Rest to be Your Best: Tactics for Maximising Holidays

Read: 9min  |  Listen: 46min  |  Watch: 27min

Want to perform at your best? Then we need to learn how to rest.

Over the years, I've found that working hard comes naturally to me, however I've also discovered that I'm definitely not a natural when it comes to knowing how to rest. 

So, I did some self-analysis and looked at the methods I've developed in the effort to rest, better. I'd love to share them with you. 

In this blog, podcast and video edition, you'll find a comprehensive collection of mental tactics that I know will help you to maximise the rest you receive, during your holiday time.

Discover even more detail by listening to the podcast series (2 parts), or by watching the video.

Before holidays:

1. Create buffer time: Allocate 1-2 days to change mental gears before travelling away. This allows time for your brain to shift from work to rest mode. If we don’t create a buffer, we’re at risk of feeling like we’re still at work.

2. Wrap up without overloading: Resist taking on extra work in an effort to wrap things up before holidays. It may feel like the diligent thing to do, but it actually creates an even bigger mental chasm between work and the rest; requiring extra time to shift gear..

3. Embrace anxiety: Trouble getting to sleep before heading away? Just roll with it. Instead of getting angry with yourself, thank yourself, and write a to-do list as prompted.

4. Accept unfinished business: Learn to be at peace with the fact that there will be things that you can’t complete before you go. It’s an incredibly useful skill to learn, and apply to other areas of life.

5. Create a ‘return to work’ list: This might include items that couldn’t be resolved before you depart. Your work colleagues may even like to help you with this.

6. Simplify your workspace: Ahead of time, prevent the feeling of overwhelm creeping in when returning to work, by creating an extra neat work space. Leave no more than 3 piles of to-do items.

7. Manage notifications: Your digital devices should serve you, not enslave you. Turn off notifications for all phone/tablet/laptop apps that you feel comfortable with doing so.

8. Set enjoyment goals: Set fun, tangible holiday goals to ensure you create lasting memories. Eg: go to the beach everyday, read a book, take the family to an extra fancy restaurant once, try a new a location etc. Best of all, you’ll avoid the regret of forgetting to do something you’d hoped to.

9. Determine the holiday type: Be clear on the type of your holiday you want. Choose one, or blend a few types: Rest, Discovery, Relational etc.

10. Maximise transit time: Ahead of time create music playlists, download new podcasts to help pass the time enjoyably, and meaningfully. Eg: Our parent used to bring cassette tapes of Zig Ziglar on our trips to Brisbane in the 80’s and 90’s!

During holidays

1. Create boredom moments: Yep! Boredom. This fosters an environment for your mind to wonder, this can lead to innovative ideas, simple solutions to complex problems, literally change the course of your life. Some of my best ideas have come from these times. (Tip: don’t mistake boredom with meditation. You do want to think, and let you mind run away on tangents).

2. Create patterns: Short term routines help free up your mental bandwidth, allowing room for the more fun things. Eg: where possible I place keys, wallet, sunglasses, in a similar place in every hotel. If you’re worried about security, change things up.

3. Batch work contact: In the event that you do need to respond to work requests, create a list and  then deal with it in a single batch. Switch your focus 100% to work, then 100% back to your holiday, rather than having a foot in each camp.

4. Social boundaries: From the outset, decide whether you’re going to be spending time with friends/family who might live in the area where you’ll be holidaying. Balance catch up time with the locals, with time in the company of your holiday crew.

5. Capture mental triggers: In addition to the regular swag of photos/videos, capture extra photo/videos for use as mental triggers for later. These will serve as reminders to relax while back in the routine of work. Eg: An image could used as a computer desktop wallpapers or printed on a canvas, and videos can be used to remind yourself to relax.

6. Define your active time: Clarify with your holiday companions about how time might be spent. Eg: Parents might explain to their kids that they’ll initially need time to wind down at the hotel, before venturing out into the bustle of shopping centres and the beach. Friends might agree to do their own thing during the daytime, then come together at night. This is a casual way of clarifying expectations.

7. Understand how people recharge: Some of us get rejuvenated by being in crowds, others by being alone. Ensure everyone in your travel party knows each other’s recharge method.

8. Rest outside: Most of us associate ‘rest’ with spending inside, probably in bed or on the lounge. Instead of trapping yourself in your hotel room, try resting outside under a tree at a park or near the beach. You’ll be surprised at the difference the sun’s rays can affect your mood.

9. Eat mindfully: If you love rich, exotic food but you know it doesn’t sit well with you, plan to avoid or eat very little of it. You’ll feel physically and mentally more energetic, giving you more time to enjoy your break.

“Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit” - Unknown. (Something our Auntie Helen used to say!)

After holidays

1. Utilise mental triggers: Setup computer wallpapers, print photos, etc., to prompt you to relax during your regular work week. Eg: I printed a custom mobile phone cover of my Antarctic day trip.

2. Create a false start: Keep your “out of office” email autoresponder on for one more day. Allow yourself a day (or half day) to ‘get on top’ of everything, before showing others that you’re available.

3. Review your calendar: Do you really need to return to back-to-back meetings (ever)? Create breathing space by being practical about booking in meetings with time think in between.

4. Stay on topic: Read your emails according to ‘conversation threads’ rather than ‘order of appearance’. This helps you to zone in on a subject, rather than jumping around in and out of unrelated email discussions.

5. Act on your ‘return to work’ list: Review and prioritise items on the list you developed before you departed. Cross off any ‘panic items’ that you added, and figure out why you wrote it down!

6. Restart notifications: While doing this, you may even like to keep some off! If you can’t digest all the incoming notifications adequately, then chances are you need to trim down your digital diet.

7. Positive associations: Plan to do enjoyable things during your first week back, and train yourself to love being back at work. Eg: While I’m away, I plan to spend time with friends over a coffee or lunch during my first week back.

8. Catch and release: Resist the temptation to do double time in order catch up on work. Doing this will re-introduce the stresses you had before you left. Acknowledge and release work that really shouldn’t have been on your plate in the first place.

9. Maintain the physical pace: If your holiday involved a lot of walking around new cities or hiking, plan to keep that up or taper down slowly. This will prevent you falling into a ‘down’ mood, as a result of your body missing chemicals (endorphins) it relished during your extra exercise.

Can we keep our holiday brain?

I'd love to hear your tips for staying relaxed, long after returning to work. Who knows, your comments may just help another reader!

Antarctica and Beyond!

Listen: 22min

It's not everyday you get to fly to Antarctica. 

Join me for this very unique podcast interview with the man who founded the world's only tourist 747 flights to Antarctica.

Travel Entrepreneur Phil Asker, founder and director of Antarctica Flights, shares the story of how Antarctica has now been made available to everyone, not just the scientists or the elite.

Image: Antarctica Flights

Do Talk to Strangers: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere.

Kerrie Phipps, the connection master.

In previous episodes we've talked about how kick starting an idea is an exciting process. Then the next one focused on how to keep it going when it becomes hard. That’s why this third episode is important; it’s about discovering how connecting with people can unlock incredible value that goes otherwise untapped.

Kerrie Phipps is a connection-master and has a book out called Do Talk to Strangers, and has been on the speaking circuit overseas and throughout Australia. Kerrie’s message focuses on what it means to connect with others authentically.

Episode Highlights

The 'Asking' model:

A - Awareness: Of yourself, and of others. Are you nervous? Let go, and focus on serving others in the conversation.
S - Start Small: Smile and step out of your comfort zone. Perhaps start by discussing simple yet positive things.
K - Keep Going: Ask questions like "What did you enjoy most about...?" Open ended questions will create momentum.
I - Interest in Others: Make the choice to tune in, and really listen to the other person. Pick up on key words.
N - Natural Confidence: Be secure in who you are. Being open to feedback will help you become the 'best version' of yourself.
G - Gratitude: Look for ways to acknowledge others. Actively show others that you value them, and their ideas.

FREE eBook Download

If we’re honest connecting, can be really difficult. The good new is, it doesn’t have to be. Kerrie has been kind enough to provide my blog readers and podcast listeners with 2 valuable resources that provide us with tools to arm ourselves with. 

We're giving you a FREE 41-page eBook with Kerrie's ‘ASKING Model’ that we featured in our podcast conversation, containing the 6 Steps to connect with anyone, anywhere.

Oh, and as a bonus, you’ll also receive access to Kerrie’s up-close and personal interview with Janet Beckers about the journey of writing her latest book.

Ready to be equipped and challenged? Click here to download (you’ll need to enter your email address).

7-Day Challenge

1. What will you do in the next 7 days to push through your social comfort zone?
2. Will a family member and friend try it with you?
3. At your next party or event, set a goal to talk to at least 2 new people.
4. Can you introduce a work colleague to someone you know, but they don't?
5. Develop your set of 'quality questions' you can use when you connect. Try 3 or 4.
6. Create a short list of topics that you are knowledgeable on.
7. Reflect on what you've learned from talking to strangers, that you would have otherwise never learnt!

In all you do, #LiveToAccomplish, N.