Seven days to prepare and the same amount to gently switch and start to relax for real. Our experts offer a simple program that will help you enjoy every minute of your long-awaited vacation.
“Did you have a good rest?” – we will have to answer this traditional question more than once upon returning from the holidays. Vacation time is precious, and therefore we are very worried that everything goes perfectly – so that our vacation in the most flawless way combines the sensations of celebration and idleness, gourmetism and lightness, friendly fun and sweet solitude …
In a word, we leave the cities with suitcases full of hopes and expectations. “During these days, we want to compensate for everything that we have been missing all year,” says psychologist Natalya Knyazeva. – And as a result, sometimes we demand more from vacations than they can give. To truly “have a good rest”, it is worth abandoning the script for the perfect vacation, written for us by someone else. And, listening to your desires, make your own plan. Only such holidays will allow us to breathe deeply and truly gain strength. And in order to start enjoying your vacation from the very first days, you should spend your time a little differently before leaving. Here are some handy tips to help you get ready for your vacation.
Before rest
It is best to start using tan preparations a few weeks before departure. They strengthen the protective functions of the skin, preventing photoaging, and stimulate the production of melanin. Do not neglect anti-cellulite gels: they really increase skin tone, and this is already a lot.
Anti-cellulite remedy Aqua Destock, Vichy; food supplement “Perfect Tan”, Innéov; means for preparing the face for sunbathing Tan Preparer, Lancaster; body scrub Sparkle Skin, Clinique.
Week one: before departure
Day 1: Get Organized
Start getting ready to leave… and relax. “Make a list of what needs to be done: pay bills, clean the apartment, give a duplicate key to a neighbor to water the flowers and feed the cat, take things to the dry cleaners, pack your bags…” lists wellness consultant Julie Ferrez. “Then strike out of it what can wait for your return!” Overload often prevents us from getting satisfaction from what we have already done. So set yourself tasks within reason – two a day – and enjoy small victories.
Day 2: Don’t think ahead
What if it rains? What if the beach is dirty? Stop! “Vacation should not be planned in detail – the way we plan our work,” Natalya Knyazeva reminds. “If we want to anticipate everything, disappointment is almost inevitable.” Whatever your idea of the upcoming vacation, it will still be somewhat different from reality. And what a vacation without surprises and adventures! Vacation is best thought of as a free creative space that we can transform as we wish. Try to perform a simple relaxation technique once or twice a day, the psychologist advises: “Sit back, close your eyes, breathe deeply, feel the floor with your feet, and the chair you are sitting on with your body. Imagine pleasant pictures associated with the upcoming vacation: the blue sea, the smell of the forest, warm sand in the palms … ”Relaxing and reconciling with the uncertainty that always accompanies change, we better resist stress and negative emotions.
Day 3: Take care of your stomach
“On vacation, the diet often changes,” recalls nutritionist Anna Belousova. – If you are a night owl, then on vacation you will most likely skip breakfast and catch up during lunch. Download your morning menu now. For example, drink only tea, coffee or yogurt and eat fruit. If you are a “lark”, then you should start the day with a full breakfast and lighten your lunch. It is important to avoid sudden changes. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables in warmer climes, then include them in your menu now and gradually increase their amount to avoid stomach problems in the first days of rest.
Day 4: Unload your schedule
“If the day before departure you are in a state of severe stress, you should not expect that you will be able to relax already on the airstairs,” says Julie Ferret. Get out of business gradually to avoid sudden changes in emotional stress. Organize your schedule around your departure date so that there are fewer things to do every day. Allow yourself to childishly “skip school”: leave the office early, and ideally not go to work at all on the eve of departure. On this day, you can already start collecting on the road. If you realize that something is missing, there will be an opportunity to fix it. This day, “taken away” from the vacation, will allow his other days to pass more calmly.
Day 5: De-stress
For some, it could be a massage – “a great way to reduce the nervousness associated with leaving and give the body a rest,” notes Julie Ferret. And someone will prefer physical activity – it helps to get rid of not only toxins (through sweat), but also from unnecessary thoughts. “Even just walking at a good pace improves mood, energizes, helps to switch,” recalls Natalya Knyazeva. Singing at the top of your voice is another good way to relax. Move your lips silently to relax the muscles in your mouth and jaw. At first, sing only the vowels. Pull them out for as long as you can. And then start humming your favorite tunes, not caring if you’re out of tune or not. A new fragrance will help relieve stress. Do not take on vacation those perfumes that you use daily. Choose a perfume specifically for your holiday. You can start your search with a light version of your favorite fragrance: the main notes you like will remain the same – and yet it will not be the same.
Day 6: Lighten your luggage
Some even today travel like the heroine of the famous poem by Samuil Marshak “The lady checked in luggage …”. Psychoanalyst Didier Lauru draws an analogy between the abundance of suitcases and the anxiety that some people cause the absence of familiar things: this anxiety is akin to the feeling that a baby experiences at the moment of separation from his mother. Like a favorite toy in childhood, familiar things calm us down. Working with a psychologist will help to cope with anxiety, but it takes time. In the meantime, make it a rule to take a minimum of clothes with you: no more than two dresses, two pairs of trousers, three T-shirts …
Day 7: Switch
If you have completed all the points of the program, then everything is ready just in time for the deadline! Dedicate one day to something pleasant and in no way connected with the departure: reading or walking, go to the cinema or to an exhibition … By the way, now is the best time for deep moisturizing of the skin of the face and body at the beautician, as well as for a pedicure. Varnish is better to choose bright. It not only improves mood, but also distracts attention from the condition of the skin of the legs, which quickly coarsens at sea.
Beach and makeup
Habitual urban make-up in the sun is completely useless: foundation will emphasize every pore, shadows – every crease (especially matte and in beige-brown tones), lip gloss, like a magnifying glass, will enhance the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. But lipstick, if desired, can be used both for its intended purpose and as a blush: it contains a lot of wax and pigments that make the product more stable than ordinary blush. Good shades are coral or light red: they will give the face freshness, especially in the first days of rest.
Read more:
- Summer reveals our sensuality
Week two: Start of holiday
Day 1: Feel the present
To contemplate means to perceive what is happening without evaluation and analysis, to allow it to simply be. This is a kind of mental vacuum that will help you immerse yourself in new sensations. Let unfamiliar colors, smells, sounds, light and silence penetrate you. “Take a deep breath, and then slowly exhale, trying to keep all these new sensations inside you,” says Natalya Knyazeva. – Imagine them as pleasant waves that pass through your body. Repeat this breathing exercise three times a day.”
Day 2: Let go of your fatigue
To really relax, you need to give your body some time. In the program you can include walks, restorative sleep and some sports – sparing, but prolonged exercise: swimming, walking, cycling, horseback riding. Feel free to have a siesta after dinner: it not only refreshes, relieves stress, but also helps you sleep better in the evening. The optimal time for her is 20-30 minutes.
Day 3: Gently unwind
Even if change always unbalances us a little, it is important to enter into a new rhythm of life without hesitation. Don’t look at your watch or check your email every minute. If you can’t completely disconnect from business, then it’s worth limiting the solution of work issues to strict time frames. Maximum two hours on the first days of the holiday and one hour on the following days. The released energy will be useful to you for new acquaintances, sympathies and friendships.
Day 4: Leave the care to others
Every morning you still have a vacation “work” waiting for you. On the beach: put sunscreen on the kids, then collect forgotten buckets and swimsuits, run after the seller of ice cream, water and hot corn … In a friendly company: make sure that the refrigerator has everything you need for lunch or dinner, go shopping, plan excursions … ” Let go of the reins, – advises Natalya Knyazeva. “Give others a chance to prove themselves, entrust the initiative to them.” Does this seem impossible to you? Then you should ask yourself: what are the benefits of being a leader?
On the sea
It’s not just the skin that needs protection from excessive UV exposure. To keep your hair shiny and saturated, use specialized products: in addition to solar filters, they contain ceramides, vitamins and nourishing oils.
Cream for fair skin body SPF 30 Terracotta, Guerlain; Yves Saint Laurent cream blush; protective hair oil Huile Lactée, Kérastase; shadows Eye Gloss, Dior; shimmering body butter Splendours, Clarins.
Read more:
- Sunburn: from fears to pleasure
Day 5 Fill up on “superfoods”
If you have changed your diet in advance, then you have a great opportunity to discover the benefits of seasonal “superfoods”. Tomatoes, ideally ground tomatoes, contain the antioxidant lycopene, which slows down the aging process and neutralizes damage from ultraviolet radiation. Broccoli, white, red, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain a lot of antioxidants and vitamin C. Raspberries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, red and black currants are rich in polyphenols, dietary fiber and minerals. Legumes – lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas and others – are ideal for warm or cold salads with garlic and onions (they lower cholesterol). And of course, don’t forget about oily fish rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids*.
Day 6 Think about yourself
It is time to take care of your own pleasure – without the slightest remorse and guilt. Since on vacation we often have to share our space and time with children, friends, and sometimes parents, try to set the necessary boundaries. No, you won’t be cooking every night. Yes, sometimes you will get up late. Allow yourself something that you cannot afford in ordinary life: an exciting walk through the local market – just for the sake of curiosity and your own pleasure; days slowly flowing one into another; reading a novel in a sun lounger… right after breakfast, in the morning. The secret of real relaxation is in these moments of peace and solitude.
Day 7 Enjoy your new shape
The change of rhythm went smoothly, your stomach got used to the summer menu, the fatigue disappeared, you are back in good shape and sleep well. But the holidays are still on! And that means it’s time for you to take full advantage of these newfound powers.
* Read more about “superfoods” in the Self Care section.
after the beach
Wind and sea water bleach and dry hair like hydrogen peroxide. Even if you like burnt-out strands, wash your hair every time after the beach to wash off the salt and use nourishing masks. Do not forget about moisturizers for the face and body.
Moisturizing mist for face Essence Mist, Chanel; repair balm for dry hair Repair, Yves Rocher; moisturizing body cream that restores the skin after sunbathing and gives it radiance, Oligo-Thermal, Biotherm; moisturizing mask-cream for all skin types Caudalie.