Small timeouts can really make a change - It does not always have to be the big holiday

Many of us are still on Easter breaks or have just come back. My family as well had a fantastic time in Spain over the Easter break. This time specifically, I really understood the difference it makes when you spend holidays as a family and especially with small children. While holidays are of course a time to relax and recharge our energy levels, they can also especially in stressful times have another effect - they give us time to sit back, reflect and take a time out from it all.

I really took this on board this time during my holiday and looked at things I can do to get some of that holiday feeling into my everyday busy and stressful life. The great answer here is, this is totally possible - by taking small time outs - it does not always have to be the long holiday.

We all know the feeling when things can get overwhelming and for example the children are clingy or we are swamped with work. This is the moment when those small timeouts can really help. What this means is for a short moment we take ourselves out of the situation at hand. For example at home this could mean go for a quick walk around the neighbourhood or just spend some time in our spring garden. After a short while, we go back into the situation but it will appear less stressful as we will have cleared our thoughts and will be in a more rational state to deal with the situation at hand. Taking that moment to breath and leave the stress can really help calm our emotions and our mind.

Another great way of prolonging that holiday feeling is to talk about what went really well during our holiday and made us feel great. For me for example, that was my husband and I really acting like a team together all the time and each having our assigned tasks. This was really helpful not to feel overwhelmed or arguing over takes the at hand. At the end of each day, a nice word or an emotional hug can also do wonders.

Lastly, talking also really makes a difference. Holidays can be great for deeper conversations that get lost in the every day madness. Rather than shying away from this we should have them there and then. However, we can also have them in the everyday just choose the right moments. But talking about our emotions openly is always great.

Looking back at my previous holiday - I hope I can take some of those reflections into the everyday and prolong that great feeling of joy and relaxation. Spring being on the horizon certainly helps as well :)