The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Booking a holiday this time of year is good for beating stress...
THIS is a time of year when it’s hard to beat stress levels and stay mentally and physically healthy. We all prefer the carrot rather than the stick approach to life, which is why booking a holiday now is a good idea. Having a holiday on the horizon helps your focus and improves your self-drive in life. The first few weeks after Christmas - and before the Easter break - can seem a bit forlorn in terms of finding motivation. Booking or taking a holiday now will give you something to aim for.
Taking a break has been proven to make you mentally sharper, while many people like to exercise and get healthy in advance of a holiday. These are all important positives to note. Planning or taking a break makes you feel more energetic, and travelling is a way of distracting the mind from the pressures of work and family life.
These days we hear a lot about burn out and the ways to avoid it. The first step starts with accepting that a holiday is good for you; the next step is to enjoy it. The destination is entirely up to you. Taking a holiday at this time of year will also help shorten the year. January, February and March can be testing months with chilly weather and a lack of natural sunlight. If you want to get over the hump of early 2019 then sit down and choose a break away from it all. Holidays are a great distraction and can reduce stress, blood pressure and even improve sleep patterns. So remember: nothing feels worse than burn out, and nothing feels better than taking a break. Choose the latter.