For many of us, travelling to a new country can seem like added stress, especially after months or years of being stressed with a specific routine at home or work. However, your holiday can actually help with your mental health! Only if you do it right! Here are 3 simple ways to use your holiday to improve your mental health while leaving the stress behind.
Exposure to New things
One of the main reasons we all feel stuck and bogged down at work has a lot to do with constantly being exposed to the same situation, the same people, the same route to and from home, the same desk, etc. This eventually causes a negative impact on your mental health, stunting its growth and development. On your holiday, you feel refreshed and renewed – mainly because your brain is being challenged and is learning to adapt and deal with different situations, people, climates, routines, etc. If you live in a cold climate, book a holiday to a tropical island like Sri Lanka or Maldives or the Bahamas, for example. Not only will the change of weather and clothing affect your mental health, but it’ll also expose you to a different lifestyle that will feel refreshing! You’ll be more willing to even learn new things like the culture or language of this country, simply because you’re not tied down by the everyday routine.
Balanced Diets
Our eventual health depends on what we put inside our bodies. Physical and mental health can be heavily influenced by your diet. For example, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day will eventually leave you short of breath, thus making you tired for work, leading you to smoke more cigarettes to get rid of that stress. However, if you started your day and had well-balanced meals, your body will have the energy and fuel it needs to keep you energized during the day. A holiday is probably a good place to start introducing yourself to a balanced diet. For instance, some hotels in Sri Lanka like Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions offer balanced diets focusing on the ancient medical practice of Ayurveda, coupled with massages and lifestyle changes, your holiday can be designed to truly de-stress you even after you get back to your routine back home.
Peace and Solitude
The feeling of being away from routine and stress will be the first step to ensuring your mental health is in top condition during your holiday. Escape somewhere and tell only a few close people. Turn your devices off and staring at screens, if possible. Pack a few books or listen to some good music to completely destress. If you’re travelling to an island in South Asia, like Sri Lanka, you won’t even need music, as the continuous, harmonious chant of birds will be the perfect sound to soothe your mind, body and soul.