MAKE EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR DOWNTIME COUNT
Research has shown holidaymakers get just nine days of complete enjoyment out of a twoweek break – and it’s not just trips away that we need to get better at, as Emma explains
Whether you’ve just W got back from a holiday or are about to go, you’re probably familiar with how stressful time off can actually be. You can get yourself so worked up before setting off that the holiday can be an anticlimax, plus mobile phones make it almost impossible to leave behind work and other demands. So, how can you get the most out of your downtime?
PLAN ACTIVITIES
First, get excited! Decide what activities you’re going to do, the sights you’re going to see, the food you’ll try. Don’t overfill your schedule, but hone in on the “must-dos”. Set an out-ofoffice on your email and, if you can, leave the work phone at home. A nifty trick is to say your return is a day later than it really is, giving you a full day to catch up when you return. Clear any nasty jobs you’ve been avoiding to make the return easier. Don’t burn yourself out trying to get too much done, and delegate anything you can.
KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED
Lounging in the sun with a book can be impossible for mums, but you need to build in downtime. If there is a kids’ club, use it – without feeling guilty. If there isn’t, it’s very likely your little ones will make friends around the pool, so encourage this and often parents can share responsibility for watching them as they play. Take games you know your children have an attention span for, like Uno or Bananagrams. Give the kids little daily challenges; like finding something yellow, learning a word in another language, or trying a different food. If you’re self catering, treat yourself to a meal or two out, so you have an evening off from cooking.
BE IN THE MOMENT
Practise mindfulness to stop your thoughts from racing and allow yourself to focus on sheer pleasure. Rather than worrying about what you’re going to eat tonight or where you’re going next, concentrate on your five senses – like simply listening to the lapping waves. Finally, don’t view your holiday through the screen on your phone – immerse yourself in the sights and sounds and make happy memories to look back on.
After a long day at work, cooking A a meal from scratch is often
the last thing we want to do. However, with a little bit of inspiration, we can all create family meals that are simple yet delicious. Take this yummy tomato and goat’s cheese tart, which is easy to prepare and only contains five ingredients – all available at your local Asda.
Here’s how to cook up a storm for your family and friends tonight…
TOMATO AND GOAT’S CHEESE TART
ingredients ● 100g Asda mild and tender baby spinach ● 4 Asda Extra Special baby plum tomatoes, very thinly sliced ● 375g Asda ready rolled puff pastry ● 60g Asda goat’s cheese, crumbled ● 1 egg, beaten STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5. STEP 2 Place the spinach in a saucepan over a low heat, cover with a lid and steam until wilted. Pour into a sieve, leave to cool then drain out any excess liquid. STEP 3 Drain any excess liquid off the tomatoes and pat dry with kitchen paper. STEP 4 Roll the pastry on to a baking tray and lightly core a 1cm border around the edge. STEP 5 Layer the spinach and tomato slices on to the pastry and crumble over the goat’s cheese. STEP 6 Glaze the border with the beaten egg and bake on the top shelf of the oven for 30-40mins until golden, risen and the tomatoes are cooked.