Holidays have always served as an escape from the stress of our jobs and a break from our everyday lives. We go away to see new places, meet new people, sample new foods, embark on new adventures or simply to adopt a semi-permanent horizontal position in sunnier climes in ‘do not disturb’ mode.

At least, we did before 2020 happened.

This is the year that took everything that we thought of as ‘normal’ away from us – including the ability to travel freely – and left us stressed about our health, wealth and loved ones.

Whilst Covid-19 hasn’t disappeared, we are slowly emerging back into the world (equipped with face masks and plenty of hand sanitiser). And, for many, that means starting to – or at least starting to think about – starting to jet off to places we were only able to dream about a month or two ago. Countless research papers show that travel is good for us. The majority of people feel more relaxed within the first two days of holiday, with one report revealing that the benefits of just taking a four-day long weekend can be felt for up to five weeks after the trip. However, as uncertainty continues to remain on the horizon, how do we make sure that we get the greatest sense of escape from our next trip?

Enjoy the planning period

There’s no denying the thrill of bagging a last-minute deal. However, it’s the planning phase where we gain the greatest amount of joy – sometimes more than the post-trip period. The anticipation of a holiday gives us something to truly look forward to, so plan your break early. Read about it, talk about it, and get into the holiday mood as soon as you can.

Invest in experiences

It’s often been said that experiences are more satisfying than material possessions. Researchers at the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology tested this theory, concluding that experiential buying decisions are easier to make and more conducive to wellbeing than treating ourselves to the latest shiny gadgets and gizmos.

Make your next trip a true experience. This will not only increase your joy in the moment, but also give you a story to tell upon your return and create memories that will stand out, making it more likely that you carry the sensation with you.

Practise mindfulness

Instead of striving for being beach body-ready, think about preparing your brain instead. One of the benefits of being away from home is that the novelty makes it easier for us to be in the present moment. But this effect can wear off quickly, sending us back into our worries and our to-do lists. As soon as you can, download a mindfulness app such as Headspace or Calm, or watch this Ted Talk, and learn how to get out of your head and make the most of each moment.

Don’t overfill your days

Plan enough activities into your days to excite and engage, but not so many that you’ll need another holiday to just recover. Overfilling our days can have us rushing from pillar to post, collapsing into bed each night feeling exhausted and stressed.

Disconnect

Turn your phone and other devices off when you’re away. If you can’t do this, temporarily delete your email and social media apps from your phone. Your brain will thank you for this, I promise. And don’t worry about grabbing loads of Instagram-perfect photos either. Research shows that taking lots of pictures can actually get in the way of us naturally remembering what we experience. Before you take your next photo, pause and take in the details of what you are seeing.

Get into nature

The great outdoors is the safest place to be in a post-Covid world. But that isn’t the only reason we should get into nature. Breathing oxygen increases serotonin, one of the feel-good chemicals in our brain, as does touching soil (yes, really). Increased sunlight boosts vitamin-D levels and helps regulate our sleep cycle. And seeing the sky and greenery and bodies of water soothes our nervous system.

So get out there. Do something novel, go somewhere new. Take deep breaths. Look at the trees and the sky. Walk barefoot through a forest or swim in a lake or the sea. And remember to give yourself a break.