Why I'm no longer waiting for my next holiday to feel good.

Are We Waiting Too Long to Feel Good?

Why It’s Time to Rethink the Holiday Mindset.

Have holidays become so important because we’re not enjoying our day-to-day lives?

I used to live for my holidays. On January 1st, I’d sit down and plot out the year; marking every bank holiday, planning long weekends, and locking in annual leave. It gave me something to look forward to.

And back then, I needed it. I was a workaholic. I loved my work, but I was also pushing hard to prove myself, especially as a Black woman navigating workplaces shaped by bias and expectations. Perfectionism became part of my armour and it was exhausting. Holidays weren’t just a luxury; they were my lifeline.

But here’s the thing: when the only time you truly switch off is during your two weeks away in the sun, something’s not right.

We spend so much time counting down to our next escape. The travel industry knows this. It thrives on our need to get away, to leave our homes and our routines in search of peace and restoration. But this can lead us to overlook what’s right in front of us. That quiet park around the corner. A walk with a friend. Ten minutes with a cup of tea and no distractions.

Covid, with all its devastation, reminded us that we don’t have to go far to find beauty. It gave many of us the chance to explore our local surroundings again. It reminded us to slow down and tune into the everyday.

Yet, a survey by AIG Travel found that 78% of British people still use holidays as a way to switch off from everyday stress. ABTA’s 2023 Holiday Habits report showed that 64% of UK adults say holidays improve their mental health.

But here’s the question: what happens between those holidays? What happens in the fifty weeks of the year that aren’t spent on a beach?

Last year, after not travelling for quite a while, I finally took a trip to Italy to see my sister. Now, if I was longing for rest and relaxation, I would have been highly disappointed. But thankfully, spending time with her was the main reason for going, oh, and eating lots of ice cream and gorgeous pizza. It was a good reminder of why my current lifestyle works for me. Building a self-care routine and having daily rituals means I actually feel more rested in my day-to-day life. I’m not waiting for a holiday to exhale anymore.

We need to stop waiting for permission to rest. If the only time we feel joy or peace is when we’re on a plane or in a hotel, then we’re putting our happiness on hold.

So, after your next break, ask yourself:  

• What was I really seeking on this trip?  

• Did I find it?  

• Am I coming back rested, or just relieved?  

• Does my return home fill me with dread, or do I feel recharged and ready to make a few changes to my everyday life?  

• What can I do to feel this way more often—in my everyday life?

Carving out time for yourself doesn’t have to mean booking flights. It can mean saying no to one more thing, going for a walk without your phone, or creating a ritual that brings you back to yourself, even for five minutes.

We weren’t meant to run on empty all year just to feel alive for two weeks.

You deserve more than that and it starts with making space now, not later.

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