Holidays offer us time to switch off from the everyday, explore different cultures and delve into a more relaxed routine. We’re all for indulging and enjoying everything holidays have to offer, but you don’t have to do this at the expense of your health and well-being.

As with all things, balance and listening to your body is key. If going crazy at the buffet doesn’t make you feel good – don’t do it. Instead, take this as a chance to reconnect with yourself and do whatever you need to do to feel good in both body and mind.

Below we share our top tips for prioritising your health whilst on holiday.

Go on active excursions

Moving your body is a great way to reduce stress. If you love the gym, by all means, pack your workout clothes and find your hotel’s gym. If not, try seeing what active excursions are available.

This could be an organised hike somewhere or a relaxing stroll through town. If you’re near the beach, see if you fancy trying a water sport. Being in a different environment is a great opportunity to explore and try something new – take advantage of this.

Explore the local cuisine

Our diets thrive when they’re varied. If you’re in a new culture, find out what the local cuisine is like and try some. Depending on where in the world you are, you may need to exercise caution. Listen to your body and think about what it’s craving. We find in hotter weather, we crave lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Be sure to keep hydrated too, wherever you are in the world. Keep water with you and if you do indulge in the odd beach-side cocktail, follow it up with water to keep yourself feeling good.

Reconnect with body and mind

Holidays give us the one thing we all seem to be chasing – time. While you may want to fill it with exploration and activities, do try and keep some time aside to relax. Take yourself on a gentle walk, try some journaling or simply enjoy some thinking time by the pool.

Think about what your body and mind need from this holiday. Is a simple relax enough for you, or are there other things you need right now? Ask yourself this and take time to listen to the answer.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness can often be easier when we’re in a different environment as everything is new and exciting. Use this to your advantage and practise being more mindful, this could include slowing down, eating more mindfully and taking things slow.

Having fun on holidays is so important, but it’s also helpful to see them as a pause in our life, one that we can use to reassess how we’re feeling and what we want more/less of in life.

If you’re not heading away on holiday this year, book a couple of days off work (or use a weekend) as a staycation instead. Treat it like a holiday and give yourself that space and time you would if you were away.