Why You Still Feel Stressed on Holiday (and How to Stop)

You’ve booked the holiday.The suitcase is packed.Your body is lying on a sun-drenched beach, but your mind?

It’s still in your inbox.

You’re replaying that conversation from last week’s meeting. Thinking about the launch. Wondering if you should check in with the team “just quickly”.

This isn’t about overthinking, it's about nervous system dysregulation.

When your body hasn’t learnt how to feel safe enough to stop, you’ll keep running even in paradise.

The Nervous System Truth

Most of us are taught to “just relax” as if it’s a switch you can flick. But if your nervous system has been in survival mode for too long, it doesn’t trust that slowing down is safe.

Your body is still scanning for the next threat (or email).

The good news? You can retrain it. Breathwork is one of the most direct ways to do that.

Three Breathwork Practices for True Presence

1. Clarity Breathwork (Box Breathing)

   • Inhale for 4 seconds

   • Hold for 4 seconds

   • Exhale for 4 seconds

   • Hold for 4 secondsPerfect for when your mind is looping and you can’t focus.

2. Extended Exhale

   • Inhale for 4 seconds

   • Exhale for 6 secondsActivates your parasympathetic nervous system — your body’s rest mode.

3. Three Deep BreathsA micro-practice you can use anywhere. It’s a pause, a reset, a moment to come home to yourself.

A Question for You

When was the last time you truly rested not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, energetically?

If the answer feels far away, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. You’ve just been taught to override yourself.

Remember: You don’t need to do more. You just need to be supported differently.