Don’t pack away the holiday feeling just yet: Eight ways Doncaster residents can stay in holiday mode
For many Brits the return from home reality will mean swapping sun loungers, lazy lunches and evening spritzes for alarm clocks, packed commutes, and the return of the working week.
But according to wellbeing expert and Doctor of Happiness, Dr Andy Cope, the holiday feeling doesn't have to end when the suitcase is unpacked.
With new research from Ego Mediterranean revealing 35% of Brits would adopt a Mediterranean mindset that places less pressure on always being so productive, while 50% want a more European approach to work life balance, Andy says that the answer could be as simple as bringing some of our favourite holiday habits home.
And it seems Brits are ready for it, with 60% saying they would embrace a nationwide Aperitivo Hour – a long-standing Mediterranean tradition between 5pm-7pm that brings people together over light bites, refreshing drinks and conversation before dinner.
With this in mind, Andy shares eight simple ways Brits can keep the holiday feeling alive long after the flight home and keep the holiday blues at bay by embracing a more Mediterranean lifestyle, and why it could be good for them:
1. The art of doing nothing
"One of the joys of being on holiday is having nowhere else you need to be", says Andy. "If you visit a Mediterranean country, you’ll see lots of older people (locals) sitting doing nothing in particular. The Italians call it dolce far niente, literally ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. Dolce far niente is the perfect level of guilt-free, watching-the-world-go-by"
"Try giving yourself permission to do absolutely nothing for a little while. It might feel unproductive, but that's precisely the point.”
2. Learn to linger longer
Holiday meals rarely feel like something to tick off the list. Instead, lunch can stretch into the afternoon, and dinner can become an evening-long affair, and there’s a real beauty to that.
"In Spain, eating is for nourishment, but sobremesa uses mealtimes for connection. Literally ‘over the table’, it's the long, lazy time spent lingering after a meal, talking, laughing, digesting both food and friendship. It’s considered rude not to take your time."
3. Create a ‘work is finished’ ritual
On holiday, the transition from work to leisure is obvious: you close the laptop, head on your travels, leave the hotel room and head to the beach, pool or nearest bar.
Back home, that boundary can be much harder to create, particularly when 25% of Brits admit to checking emails after finishing work. Andy says, "Create a small ritual that says, work is finished. Shut the laptop, step outside, pour a drink or have something nice to eat. Our brains benefit from clear transitions rather than work simply leaking into the evening."
Make meals an occasion and savour it
Think back to your last holiday - chances are, meals weren't eaten hunched over a laptop or grabbed between meetings. They were something to look forward to.
Andy says that mindset can and should be recreated at home. "Sit down. Use a plate. Ideally eat with someone else. Mediterranean living is less about a particular ingredient and more about giving food, conversation and each other some proper attention. "
5. Get outside
One of the easiest things to miss when a holiday ends is the amount of time we spend outdoors, but Andy says we don't need Mediterranean temperatures to keep some of that habit going.
"Coffee outside, lunch outside, an evening walk, sitting in the garden. You don’t need the Amalfi Coast; you need a chair and approximately eleven minutes without rain. "
6. Stop doomscrolling
Another thing that changes when we're on holiday? Our phones often take a back seat, with holidays give us more opportunities to be present with the people around us rather than scrolling through our screens.
"Mediterranean cultures tend to place a high value on sociability and community. An hour laughing with people you like will always do more for your wellbeing than an hour scrolling through the lives of 400 strangers."
7. Stop saving your best life for the weekend
On holiday, Tuesday can feel just as exciting as Saturday. But Andy says, "Too many people suffer from ‘destination addiction,’ which is the headlong rush through the week, with happiness as the pot of gold at the weekend.
“Quit the chase. Quit trying to get to some other moment and start enjoying the one you’re in. A Mediterranean mindset says pleasure, connection and enjoyment belong in an ordinary Tuesday too.”
8. Create your own daily Aperitivo Hour
Perhaps the easiest holiday habit to recreate at home is the ritual of slowing down at the end of the day, but it’s something we’re all guilty of not doing.
In fact, Ego Mediterranean is calling for Britian to embrace a nationwide Aperitivo Hour between 5pm-7pm – creating a simple moment to switch off and work and into leisure with food, drinks and conversation.
Andy comments: "An Aperitivo Hour doesn’t have to involve alcohol. The important bit is the ritual: some lovely food, a drink, some music, conversation and a deliberate change of pace. Think of it as a small daily declaration that life is happening now, not once you’ve cleared your inbox."
The campaign follows Ego’s Life After Five O'clock Report, which highlights the pressures preventing Brits from making the most of their evenings. Nearly half (44%) blame tiredness, while 42% cite the cost of socialising, and 28% point to family responsibilities as barriers to enjoying their time after five o’clock.
So, whether it’s lingering over dinner, stepping outside for some fresh air or simply putting the phone down and enjoying a drink with friends, the message is simple: Brits could all benefit from taking inspiration from the Mediterranean lifestyle, and making a little more room for the good life.
To learn more about Ego's Aperitivo Hour and find out more about the Life After Five O’Clock Report, visit https://www.egorestaurants.co.uk/britains-aperitivo-hour#/