Give your brain a proper break during holiday

1. Leave work behind

When you are off work, be off work. Avoid opening or replying to work emails. Write down ideas or worries about work in a notebook instead of keeping them in your head.

Emails can almost ALWAYS wait. If something is truly urgent, you can be sure someone will call. Make a list of the tasks waiting for you after your holiday, so you know everything is under control.

“Give yourself permission to mentally let go of work. Find a place to put your work phone and computer away. Switch them both off,” says Danny Bukh Almstrup, Career Adviser at Pharmadanmark.

2. Make fewer plans

Be careful not to fill your holiday with activities, projects and things you need to get done. You might be tempted to make a to-do list of everything you never have time for in your busy everyday life.

Instead, spend time being present with the people you care about. For example, try keeping an entire day completely free and simply do whatever you feel like from morning to evening.

3. Digital detox: Switch off your screens

More and more of our free time is spent online, whether on our phones, tablets and computers or in front of the TV. But having your phone constantly within reach can be a hidden source of stress. And if you find it difficult to put your phone down, that is hardly surprising. It is designed to capture your attention and reward your brain.

Even when we are not using our phones, the possibility of a call or notification can keep our brains on alert. That is why it is a good idea to switch off your screens completely from time to time, preferably for an entire day.

Spend time outdoors, play a board game or do something creative or practical with your hands instead. It can do wonders for your nervous system and your sense of wellbeing.

4. Unwind in nature

The sensory experiences we get from nature can have a calming effect on the brain and benefit both our cognitive function and mental wellbeing. Spending time in nature is therefore a great way to help your brain relax.

“Take a walk in the woods, enjoy the silence and remember to look up instead of down at your screen. You could also try ‘silent walking’, where you walk in silence for 10–20 minutes and simply observe your surroundings. It is a great opportunity for calm and reflection,” says Danny Bukh Almstrup.

5. Plan a gentle return to work

Before you return to work, it is a good idea to make a plan for easing yourself back in. This can help you hold on to some of that holiday feeling.

• Start in the middle of the week, for example on a Wednesday, or take the first Friday after your holiday off so your first week does not feel too long.

• Try to avoid scheduling important or demanding meetings and tasks during your first week back.

• Set aside time in your calendar to go through your inbox and get an overview of your emails and tasks.

Have a wonderful holiday, and remember to give both your body and brain permission to fully switch off!