I’ve always loved travelling. Before I became a solo parent, I was living in Johannesburg for three years which gave me the chance to explore much of Africa. I soaked up the colourful chaos of India while living there, as well as during later visits, and I made the most of weekend breaks around Europe while based in Budapest, and on holidays from the UK. I love discovering new places, meeting new people, and breaking out of my routine. Travel has always felt like pressing pause on the busyness of everyday life — a chance to reflect, relax, and just be.

Since having my daughter, holidays look a little different—slower, messier, and honestly, not always very relaxing, especially when I’m the only adult in charge. There’s a lot more pool time, snacks, wet wipes, and constant watchfulness. As a solo parent, there’s often no one to share the load, which means the mental and physical demands come with us, even on holiday. I’m lucky that I’ve often travelled with friends and family, which has given me the chance to carve out some much-needed downtime. But even then, holidays didn’t always deliver the deep rest I was hoping for.

I still love the joy of getting away and crave those little escapes and new adventures—but somewhere along the way, I realised I didn’t want to wait for holidays to feel good. I didn’t want to live my life on pause, putting everything on hold for those precious few days or weeks away. I’d push through stress and exhaustion with the idea that I could finally relax ‘once we get away.’ But that didn’t feel right anymore. I didn’t want to just survive the everyday—I wanted to actually enjoy it. So I started to make some changes.

And here’s what I found—whether you’re going through fertility treatment (which can drain your finances and your headspace), or you’re a solo parent where travel might feel logistically, financially, or emotionally off the cards for you, or you can travel but don’t want to rely on it for all your joy—there is another way.

You can bring some of that holiday magic into the everyday.

Mini Holiday at Home Exercise

It all started for me with this Mini Holiday at Home Exercise that you can also do:

Take a moment to think about what it is you really love about holidays. Is it the slower mornings? The change of scenery? Time with loved ones? A break from decision-making, housework or the countless responsibilities you have? Space to think or create? Space to reset and get clarity? Getting outside in nature?

Write down the top 3 feelings or experiences you crave when you go away.
Then ask yourself: How could I bring a little of that into my daily or weekly life at home?

Here are five ways I’ve done just that:

1. Start the Day Like You’re on Holiday

Think about how you start your day when you’re away—no mad rush, maybe a slow cuppa in the sun, a walk, or time to just sit and breathe. I started waking up and doing something small but purposeful: a quiet brew outside, whilst my daughter eats her breakfast and if I can fit it in, a 5 minute meditation from an app I use. When it’s cold I sit with a blanket over me, and I’ve bought a heater for my decking area to make it more usable all year round.  I spend as much time as I can outside in fresh air, and I find it a really good way to start the day. I’m really lucky that I have an undercover space that makes it easier to do this. I find starting the day in this way, starts it off in a positive more relaxed way. (even if the following part gets chaotic!!)

2. Discover the Hidden Gems Close to Home

One of the best parts of travelling is the freshness of everything —we try new foods, explore new places, chat to strangers, and soak up every little detail. So I decided to bring that same mindset to where I live. I started treating my local area like a place worth exploring. We’ve discovered nearby towns, stumbled on beautiful walks and bike rides, tried new cafés, and checked out local museums, markets, and events. And the best part? We rarely go more than an hour from home. With a bit of intention, every weekend or evening can become its own little adventure.

3. Unplug and Switch Off For a While

Something I look forward to about being on holiday is the total switch-off—from work, from responsibilities, and from screens. You stop checking emails, stop thinking about deadlines, and allow yourself to just be. I realised I needed more of that in my regular life. Now, I build in mini windows of time to unplug—sometimes it’s an evening, sometimes a whole weekend. I put a firm boundary between work and home, especially when working from home, by closing my laptop, and creating a clear end to the workday. I also take breaks from social media and give myself permission to just have downtime—whether that’s reading, listening to a podcast, catching up with a friend, or sitting outside with the sun on my face. It’s not about perfection, but about being present. Creating space to truly switch off has brought more calm, clarity, and ease into my everyday life.

4. Make Home Feel Like a Holiday

It’s not just the flavours and scents of travel I love—it’s the feeling it brings. That sense of ease, warmth, and switching off from the everyday. So I’ve been intentional about making our home feel more like we’re on holiday. I’ve added decor inspired by my travels—pieces I’ve brought back from trips, artwork that reminds me of places we’ve loved, and photos from our adventures. Outside, I’ve created little pockets of calm and joy: a sun-lounger in the garden, a hot tub for winding down, and a BBQ and firepit that make evenings feel like we’re away somewhere special. I often cook meals inspired by travels to other countries, light candles that bring back memories of cosy evenings I’ve spent away, and play music from around the world that transport me back to being away on holiday. It’s amazing how these small things can turn everyday life into something that feels like a getaway.

5. Prioritise Rest and Joy (Not Just Productivity)

On holiday, we rest. We play. We pause. We reflect. One of the best parts of being on holiday is how easily we give ourselves permission to relax. No to-do lists, no rushing—just time to unwind. So I started carving out moments like that in my everyday life.

I now schedule mini pockets of relaxation throughout the week and at the weekends. Some of the things I like to do are:

• Reading on the sun-lounger in the sun, even just for 15 minutes
• Making a lovely cup of tea and really savouring it peacefully
• Going on a bike ride with my daughter
• Going for a walk on the beach (I am lucky we live on the coast)
• Having a slow, tech-free morning playing games with my daughter at the weekend
• Setting aside an evening for a long bath with my book
• Cooking a lovely meal for myself from scratch and really enjoy the process of cooking and enjoying listening to my favourite podcasts
• Simply sitting outside watching the birds in the garden

These mini rituals help me disconnect from the noise, recharge, and bring that holiday-level calm into regular life. Yours might look completely different from this, but the point is embedding the things important to you into your day to day life.

Rest isn’t a reward; it’s essential. I try to not wait until I’m on holiday to relax, but incorporate it into my every day.

So yes, I still love holidays. I still want to travel and explore and soak up the world. But I no longer need to escape to feel good. I’ve stopped living for the next trip, and started creating a life that feels a little more like being on holiday every day.

The truth is—you don’t need a plane ticket to feel free, relaxed or alive. You can build that feeling right where you are in ways that work for you.