Holidays are all about relaxing and escaping the daily grind – just what is needed to recharge our batteries. In reality, the sudden lack of routine means we often end up over-indulging and return home more exhausted than when we left.
So, To Tuscany has teamed up with meta-wellbeing expert, Susan Gardner, to offer tips on how to use a holiday as an opportunity to press pause on daily life and restore our equilibrium. Susan believes that stepping out of your familiar routine provides a refreshing and powerful way to interrupt daily habits. Holidays can bring a welcome new perspective, providing a different focus for your attention.
Here are 15 ways in which you can take advantage of the time you have to listen to your body and mind.
1 Every morning ,when you wake up, allow yourself 10-15 minutes of quiet contemplation, focusing your thoughts on gratitude for everything that is good in your life.
2 Regularly do a quick body scan, identifying areas of tension and concentrating on letting your muscles soften and relax.
3 Give your skin a gentle dry brush before washing and follow a hot shower with a blast of cold water.
4 Regularly sip water, preferably filtered.
5 Drink hot water with lemon 20 minutes before eating.
6 Eat protein for breakfast.
7 Ensure you fill your plate with a rainbow of coloured food.
8 Try to eat alkaline foods such as cooked tomato, fish, broccoli, spinach, mango and papaya.
9 When you have a moment, write or draw the negative thoughts that are in your head onto paper. Then destroy the paper.
10 Notice and understand your feelings, breathing in calm and breathing out tension.
11 Try to interrupt negative thoughts and focus on what you do want.
12 Be present and alert to the moment.
13 Consider your personal space and adjust it for pleasure and comfort – seeking solitude and stillness if needed.
14 Aim for a minimum of two hours of exercise a day – cardiovascular and gentle.
15 Visualise a dial that you can turn down to lower stress levels.

- Menu
- Travel Guide
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Towns & villages
- Arezzo
- Camaiore
- Castagnoli
- Castellina in Chianti
- Castelnuovo Berardenga
- Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
- Colle di Val d'Elsa
- Cortona
- Florence
- Forte dei Marmi
- Gaiole in Chianti
- Greve in Chianti
- Grosseto & Maremma
- Lecchi in Chianti
- Livorno
- Lucca
- Montalcino
- Montepulciano
- Monteriggioni
- Orvieto
- Panzano
- Perugia
- Pienza
- Pisa
- Pistoia
- Radda in Chianti
- San Donato in Poggio
- San Gimignano
- San Gusme
- San Miniato
- Siena
- The Tuscan Coast
- The Chianti
- Vagliagli
- Val d'Orcia
- Viareggio
- Volpaia
- Volterra
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Things to do
- To Tuscany Experiences
- Family activities in Tuscany
- Wild Swimming in Tuscany
- Local Events & Festivals
- Chianti wine trail
- Shopping in Tuscany
- Tuscany Wines
- Fishing in Tuscany
- Golf in Tuscany
- Cycling in Tuscany
- L’Eroica
- Self guided walks
- Tennis in Tuscany
- Chianti Sculpture Park
- Star-Gazing in Tuscany
- Thermal Springs
- Hunting Truffles in Tuscany, Italy
- Local wildlife
- Coffee in Italy
- Olive Oil Tuscany
- Travelling to Tuscany
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Journal
- Raise a glass to Tuscan wine
- Traditional Tuscan Ragù
- Celebrating 25 Years of To Tuscany
- Giulebbe di Ciliegie
- Carciofi Ripieni (Stuffed Artichokes)
- Fagioli all'uccelletto
- Ficattole fritte (Fried Ficattole)
- Fiori di Zucca Fritti (Fried Courgette Flowers)
- Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato Soup)
- Pasta fresca (fresh pasta)
- Peposo del Valdarno (Valdarno Peppered Stew)
- Meet Us In Tuscany
- Want to know how to take a great shot of a view? Ask a photographer
- A beer festival in Tuscany?
- Calling all fashionistas: Tuscany is designer-outlet heaven
- Five free things to do in Tuscany
- These Tuscan beaches are some of the cleanest in the world
- Panzanella
- Tortino al Cioccolato Fondente (Dark Chocolate Cakes)
- Cenci di Carnevale
- Ribollita
- Insalata di Baccelli (Whole Green Pea Salad)
- Biscotti di Prato alle Mandorle (Prato Almond Biscuits)
- Baccalà alla Livornese (Livorno Salt Cod)
- Anatra in porchetta
- Panello con l’uva
- Three must-visit Tuscan food festivals
- What’s on in Tuscany in Spring?
- Five Chianti Classics in Tuscany’s world-famous wine region
- Step out on the Via Francigena
- Castagnaccio (Tuscan chestnut cake)
- Cannelloni filled with Ricotta Cheese and Spinach in Béchamel Sauce
- Vegan Vanilla Parfait
- Schiacciata alla Fiorentina
- Ricciarelli
- The best places to propose in Tuscany, Italy
- What’s on in Tuscany this Autumn?
- It’s time to get together - luxury villas for large groups
- Puccini’s operas: a bluffer’s guide
- Eye in the sky: Tuscany from above
- Tuscany, second (third or fourth) time around
- Six great days out in Tuscany for children
- Why Tuscan craft beers are in a league of their own
- What’s on in Tuscany this Summer?
- Six glorious Tuscan gardens
- Meet the owner: Rosado Rosadi Palazzo Rosadi and Torre del Cielo
- Four animals to spot in Tuscany
- The best places in Tuscany to find a souvenir to treasure
- Try these games to keep the kids amused
- Shop like a Tuscan (at some of the best food markets in the world)
- What to look for in a family villa in Tuscany
- Let there be light for Pisa’s patron saint
- Eight hidden gems to visit in Tuscany
- Things to do in Tuscany for any itinerary
- What to expect from a Tuscan Cookery Class?
- The Big Picture: The Palio
- Get back to nature at these three top beauty spots on the Tuscan coast
- Relax in the soothing waters of Tuscany’s thermal spas
- Return to medieval times at these three fun festivals
- 10 ways you never thought you’d experience Tuscany
- White gold: tuck into Tuscany’s truffles
- These four blockbuster movies were all set in Tuscany
- Best language apps for learning Italian
- The Insider’s Guide to… the Uffizi
- Pull on your boots for two extraordinary walks in Tuscany
- What to see and do in Tuscany
- Ten quick facts about olive oil
- Multigeneration holidays – the villa break where nobody is left behind
- Quiet please: escape the crowds in Tuscany’s natural parks
- 15 Ways To Focus On Your Wellbeing This Holiday
- Fancy a round of golf? Tuscany has some of the best courses in Italy
- The best family villas in Tuscany
- Torta Pasqualina
- The best yoga studios in Tuscany
- Smoked Haddock
- Get pedalling, there’s an ice-cream waiting at the top of the hill
15 Ways To Focus On Your Wellbeing This Holiday
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This article was crafted by To Tuscany to ensure our guests enjoy the best possible experience during their time in Tuscany.
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