BONUS: ESCAPOLOGY STEP OUT OF THE EVERYDAY

WE HAVE 15 BRILLIANT IDEAS FOR STEPPING OUT OF THE EVERYDAY AND HELPING YOURSELF TO MOMENTS OF PURE ENJOYMENT – WHETHER THAT’S A NIGHT AWAY OR A MINUTE OF MINDFULNESS…

THERE’S A SIMPLE TRUTH IN THE SAYING “A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A REST” AND WE OFTEN DON’T REALISE THE REJUVENATING POWER OF DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND ESCAPING FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY.

“CHANGING OUR ROUTINE IN SIMPLE

WAYS IS IMPORTANT AS A CHANCE TO RECHARGE,” SAYS CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR DR JESSAMY HIBBERD (DRJESSAMY.COM). “GOING AWAY GIVES YOU PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM STUFF – WHETHER THAT’S A WORK ISSUE OR LIFE ADMIN – AND YOU GET A FRESH SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE.”

WHAT’S MORE, TAKING TIME OUT STOPS YOU FROM RUNNING ON AUTOPILOT. “IT ALLOWS YOUR MIND TO WANDER. OFTEN, WHEN WE’RE CAUGHT UP IN THE DAY-TO-DAY, WE FEEL WE SHOULD CONSTANTLY BE DOING SOMETHING, WHETHER THAT’S TACKLING THE IRONING OR REPLYING TO A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK. BUT EMPTY TIME IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR CREATIVITY, NEW WAYS OF THINKING, FOR SEEING YOURSELF IN A NEW LIGHT,” SAYS DR HIBBERD.

AND IF YOU’RE NOT JETTING OFF FOR TWO WEEKS ON A SUNLOUNGER? YOU CAN STILL REAP THE BENEFITS OF ESCAPE FROM WITHIN YOUR OWN FOUR WALLS (OR THEREABOUTS) – YOU JUST NEED TO SHAKE UP YOUR ROUTINE. “IF YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY GOING AWAY, THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO BREAK ROUTINE. IF YOU’RE OFF WORK, LOGOUT OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DON’T CHECK YOUR EMAILS CONSTANTLY,” SAYS DR HIBBERD. “VISIT A LOCAL ATTRACTION YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN MEANING TO SEE, GO OUT FOR LUNCH WHEN NORMALLY YOU’D STAY AT HOME.” HERE

ARE SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOU ESCAPE…

1 Road trip romance

MINI BREAKS ARE HUGELY REJUVENATING. COMBINE A LUXURY BREAK AT COLWALL PARK HOTEL IN WORCESTERSHIRE WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY AT THE WHEEL OF A MORGAN SPORTS CAR. AFTER BREAKFAST, REPORT TO THE NEARBY MORGAN FACTORY TO COLLECT YOUR FABULOUS PLUS 4 2.0-LITRE TWO-SEATER SPORTS CAR. YOU WILL THEN HAVE ALL DAY TO EXPLORE THE STUNNING COUNTRYSIDE AND PEACEFUL ROADS OF THE REGION. THE SAD BIT WILL BE GIVING THE CAR BACK BY 4.30PM, BUT THE CONSOLATION WILL BE A GOOD MEAL LATER IN THE HOTEL’S 2 AA ROSETTE RESTAURANT. TWO-NIGHT BREAK FROM £450 FOR TWO PEOPLE, INCLUDING HIRE OF THE MORGAN

FOR THE DAY AND £30 PER PERSON TOWARDS DINNER ON ONE NIGHT,

(01684 876 678, COLWALL.CO.UK). >>

2 TAKE DINNER TO THE PARK… ALONE

Make the most of the lighter evenings by having an evening picnic in the park. Do it solo – just you, your favourite foods and the chance to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a summer’s evening. And you won’t have to do any washing up…

3 Lose yourself in a maze

GATHER A BUNCH OF FRIENDS AND SEE WHO’LL BE FIRST TO REACH THE MIDDLE. LOSE YOURSELVES IN LAUREL HEDGES, COME UP AGAINST DEAD ENDS – IT’S A GREAT WAY TO ESCAPE FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. VISIT THEMAZEPROJECT.CO.UK FOR A UK DIRECTORY OF MAZES.

4 BE BESIDE WATER

THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF WATER, WHETHER OCEAN WAVES LAPPING THE SHORE OR THE CALMING BABBLE OF A RIVER, HAS HUGE HEALING POWER – IN FACT, A STUDY PUBLISHED LAST YEAR IN THE JOURNAL Health & Place FOUND THAT BEING ABLE TO SEE BLUE SPACE (IE, THE SEA) IS ASSOCIATED WITH GREATER HAPPINESS LEVELS. SO DIG OUT YOUR WALKING BOOTS FOR A WATERSIDE WALK. VISIT IFOOTPATH.COM WHERE YOU CAN SEARCH

FOR COASTAL, RIVER AND LAKESIDE WALKS AROUND THE COUNTRY. Also available as an app (£1.99; Android and iOS).