Always On? Here’s How to Switch off on Holiday

First, it was the laptop we brought home “just in case”. Then it was the smartphone on the bedside table. Now it is the smartwatch on our wrist, vibrating through dinner, school runs, holidays and sleep.

We call it convenience, but for many people, it has become a constant state of high alert. Work emails arrive after hours. WhatsApp messages wait for instant replies. We are always ‘on call’.

“And that is exactly why taking a proper holiday has become less of a luxury and more of a necessity,” says Onwaba Gonyora, Director at Brahman Hills. “If we want to switch on stronger when we get back to work and everyday life, we have to learn how to switch off properly while we’re away.”

Research supports the need for a proper break. A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that even one short holiday had positive effects on perceived stress, recovery, strain and wellbeing, with some benefits still evident 30 to 45 days after the break¹.

Gonyora says that taking a break should be viewed as essential maintenance, not an indulgence. “Most of us would never ignore a warning light on the dashboard of our car and simply keep driving as if nothing was wrong,” she says. “Yet when our own bodies start sending signals; poor sleep, low energy, irritability, brain fog or constant exhaustion, we just keep going. A proper holiday gives you the chance to stop, breathe and recover, so that when you return, you are not just back online, you are back better.”

She shares six practical ways to truly switch off, rest and restore on holiday:

1. Do a proper handover before you leave

Winding down starts before you even set your out-of-office. Ensure your team or colleagues and your boss are well informed: they know what’s urgent, what can wait and who is accountable for what. A clear handover gives everyone confidence that your responsibilities will be taken care of in your absence and allows you to step away and truly relax.

2. Put your phone on flight mode

You don’t need to be unreachable all the time, but you do need time that belongs only to you. Start with a few hours each day when your phone is not calling the shots.

3. Leave that laptop at home

If it comes with you, it will tempt you. It’s easy to tie your sense of worth to your response time – don’t! Holidays are not for “just a quick check”; that’s why you did a proper handover. Time away is for relaxing and restoring, being present, not productive.

4. Make your smartwatch less smart

Switch off the notifications and disconnect your smartwatch from Wi-Fi. Let it count your steps if you want, but do not let it pull you back into the noise.

5. Take long, slow walks

Nature has a powerful way of settling the nervous system. Gardens, mountains, open skies and quiet paths invite the body to slow down. At Brahman Hills, guests can walk through 26 distinct garden rooms across 5.5 hectares, breathe in the fresh Midlands air and reconnect with the simple rhythm of one foot in front of the other.

6. Spoil yourself without guilt

Book the spa treatment. Sleep in. Eat well, enjoy the dessert and linger a little longer over breakfast. Let yourself move slowly for a change. Let the conversation flow. Let the view hold your attention. Let your body remember what it feels like not to rush.

“Restoration is not another task to perfect. It is not about getting your holiday ‘right’ or filling every hour with something impressive,” says Gonyora. “We live in a world that celebrates always being ‘on’, but people are not machines. We need stillness. We need beauty. We need moments where we are not performing, producing or responding.”

“At Brahman Hills, we have created a sanctuary of serenity, wellness and excellence, where stillness is intentional, and every detail is designed to restore. Here, guests can breathe, relax and leave feeling more like themselves than when they arrived,” she concludes.

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Author: SayWatt SayWatt from SayWatt on behalf of SayWatt.