SUNSHINE STRESS-BUSTER
Travelling abroad for some sunshine this weekend, the plan was to have a relaxing 4-5 day break to return refreshed and ready for what the world throws at me. Today, I'm back: tired, bloated and a little pink. So apart from the vitamin D, what good has a trip abroad really given me? Let's take a look at the pros and cons...
Pros
- Time with partner
- Exploring somewhere new
- Reading books
- Getting my skin in the sunshine
- Laying around not doing very much
- Feeling warm
- Basking in sunshine
- Looking at a picturesque coastline
- Swimming in warm pool and sea
- Eating mediterranean food
- Drinking cheaper alcohol
Cons
- Early 3am start for flight
- Extra cost of transport to and from airport
- Airport stressful environment
- Stress of people
- Stress of baggage
- Stress of security
- Stress of security
- Expense of air travel
- Time spent travelling
- Hot and sweaty
- Hotel bed too soft/too hard
- Hotel bed too soft/too hard
- Sun creams cost and application
- Mediterranean food fried, greasy
- Cost of eating out a lot
- Over-endulgence with alcohol
If we properly look at the pros and cons for taking a short trip away to a foreign country - on the negative side, it's actually quite unsettling, stressful and expensive. Plus, a lot of time is spent travelling squashed in a plane, coach, train or queueing up with tired, stressed people. Often, these other poor souls who have also chosen to 'get away' for a relaxing break are being shepherded along, laden with their heavy bags and/or whiney kids, trying to keep up the appearance of a happy family. Not a relaxing scenario at all - and that's just the bit getting there.
Having an environment to not do very much when you do arrive at your destination, means a lot of money is spent eating and drinking to fill the time. So, summing all this up, I'd say a day trip from home could be just as rewarding in terms of exploring somewhere new and without a lot of the stresses experienced when flying - potentially far more relaxing, especially if one sleeps in their own bed at the end of the day. I've never really looked at a holiday in these terms before - but the reality of it does bring into question why so many people take these trips. Not to say going somewhere like the Balearics, where the aqua blue sea is warm and the sun shines in a clear blue sky seemingly every day, isn't wonderful - because it is, but just that a few days spent at home could positively be much better for us if relaxation is the key.
If we properly look at the pros and cons for taking a short trip away to a foreign country - on the negative side, it's actually quite unsettling, stressful and expensive. Plus, a lot of time is spent travelling squashed in a plane, coach, train or queueing up with tired, stressed people. Often, these other poor souls who have also chosen to 'get away' for a relaxing break are being shepherded along, laden with their heavy bags and/or whiney kids, trying to keep up the appearance of a happy family. Not a relaxing scenario at all - and that's just the bit getting there.
Having an environment to not do very much when you do arrive at your destination, means a lot of money is spent eating and drinking to fill the time. So, summing all this up, I'd say a day trip from home could be just as rewarding in terms of exploring somewhere new and without a lot of the stresses experienced when flying - potentially far more relaxing, especially if one sleeps in their own bed at the end of the day. I've never really looked at a holiday in these terms before - but the reality of it does bring into question why so many people take these trips. Not to say going somewhere like the Balearics, where the aqua blue sea is warm and the sun shines in a clear blue sky seemingly every day, isn't wonderful - because it is, but just that a few days spent at home could positively be much better for us if relaxation is the key.
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