Are holidays just a luxury?

Do you remember that feeling you had as a child, when you opened your eyes on the first morning of school holidays? It felt like you didn’t have a care in the world, that time was yours for the taking, and life was full of possibilities.

Just a distant, nostalgic memory? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

I still experience that feeling each time I travel to Tasmania’s east coast—in that decisive, wonderful moment of arrival when I stop, take my first deep breath and let all my worries and stresses simply drop away.

It’s easy to let ourselves believe that moment is out of our reach. We’re too busy at work, we don’t have time, we should just wait until summer— after all, holidays are luxuries, aren’t they?

Well, no.

Give yourself permission

When you actually give yourself permission to stop, you’re winning more than a few days off work. Taking a step back from the everyday grind can create precious opportunities to shift your perspective a little, to connect with what’s really important to you. That’s much more than a relaxing break. That’s a chance to take stock, to reshuffle your to-do list and reboot your priorities. That’s the kind of holiday that can bring real change to your life.

Finding the time and space for that in a world full of competing demands, busyness, and constant choices can be challenging. Which is exactly why it’s so important to choose the right environment in which to think, regroup and recharge.

We all need to just stop

It’s the whole philosophy behind Just Stop. And it’s why we’re sharing the stories of people who’ve done exactly that, in the incredible environment of Tasmania’s east coast. Do yourself a favour and watch some of those stories here. 

As it happens, my bags are packed and by the door right now, ready for a long weekend at Freycinet National Park. Yes, my in-tray is full. Yes, my inbox is chiming with newly-arrived messages. But I think the world can manage to keep turning perfectly well in my absence for the next few days.

As for me, I’m ready to take that deep breath.

Maura

PS. Have you heard Michael, Julia and Anja’s stories about their east coast journeys? Make sure you take a minute or two to watch them here, and also to check out our Just Stop television campaign video.