By Georgina Halabi, PCC – Performance and Wellbeing Coach
Holiday isn’t just a location. It’s a state of mind.
Do you ever notice that inspiration, creativity and perspective just seem to flow more naturally during or after a good holiday?
Why is that?
It’s because much of our time is spent in our heads, and when you take a break, you “switch off” your mind and get back into your body.
And while a holiday makes that easier, you don’t actually need one to do it. More on that shortly.
Why your mind is never where you are
Remember, your mind is always in one of three time-zones;
The future – with all of the stories of what may occur, the have-to’s and need-to’s. This is where anxiety is created. And because none of it has happened yet, it’s all fiction.
The past – replaying previous events, each time re-writing your own version of the story. This is the space where regret lives. Each replay becomes less faithful than the original, and so this is also pure fiction.
The present – your mind rarely inhabits this space, but this is the only place where you can deal with the situation in front of you instead of the story about it (which is never a very effective strategy). It is also the space where you can appreciate and enjoy the moment you’re in. Consider this – would you prefer thinking about chocolate, or actually eating it? Or thinking about your life, or actually living it?
Your body on the other hand only exists in the present. You will know this if you’ve ever stubbed your toe, or been silenced by the sight of a breath-taking sunset. You’ll be out of your overthinking mind because you’ll be present in your body.
Why your best ideas come on holiday
On holiday you give yourself the space and time needed to literally come back to your senses.
By tapping into the physical sensations of your body, you automatically switch off the narrative circuitry in your mind, and this allows your prefrontal cortex (PFC) to come online. This is the “Sage” part of your brain that sits behind your forehead, that is all about perspective, creativity, resourcefulness, compassion and awareness. The part that goes beyond survival, and towards self-alignment and long-term success and happiness.
Inhabiting this “Sage brain” is why you tend to have so many brilliant ideas and moments of perspective when on holiday.
How to switch off from work and actually reconnect
If you’re spending your days attached to your phone, firefighting, waiting for and responding to the next e-mail or whatsapp message, getting present and into your body is going to be difficult.
You’ll be in a state of constant fire-fighting. Your adrenals will be shot, and chances are you’ll be in that weird hyper but fuzzy state of wired + tired.
Even the thought of having to respond to work issues has a physiological effect on your stress levels.
Stress impacts so many things, including your sleep, your focus and your mood.
And the beauty of holidays is that it allows you to unhook and give your adrenals a well needed break.
So consider taking time-out, mentally as well as physically not just as an act of kindness, but as an essential requirement for sustainable performance.
You are more important than your car!
You wouldn’t think twice about taking your car in for regular servicing to maintain optimal mileage and efficiency would you?
So how much more important are you than your car? And how far can you go when you’re running on empty?
So go on, treat yourself to a digital detox. It costs nothing and works wonders.
And if you reeeeeaaaalllly need to check your phone, only do so at selected times, and only respond to what is critical. (We often create more “busyness” the more we indulge it. So if you’re worried about needing to maintain “busyness as usual” – remember that’s the opposite of what a holiday is. It’s about relaxation and fun for a change).
Here’s a cheeky out-of-office message – feel free to borrow!
Come back to your senses
When you’re on holiday, take a moment to really enjoy the time with yourself, your family and your friends. Savour each moment really leaning in to your senses.
Sight – appreciate the beauty around you with beginner’s eyes.
Sound – hear the sound of the birds, or listen deeply to what someone is sharing with you.
Smell – notice the salty tang of beach air, freshly cut grass or the hot drink in front of you.
Taste – Take a moment to really enjoy that glass of wine, or luxuriate in the taste of your food.
Touch – notice the warmth of the coffee mug you are holding, enjoy a massage, or a simple hug.
Breath – Notice how your breath is connected to your relaxation and stress levels, and take a couple of deep breaths to relax your posture, body and mind.
When you’re in your body, you can start to notice and appreciate what a beautiful day it is, the love and affection of someone close to you, and the abundance you already have available to you.
And this is where gratitude naturally arises. Like happiness, you can’t have gratitude unless you’re present.
How to feel this way all year, not just on holiday
So how can we use all of this and apply it so that you remain present, happy and effective all the time, not just during the holidays?
Practices like meditation, yoga, nature and running are powerful for exactly this. However, these don’t always work in the moment when you’re being triggered, or when going for a run or getting the yoga mat out may not be a viable option.
A 10-second reset you can do anywhere
I love the Positive Intelligence approach of using short bursts of Mental Fitness “reps” throughout the day using breath and your senses, to strengthen the part of your brain that serves you, and quieten the part that sabotages you.
An effective example of this is focusing on what you can see / hear in the near and the far distance, or rubbing your thumb and index finger together, paying deep attention to feeling the fingerpad ridges on each finger-pad.
This instantly quietens your brain, and allows you to step into the present, with a calm, more focused and objective mind. And the more you practice building your mental fitness “muscles”, the more you get to handle whatever life throws at you positively and constructively, and without the stress.
You get to step into peak performance AND wellbeing – knowing that they are in fact part of the same thing, and not two opposing forces.
You can start today, not next holiday
So, just in case you DIDN’T need a good excuse to take a break or go on holiday, trust me when I say you will be happier, healthier and more effective when you do!
Regular breaks are essential for your performance and wellbeing.
And if you can’t go on holiday or take a break as often as you want, just taking a 10-minute break from your work whenever your brain is starting to flag will do the trick.
And that … you can start today!
P.s. if you are curious to find out more about your Saboteurs, I highly recommend you take the Free Saboteur test. It only takes a few minutes and is fascinating.
And if you’d like to go further than the holidays, this is the heart of my 1:1 coaching – helping leaders access peak performance and wellbeing as a way of working, not a once-a-year reset. You can explore 1:1 coaching here, or simply reach out and book a chat or a free no-obligations Clarity Session here.
Georgina Halabi is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC, ICF) and Performance and Wellbeing Coach with over 25 years of senior commercial leadership experience across the UK and Asia, and a lifetime of meditation and self-discovery. Georgina bridges the world of strategy and soul. She has delivered over 2,000 coaching hours to leaders across the UK, US, Europe and Asia, and has spoken for organisations including ING Bank, Three Mobile and WorkLife Central. She helps high-achieving leaders find clarity, confidence and calm under pressure.
