Hello from the South of Spain. A quick blog post to say that I am officially Out of Office. We are in Murcia this week for an actual holiday. Yes, I know, I know, my life sounds like one big holiday camp sometimes with all the travelling I do, but this is an actual bonafide holiday, where I plan on doing nothing more than relaxing by the pool/on the beach, eating some amazing fish dishes and making my way through a pile of books that have been on my To Read List for absolutely ages.

I had a conversation recently where I admitted that the biggest sign that I’m getting old is that I can’t cope with more than one trip planned at a time anymore. When I was younger, having several trips lined up was the norm, and in fact I revelled in it. I had spreadsheets with multiple tabs for multiple trips, tracking flight prices, hotels, place to visit, restaurants to eat at, it was almost like a second job. I still love the planning aspect of my trips, I love the thrill of chasing flight prices, tracking them and booking at exactly the right time to get the very best deal; finding the best restaurants and nicest hotels at bargain prices; planning itineraries; but these days I find that I have to deal with them one at a time, otherwise I get overwhelmed. Living between Spain and the UK is incredible, and I’m not complaining at all, but it does mean multiple trip plannings need to be on the go at the same time, which means that if I’m not careful I can become really stressed out with it all. London and Leeds in September, Cordoba and Birchwood in October, Liverpool in November, then the big end of year trip spanning several continents in December, and undoubtedly more trips will be added before the end of the year as time goes on. 

That’s why this week in Murcia is so important. It’s not flashy or fancy, just a trip to the seaside with family, although I appreciate that living in Spain, my version of a “Staycation” makes a holiday in the sun much easier! There are plenty of studies that show that holidays improve both our physical and mental health. In today’s world of constant work stress, family stress and overstimulation, going on holiday allows you to take a step back from all of these responsibilities. You should hopefully sleep better, top up your vitamin D levels, and there are studies that show that holidays can reduce your risk of heart disease. One study by Syracuse University, New York, showed that risk of metabolic syndrome dropped 24% for each holiday participants took! 

So, like I said, this is just a quick blog to remind you of the benefits of taking a break. Hopefully you’ve either managed to get away this summer or have something planned. Because there’s no better feeling than setting that Out of Office email and switching off! 

Sarah Hunak
Director of Engagement
Email: engagement@srp-uk.org
Twitter: chai_khaneh
Instagram: Saragoli