Summer Holidays

Last May I was pretty much stuck in a rut. Despite having a job I love and working from home so I could theoretically spend time with my children, I was actually more exhausted than ever. I had become very tired and was unable to switch off. I don't think I realised how wound up with stress - all self imflicted - I was. I needed a break and so we took the family down to Cornwall for May half term. The different pace of life struck me immediately, and I started fantasizing about how life at that pace is so much more enjoyable. I realised that I hardly ever went outdoors and the exposure to the sun had an impact on me psychologically. I started enjoying food again and actively sought out my favourites like lobster and seafood. That holiday was a real awakening for me and reminded me to live my life, rather than just watch it pass me by. 

Wine Tasting in Cornwall, such a happy memory.

 We spent time as a family doing things we all enjoyed - eating, playing on the sand, exploring castles and caves. Having many many cream teas and just generally chilling out. I realised I had been living on caffeine to get me through the day, and waiting for a glass of wine in the evening to calm me down again. It's no way to live. The silly thing is though, that the stress was totally self imposed and I guess is one of the down sides to working on your own at home - I was forgetting to take breaks and was blurring the lines between work and home life. Even in the evenings I couldn't switch off from checking my emails and social media accounts. I was trapped in a prison of my own making.

Goat feeding in Cornwall

 The break also gave me a chance to reconnect with my children again, find out what makes them tick and I discovered my youngest son's love of animals - and my oldest son's fear of them!

Our swiss style chalet in Cornwall

When I came back from holiday I was determined to not slip back into my old habits. I started going for walks or runs at lunchtime. I finished work on time having achieved my objectives, and in the evenings I started leaving my iPhone on my desk rather than constantly picking it up in the lounge. I also ditched the caffeine and the alcohol for a while and started BREATHING deeply again. It was amazing how much better I felt in a short space of time.

I still harbour fantasies of moving to Cornwall someday. It's my favourite place to holiday - as long as the weather is good.

This Summer we are going back to the same place in Cornwall and I can't wait. There's something really special about the place and it will always be a place of retreat for me and my family. With my oldest son having major problems with change, holidays aren't always easy for us. But I'm hoping as it's somewhere we've been before it should make things easier for us all.

Post in collaboration with TheCircle