I am a reader and a writer. As a teen I would devour books and read a wide genre. From the A Level classics I read, to chick lit and historical books they all sat on my bookshelf. One of the first things I pack in my suitcase each year are three or four books. One is never enough! It seems I am not alone and not the only person using books to relaxx on holiday.
Whether books provide a digital detox or just escapism it seems many of us pack them into our cases in a bid to switch off and relax on holiday.
In a poll of more than 3,000 people, Opodo found that three in four Brits (78%) prefer reading paperbacks on holiday over any other reading material. Unsurprisingly, just over a half (51%) said they spend more time reading on holiday than they would do at home. I am the same I have a kindle and I use it at home. However when on holiday I want a paperback. I want to lie on a sunbed and turn those pages. I also want to be able to get in the pool to cool off and go back to my book. Did you know British holidaymakers are more than twice as likely to pick up paper book than read an e-book while on holiday reveals Opodo.
Like 20% of the respondents I buy my books second hand from the charity shop. I also leave them behind, often hotels have a shelf where you can leave such books or swap with your own. The research showed that the these are the top summer reads – how many can you tick off?
Top 10 Summer Holiday Reads
- Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult
- I See You, Clare Mackintosh
- Conclave, Robert Harris
- The Essex Serpent, Sarah Parry
- This Must Be The Place, Maggie O’Farrell
- The Gypsy Moth, Julia Fierro
- The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Arundhati Roy
- Hunger, Roxanne Gay
- H (a)ppy, Nicola Barker
- Sour Heart, Jenny Zhang.
It would be my absolute high point to see someone reading my book Blogging Your Way To Riches around the pool! How funny that would be!
More Tips on How to Relax on Holiday Quickly
- As suggested reading is my sure fire way to relax on holiday.
- Before travelling create playlists to listen to around the pool. We use spotify and have a family account.
- Plan your journey from the airport to hotel. This year we had a private transfer from Hoppa this allowed us to arrive refreshed and to be having a drink in the bar long before we would otherwise have arrived. We were able to make every minute count.
- Have a nap – if you need to catch up on the sleep take a siesta after lunch. This will help you to keep going into the evenings.
- Don’t plan to much, before you go away decide what you really want to see or do in the area but then allow time to relax and switch off.
- Build some excersise into your day. for my husband this means going to the gym! For others it could be swimming or even a nice leisurely walk.
- If travelling with children keep some basic routines around food and sleep. It helps everyone know what to expect and certainly stops the whining. I wak the children at 9.45 so that we get breakfast. We ate each evening at 6.30ish and headed to bed at 11pm ish. This enabled us all to have some structure which helps us relax on holiday.
These tips help me to relax on holiday and I hope they enable you to switch off and enjoy every moment of your long awaited holiday.
