Dr Nick - Better breaks

1) Live a real life! Don’t watch it on tv

Go experience it for yourself. You can’t ‘unwind’ if you’re slouched on the couch, whereas you can ‘actively rebalance’ yourself by getting out’n’about exploring England.

2) We can’t simply consume happiness, we have to create it by our own efforts , which means embarking upon little adventures

And when it comes to adventures, where better than England with all its rich and colourful social history, landscapes, fauna and flora....the museums, galleries, parks, gardens and coasts.

3) Partner up with someone special, or put together a party, then go explore

It’s like granny always said :  a joy shared is a joy doubled. We are highly social creatures and we get more out of sharing the experience.

4) Don’t just take a break, make a break: plan it!

Plan where you’ll go and with whom, and then put things into action. Of course your plans will change on route to suit the circumstances, but those unexpected creative turns are half the joy of it.

5) Set out to surprise yourself! Whether it’s drama, comedy, music, art, or a gift...

We humans love surprises, so dare take a walk on the wild side and try something quite new and unexpected. After all, life is by its very nature unpredictable – and this unpredictability means we’re curious to know what’s around the next bend.

6) When it comes to breaks, a little and often will go a long way to refreshing your passion for life

You could try to take several active breaks per day, a couple of lunch hours per week, two weekends per month, and a week off each season of the year.

And just remember, you don’t have to dance with someone for two weeks for it to feel ‘wow!’. Fifteen minutes with someone or somewhere you like, can be deeply energising. So why not set out to explore the benefits:

• Take a ten minute walk around the block, aiming to notice the architecture or plant and bird life that’s all around you. For an added sense of calm, try slowing down your breathing while releasing the tension  in your neck, shoulders and stomach. Moving and breathing in ‘slow-motion’ is one way of achieving this.
• A 45 minute lunchtime is sufficient to soak up the atmosphere of a museum, gallery, park or garden.
• An evening out at a show or sports centre to swim, dance or play badminton. What a difference it can make!
• A weekend adventure: hike in the wilds and a stay over somewhere romantic.
• A week’s sailing or pony trekking or following a coastal path.

I have no hesitation in saying: “Taking beautiful breaks makes for beautiful lives”.