*In Need of a Holiday and it’s only January!

Image from The Every Girl

We have barely scratched the surface of 2019 and, already, I would be willing to bet good money that there are many of you who already feel as though you need a week away. Christmas feels like a distant memory and the long-awaited bank holiday weekends are still a little way off. *Sigh*

Well, at least we can start to look at where we plan to go this year. Perhaps looking through endless pictures of sunny beaches, holidaymakers kicking back and suitably chosen reviews will make us feel as though we are already there. Out of the office, away from emails and sat around the pool with friends and family with a glass of our favourite tipple. Sounds delightful.

Holiday as and When 

Wouldn’t it be marvellous to wake up early on a Saturday morning and decide to go out for the weekend on a whim, regardless of whether it’s a cold and dreary January weekend or a sunny and inviting summer’s day? That would be the life. So, yeah, shock horror – we can’t just jet off to Dubai like our favourite celebs (curse you, Tom Cruise) – but we can staycation, baby! For those of us operating on more moderate budgets, we are more than happy with a caravan. This humble abode has been the reason for many a good family holiday tale and will continue to do so. Parks always seem to have holiday caravans on sale, proving to be popular for those that like to have the option of getting away from reality at a moment’s notice. If you are in that group of people that feels in need of a break despite only just returning to work, this could prove to be a viable option for you.

Sabbatical 

Who actually has the means to go on sabbatical from work? To just wake up one day and say to your boss: “Look, I’m tired and in need of a break. I’ll be back in six months.” That. Just. Doesn’t. Happen. Well, you might be surprised to learn that, actually, it does – and more than you think. Around 20% of companies have a sabbatical policy that employees can ask to take. Only thing is, it’s not quite as simple as booking annual leave. You will likely be asked to pitch why you are deserving of a sabbatical from work (because, if everyone took up the option, firms wouldn’t have any employees left to work). Before pitching, familiarise yourself with your company’s sabbatical policy (if they have one) as this will likely be partially paid or completely unpaid. You will have to work out if this is something that you can realistically afford.

Chill Out 

While we have just come off a week off, Christmas is a stressful time, especially if you found yourself hosting family. It is only natural to feel as though you need some time to yourself and there is nothing wrong with that. This is where you need to make time for you. After all, it’s important to rest and recuperate. Block out evenings and/or days where you focus on nothing other than yourself. That means no work, no emails, no events that you don’t actually want to attend. If anyone asks you to do something, you’re busy – no exceptions.

Take this time to binge watch that series on Netflix you have been meaning to get around to, try a new make of coffee or, better yet, sleep in until midday. If you are feeling as though you need some time out, it could simply be because you are feeling rushed off your feet – which is a major sign that you need to slow down and take it easy.

Do you feel like you need a holiday already? Where would you travel to?

*This is a sponsored post #AD