From the Editor
For a travel editor, I don’t get out much. As I always say, “I’m too busy sending everyone else around the world.” But last year, I set out to change that. I decided to say yes more often.
And so it was that I went to Egypt and Uluru, Thailand and Palm Cove, Singapore and Kangaroo Valley. I hit most of the Australian cities (Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Hobart) and two islands (Orpheus and Hamilton). I was away every month of the year – a fair chunk of it was for business but I always made time to do something new.
I stayed “on” for all but three of those trips. Thailand and Uluru were family holidays so I switched my email off and completely disconnected. On beautiful, unspoilt Orpheus, I took a couple of days of thinking time.
In Egypt, I juggled the demands of the office with seeing some of the greatest wonders in the world. I did this by setting aside a few hours each day and concentrating on work in one hit, rather than responding to emails piecemeal. That meant I was present and not distracted. I wanted to soak up as much as I could in a country I had long dreamed of seeing. What will I replicate in 2020?
A midyear holiday, certainly. I have always tended to take four weeks off at Christmas but breaking up the year is such a good mental (and physical) reset.
Disconnecting as often as possible. We all know it – we’re on all the time and glued to our devices; distracted like meerkats at the ping of a notification. Having the right systems in place so you can switch off is so important. And having time out is crucial for staying refreshed, living in the moment and enhancing relationships.
I also want to continue to find the time to do something new in places I think I know, even when I’m only there for 48 hours.
What will you do in 2020? And where will you go? I hope you have many amazing adventures in this new decade. That’s my plan, anyway. Kirsten Galliott Editor-in-Chief kirstengalliott
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