(Yes, Even When You’re Supposed to Be Relaxing Already)
Holidays are supposed to be an escape from everyday life; an antidote to the frenetic lives we all live with work commitments, family commitments, and…well, you know how it goes. So it might seem strange to want to take a break on holiday, but the thing is, some of us really do need to take even more time out when we’re on vacation. Here’s why:
Because Holidays Can Be Weirdly Exhausting
If you’ve ever come home from a holiday feeling like you need another holiday just to recover, you’re not alone.
Think about it: you’re in a brand-new environment, sleeping in a different bed, eating foods your stomach might view as suspicious, and walking three times more steps than normal because apparently everything interesting is a 20-minute uphill trek away.
Even joyful things like sunbathing, swimming, hiking, bargaining at markets, and pretending you understand the tourist map well enough to get where you need to be, not to mention all those “let’s just explore!” moments that mysteriously last four hours, use up energy.
So, it’s fair to say that taking a breather isn’t giving up on the fun; it’s making sure your body doesn’t file a complaint halfway through the trip because you won’t be having much fun if you are too overtired to appreciate everything around you, right?
Because Constant Fun Is Actual Hard Work
When you’re traveling, there’s a strange pressure to make every minute count:
- We must see that castle.
- We must eat at the top-rated restaurant.
- We must climb that hill with the view, even though we are deeply unfit.
- We must take 700 pictures of absolutely everything.
There’s no “doing nothing” because doing nothing feels like failure, as if you’ve offended the entire tourism industry, and the locals by not seeing every single landmark and attraction that is possible to see in the week or two that you are spending in their wonderful country, right?
But, you know what? Fun should never feel more like admin. A little downtime, whether that’s flopping on your hotel bed, wandering aimlessly, or spending an hour in a sauna pretending you’re a warm loaf of bread, helps you reconnect with the original point of being away: to relax.
Because Your Brain Needs Processing Time
Travel really is a feast for the senses. New sights, smells, languages, people, and experiences are all trapped into what is, in the scheme of things, a very small time frame, and your brain absolutely loves it…to a point.
After a while, it becomes like your phone when it has 47 apps open: still functioning, but slowly, and only because it hasn’t yet admitted defeat.
So, a mini break, whether it’s a coffee stop, a lazy afternoon by the pool, or sitting quietly on a balcony watching people go by, gives your mind time to absorb the day rather than sprint through it.
Because You Don’t Want to Turn Into That Overtired Monster Version of Yourself
We all have a small and cranky toddler inside us just waiting to break out when we get too tired, right? That’s true no matter how old or how chilled we are, and travel can often be the catalyst that brings it to the forefront, and turns us into one of those holiday grumblers we’ve all met from time to time. The people who are clearly having a meltdown because they haven’t paused since day one.
They snap at partners. They lose all patience with queues. They loudly declare that they “didn’t come all this way to be stressed.” They start fighting with maps.
When you’re tired, hungry, sun burnt, dehydrated, and overstimulated, even paradise feels irritating. Taking intentional breaks helps you stay fun, friendly, and in possession of your sanity.
Because Rest Makes the Good Bits Even Better
Ask anyone who’s ever come back from a midday nap ready to conquer a seaside town: breaks boost enjoyment.
Your energy resets. Your enthusiasm returns. Suddenly the evening plans seem exciting again, not like an endurance test. The sunset looks brighter. The cocktails taste stronger. Your mood lifts from “slightly wilted houseplant” to “thriving fern.”
Pausing doesn’t reduce the magic of a holiday. If anything, it makes the magic last longer.
Because Relaxation Isn’t a Competitive Sport
Some people treat holidays like a military operation. Itineraries. Booking confirmations. Timed entries. Color-coded spreadsheets. The minute-by-minute breakdown of who needs to be where and when.
But relaxing isn’t something you can schedule to the second. You can’t force serenity. You can’t pencil in joy for 14:45 and expect your brain to comply.
There’s a reason the best holiday memories often happen during unplanned, slow, meandering moments. Let yourself drift a bit. Give yourself permission to stop chasing productivity, even if it is leisure productivity.
Because You Deserve to Actually Enjoy the Holiday You Paid For
A holiday costs money, effort, and probably more scrolling through booking websites than you would ever like to admit. So, you deserve to enjoy it in a way that feels good to you, not how Instagram thinks you should.
If a break means sitting on your balcony with a book, do it. If it means having a long lie-in while everyone else rushes to breakfast, treat yourself. If it means spending half a day doing nothing but floating in the hotel pool, excellent choice. Your holiday, your rules.
Because Slowness Helps You Notice More
When you slow down, you actually get to experience more because you can actually take in the things you are doing in greater detail and really savor every experience you have. You’ll notice the unique way the locals greet each other and how the light makes patterns on the water. You will be truly present.
As you can see, taking a break when you’re already on the break that is your holiday, is a really good way of making the most of your trip, and really enjoying yourself, so be sure to do it more often!