Is it All in the Question?

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

You can have a holiday at home, a holiday abroad, or a Christmas, Easter, and New Year holiday.

Some countries have additional holiday days depending on beliefs and national celebrations.

How you word questions can lead to fascinating outcomes when people see things differently. It makes you think.

There is always something interesting when you put writers into the picture. How will they approach this? How did they immediately see the word holiday in their mind?

Oddly, or not…

The first thing I thought of was a holiday of the mind. Giving it a break from deep thinking, concentrating only on work.

Trying to work out how to do a full time job, look after children full time, and do everything to keep the house looking clean and nice, which can also be a full time job?

Temporary break

To have a holiday at home or abroad is wonderful, but for many of us that’s a maximum of 2 weeks away a year.

These are rather wonderful experiences that tend to end either on the journey home, as you walk into the house, or 40 seconds after you reach the office and see your in-tray.

Back come all the stresses and tensions: look at the dust that’s collected; the windows need washing; mum I need football gear tomorrow and it’s not washed; where the hell have you been I haven’t been able to find the (name of big customer) file, and I have a meeting in an hour!

You know the story. To come down with a crash after a wonderful fortnight is hard. Especially when you realise you’re allowed a maximum of 4-5 weeks a year to do what you want, in most developed countries at least.

In countries living a more natural life on the land, that are often less well off, the work may never end as it will be about farming, sewing, tending, reaping, worrying about the weather, and you may never get away.

Give the mind a break

What can be helpful is to make a habit of giving your mind a break everyday. For some people that will be an hour or so meditation, for others a quick five minutes with their eyes shut.

Someone in a beautiful area may only need a few moments every so often to just look at that view and take a few breaths.

Others will benefit from building in some fun and entertainment, but not just in front of the TV. A beloved sport, meeting friends for a drink or meal, taking in a show or film. A lovely long walk with family, friends, or the dog, or all three.

Individuality -v- the rules

It’s important that we all live our lives in harmony with our inner world. It can become confusing when your mother walks in and comments on the state of the house, because you went to a theme park with the kids yesterday rather than vacuuming.

It is upsetting when people query the things you do that make you feel better, as if you should be working all the hours, chasing a higher and higher wage, decorating your house so gorgeously half your friends are a bit scared to sit down and wrinkle the sofa.

It’s great if you want to do all those things, there is nothing wrong with it, as long as it’s what you want to do and you enjoy it.

Yes there are people who enjoy housework and decorating, or so I understand.

So following the rules is something that can add great stress to your life. You work 5 days, spend two cleaning and food shopping, and start that pattern again on the next working day. If you get two days off a week, many don’t.

Overthinking and overworking

Both can be detrimental to your wellbeing. Never giving your mind a rest is another form of overworking.

For those who can’t afford a holiday, or even a trip to the cinema, what are they to do to relax?

That’s where taking some time to rest the mind is key. It stops you becoming mentally exhausted, which will lead to sluggishness, brain fog, and lack of energy to do more than open your eyes in the morning. They’ll close themselves automatically the moment you sit down.

When you’re stressed keep it simple. Don’t add complex, time consuming relaxation techniques on top of an already overwhelming life.

You will be surprised what big differences small changes can lead to.

Small suggestions

• Take that couple of minutes to stop and admire a view.
• At night take a short time at the window looking at the moon and stars.
• Let your mind wander and daydream, don’t make it think all the time.
• Take a few minutes each hour to stand up and stretch. That releases tension from the body that was created by the mind.
• Watch television programmes that are funny, interesting, and life affirming. It may not be right for you to be immersed in more continuing dramas than the real life one you’re already struggling with.
• Ditto goes for violence. Your mind needs a rest from negativity.
• As for ‘reality’ shows showcasing gorgeous people, they’re definitely bad for self-esteem, and have recently led to a lot of expressionless, plastic-looking faces, that might cause problems later on. They certainly did for a UK reality star who was stunning beautiful before fillers.
• Music, if you love it taking time to listen to it will lift your mood enormously.
• Same with creativity, if you’re a writer write, a painter paint, a musician then start composing. It doesn’t matter if no one ever sees your work. If you love it it’s excellent mind distraction.

These and so many simple things can make a huge different to you mentally and physically, giving you a greater capacity to cope, sleep, eat well, and get things done.

Personally I think the part of you that really needs a holiday the most in this complex day and age, is the mind. A fortnight is very nice, but you have to arrive at the departure date sane, not sleep through the entire holiday, and then have a mood crash at the office door two weeks later.

A little bit of mind TLC will work wonders, and often doesn’t cost a lot.

Love your mind it runs your life

Best love

Deb xx

*For non-English speakers TLC is tender loving care.