How to Have a Laid-Back Holiday

For many, the purpose of going on holiday is to decompress, mentally. Even if you’re planning a week of high-octane activities and extreme sports, the chances are that you don’t want the experience to be stressful.

Too often, holidays are a source of stress, rather than an antidote to it. This is typically a result of poor planning – so what can we do to avoid this problem?

Book a cruise

Some kinds of holiday come as a complete package. You don’t need to worry about putting the individual elements into any kind of order, because that work has already been done on your behalf. What you lose in customization and flexibility, you’ll gain in time and energy.

A quality cruise is a great case in point. You’ll spend your time out at sea, and be able to wander from one side of the ship to the other in search of activities. When everything is thrown in, you need only book the ticket and turn up for boarding. You’ll find cruises departing regularly from Southampton.

Planning ahead

If you’d prefer to do the planning and booking yourself, then it’s usually a good idea to do the work well in advance of your arrival. Get a list of excursions to hand, and see what can be done on what day. Allow for a little bit of flexibility, especially if you’re traveling to a place where the weather is unreliable.

Traveling with other people? Then you’ll want to involve them in the decision. Agree on a budget, and on the activities you’d like to do. The last thing you want is for people to feel as though they’re being forced to take part in activities they might otherwise have avoided.

Naturally, your preferences should dictate your choice of activity and destination. For some, a week on a sunlounger might be preferable to one spent traipsing through the wilderness. On the other hand, you might find that a walking holiday offers just the right amount of space for reflection and quiet contemplation. Especially if there’s a great restaurant or bar right at the end of your trail!

Unplug

If you’re checking your work emails every morning, then there’s an argument that says you’re not really on holiday. The only exceptions come when you’re enjoying a job as a digital nomad, and holidaying in the afternoon while you work in the morning.

What matters, really, is the extent to which you’re able to unplug. If you’re looking at a screen for any length of time throughout the day, then it’s fair to assume that you won’t get the maximum possible relaxation from your break. Leave your phone in your pocket!