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Only a week or even a few days left and it’s back. To fully enjoy your vacation until the last moment, two psychology professors give us some keys.
The return to school is not yet for tomorrow, nor for the day after tomorrow, but already some vacationers are starting to stress even though they have their feet in the sand and the sea as their horizon. Children, work…they anticipate the problems to come and have difficulty really being in them. However, it is possible to enjoy your vacation until the last moment, Fabien Fenouillet, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Nanterre and Charles Martin-Krumm, president of the French association of positive psychology, assure Europe 1. professor at the school of practicing psychologists in Paris. They give us some advic
Immerse yourself in what you do
To enjoy your vacation to the end, you have to live in the present moment, be mindful, advise Fabien Fenouillet and Charles Martin-Krumm. In theory, it’s stupid, but in practice much less so. Because on the beach, when we are relaxing or even when we are doing sports, jogging for example, our mind tends to wander and anticipate problems. “But when we anticipate too much, we also anticipate our stress and anxiety. From a certain point, it’s a slow poison, and by dint of accumulating you no longer have a way to destock”, recalls Fabien Fenouillet, professor of cognitive psychology. “The more you manage to capture the present time, the more serenity you will gain.”
To avoid (too much) thinking about tomorrow, several simple exercises exist. They go through concentration. “For example, think about your feelings when you eat. Put down your fork, let yourself be invaded by the smells, the flavors, the color… Engage all your senses,” suggests Charles Martin-Krumm. Focusing on the environment around us, the feeling of the waves on our calves, the sound of the wind in the trees or simply our breathing, can also be ways to fully experience the present moment.
Promote activities that help you stop thinking about work
The holidays are also the time to indulge in the passions that stimulate us. These activities are a good way to enjoy until the end and no longer let yourself be overwhelmed by the worries of everyday life. In positive psychology, we call this finding “flow”. “Flow is when we are so present in an activity that time passes without realizing it, a bubble is created around us and this gives us a feeling of well-being. When you are in flow, everything becomes easy,” explains Fabien Fenouillet.
This works with sport, when you go a little beyond what you think you are capable of doing or with music when you have to both read the notes and concentrate on the instrument, but it can be also play a video game, dance, draw…
Disconnect from time and screens
The other way to truly disconnect is to do it literally. Turning off your computer, your work phone, not reading your emails can be a good way to avoid thinking about work. Another tip: forget to count the time. “Not watching your watch, or even wearing it, can allow you to recharge your batteries,” explains Charles Martin-Krumm.
On the other hand, the holidays are an ideal time to respond to invitations from friends you haven’t had the opportunity to see the rest of the year, to enjoy your loved ones and to take some time for yourself : nap, massage, walk in nature…
Carve out time to think about it
Of course it also depends on his personality and the context. If we have difficulty letting go or are forced by the nature of our work to think about it, we can then carve out time for this, advises the president of the French psychological association positive. For example, dedicate one morning per week to make a list of things to do at the start of the school year or to make an urgent phone call. “The important thing is to find a balance between the time you take care of yourself and the time dedicated to work,” points out Charles Martin-Krumm. “It can be a way to relieve yourself” to better cut out the rest of the time, confirms Steredenn Hudson-Offret in Le Figaro Madame.