Time for a break?

Breaks play an important part in allowing us to renew and restore energy, allowing us to function at our best.

And while short breaks throughout the day are essential for productivity and wellbeing, longer holiday breaks are also important. We all need something that allows us to step away from the minutia of the every day and think about what is important in our life and work.

How this plays out in practice is different for everyone. For me? I love the mountains for the ‘fresh air’ and ‘awe’, so hiking is my go-to activity for longer breaks.

In fact, there are many benefits to active leisure holidays!

Exposure to nature and experiencing awe: Many active leisure activities have the added benefit of being closer to the great outdoors, whether skiing down the slopes, cycling around a forest, hiking through the valleys, or kayaking across a lake.

Getting into the great outdoors and experiencing awe at the expansiveness of nature reminds us of how much bigger the world is than ourselves.

Digital detox: No matter how addicted you are to checking your work emails, it can become the last thing you think about during physical activity.

Whether you’re exhausted, have no signal, or simply are far too busy enjoying the nature around you, active leisure is the perfect time to go notification-free.

See the bigger picture: Hiking is ideal because although it can be physically demanding, it's great to be able to switch off.

Active leisure forces you to notice things (from the weather to the terrain and the path ahead), allowing you to switch off the worries of running a small business. Hiking gives you space to think about the bigger picture.

See how other cultures solve the same problems: Active leisure holidays also allow you to experience how different places tackle the same issues we Australians face back home.

For example, while hiking the alpine areas of Switzerland, I got to experience how they are tackling the rollout of renewable energy. It was incredible to see the mix of large and small renewable infrastructure, as well as the amount of car-charging ports.

Divergent outcomes (creative thinking) Stepping away from our routine - literally stepping away, in the case of walking - can help us see problems in a new light.

Walking is associated with an increase in divergent thinking outcomes, making it a great time for solving problems or thinking of new business ideas. Our best ideas occur when our brain is neutral or allowing the mind to wander.

Key takeaway: what active leisure activity can you plan for the next month?

So this week, take a look at your calendar and see where you have time to plan an active leisure day out. Use this as a great opportunity to get moving, get into nature, and get a few friends or loved ones together to enjoy the great outdoors together.