As the UK’s Covid19 lockdown continues and the government warns Britons
against making holiday plans just yet, many people may find their state of
mind slipping downwards without their annual summer trip to look forward to. Or maybe you could now travel but don’t feel confident enough to do so.
So in response, I’m going to help people to travel to their favourite destination
– from the comfort of their own armchair!
Amid the despair and grief of this pandemic, it might seem silly to focus on
holidays, but they undoubtedly play a huge part in our mental health and
wellbeing. From the excitement of choosing a destination and
accommodation, researching everything from sights to restaurants, to the
actual week or fortnight itself followed by the recollection of treasured
memories, holidays really do matter.
It’s about ‘life experiences’, relaxation, and most importantly, escapism from
everyday life. The coping process of escapism is common to many people in
difficult times, and by wanting to still book a holiday, we are actively engaging
in escapism behaviour. Escape is key in our mental self-care, and it can be
good to seek a happy escape when things seem impossible – that feeling of ‘I
just need to get away’.
And of course, many forms of our regular escapisms, such as going out to the
gym, bars and restaurants, have been taken away from us in a way that we once knew, increasing our desire to plan ahead for getaways.
I’ve now created five free downloads to enable people to spirit their minds
away to an amazing holiday destination and in doing so, take back a little of
the relaxation and release they would have enjoyed had they actually been
away.
At a time when we can’t guarantee a lengthier reprieve, something as simple
as taking a ‘virtual holiday’ can offer a brief moment of escapism. This allows
you an outlet for the stress we are facing, and the energy to re-engage with
life in lockdown.
