When we are used to achieving, often we direct that orientation towards achievement into our holidays. How many books can I read? How many bbq’s can I attend? How many jobs can I get done? How many beautiful meals can I create?

Being unproductive is restful for our brains and our bodies.

High achievers often link our worth to our achievements. Going slowly, achieving nothing and embracing it confirms our worth without doing anything. This looks like going slowly. Wasting time doing nothing, just pottering around. Walking slowly, not running. Having no plans, no schedule, no destinations. No lists. See what this brings up for you as often it is the root cause of burn out.

Our autonomic nervous system controls our bodies fight or flight response – this system is critical for our survival as we need to respond when there is a threat. In days gone by that meant a tiger was coming towards you but these days we perceive tigers everywhere. When the threats keep coming our bodies end up stuck the sympathetic nervous system – fight or flight. In this state we are on high alert, ready for physical action to defend ourselves from the tiger.

After long periods of activation, our body has forgotten how to return to its resting state in which the parasympathetic nervous system is activated. In this state, our body can rest and repair, knowing it is safe.

Here are some tips for how to activate your parasympathetic nervous system:

a. Breathe with a longer out than in breath – this immediately tells your body it is safe.

b. Breathe right into the bottom of your lungs – not necessarily big breaths but expanding the belly and getting air into the bottom of your lungs.

c. Laughter and singing are great ways of activating this system.

d. Look through your widest lens possible – so, look straight ahead then try to expand your view to include your peripheral view.

Each of these techniques are only possible when you are relaxed – when a tiger is coming for you, you’ll breathe short, shallow breaths, your vision is narrowed and you certainly won’t be laughing or singing!

These are a great way to start the day – by telling your body it is safe. You can do some of them before you even get out of bed.

Play is an activated form of rest. It stimulates endorphins, reduces stress hormones, and creates joy.

If you’ve forgotten how to play, it is essentially this: doing something purely for fun, with no orientation around an outcome. So if you’re playing a game of volleyball and you really care about who wins – not play. If you couldn’t care less about winning and you are doing it purely for the enjoyment – that’s play. It could be art, doing a colouring in or some photography, especially if you’re not doing it to show to someone else – then you are really doing it for the fun and enjoyment of it.

If you’ve got children around you, spend time in pure play with them – they are the experts!

Burn out often happens because our boundaries are unclear. We let others have all of us and leave nothing for ourselves. We orient our lives around service to others and what they want or need, and lose sight of what we want and need.

What is it that YOU want out of each day? Wake up each day and think about what it is that you want or need from the day. Say ‘no’, when others ideas don’t meet your needs or desires. What is enough for you in one day? What makes a great day on holiday? Make it happen. Even if it means inconveniencing others. This could be the start of you getting your needs met … ideally in a way that you can take forward beyond your holiday.

Two simple letters but for many this will be the hardest one of all!

For ten minutes a day, just be. Sit, and be. Let your mind wander. Don’t meditate or read. Don’t shut your eyes. Just be fully present to whatever happens, even if that is nothing at all. Enjoy it!