diffusers available on the market now, so you could use the oils in your room, or in an inhaler, or you could mix them into a massage oil or pulse point roller! 

Inhaler: Pop 3 drops of your chosen oils into the inhaler and sniff as required.

Pulse Point Roller: Mix 3-4 drops of your chosen oils with 10ml carrier oil in a rollette bottle and roll onto pulse points as required.

Massage: Mix 6 drops of your chosen oils into 15ml carrier oil and massage into the skin in a direction towards the heart. Use a clockwise direction if massaging the tummy.

Diffuser: Add up to 12 drops of your chosen oils into your travel diffuser and follow the product instructions.

Example blends

For massage: 30ml Grapeseed Oil, 5 drops Lavender, 4 drops Ylang Ylang and 2 drops Neroli.

For night-time diffusion: 3 drops Roman Chamomile, 2 drops Lavender and 1 drop Ylang Ylang. If you don't have a diffuser use an inhaler or simply pop the oils on a tissue and place near your pillow.

Or, for ultimate convenience we have a fantastic range of 100% pure essential oil blends and ready to use massage oils and pulse point rollers, including Relaxing, Uplifting, Mindful, Tranquillity and Sweet Dreams blends that are the perfect travel companions.

Here's hoping you have a super-relaxing holiday.