Bonnes Vacances! Join me in embracing the power of pause.
The many ways of taking a break and a little announcement. #58
Every quarter, I take a day off just to myself.
I have a leisury breakfast, I chat to a friend for a long time, I go find the best pancake place in London, I listen to music, whatever I want! It is hugely refreshing and a treat for the soul.
Twice a week I also pause on eating, also called “fasting”! It's like a detox and a big, big benefit for my body. I go over more of the hidden benefits of the 5:2 diet - which for me is more of a lifestyle than a diet now in this video.
I’m not the only one: many of the accounts I follow on Instagram for instance decide to pause or go dark for months and for no reason. Online creators I look up to also take a month or more to recharge themselves.
This made me reflect more about that concept of “taking a break”. Often it’s linked to going away or travelling. But how about a break from the constant movement and pace of life, from all the demands we have, all the requests, all the worries in our mind?
It’s then easy to think of many ways to hit the pause button:
for a few minutes - taking a deep breath, looking at the sky, looking at an ant going to its business
for a few hours - reading a book, running, doing a puzzle, creating something with your hands
for a day - a above! I don't do any chores for the house, for my daughter, for my husband, for our travels. It's just for me without any guilt, totally self-absorbing, selfish, and it feels great!
for a weekend - obviously this is where a weekend escape fits well. It can be by going to one of those hotels or B&B that I share with you regularly but also just going to the countryside for a long walk if you live in a city or a city eploration if you work in a small village. Or going to the sea if you live in the countryside and vice versa. You get it, the idea is to break away from your usual environment
for a few weeks - aka a French holiday!! we are renowned for having lots of vacation and taking the whole month of August off. I never did that but when I worked in France I was definitely taking 3 weeks off and I highly recommend it. You recover from everything in the first week, start to find your rythm in the second and totally enjoy the third! Going for only two weeks, which is the norm in the UK, still is a bit against nature for me.
for a month or more - could be called a sabbatical, could be just a necessary stop to all things racing around you.
Just taking a day, once a quarter, taking a few weeks off from stuff that you can't stop, or if you can, maybe taking a break every day or every week doing like two hours just for yourself, I think it's really important and has a big value
On that note, I will take a break from this newsletter and probably Instagram posts - which to be frank I slowed down considerably - for the rest of the summer.
I look forward to coming back with renewed creative energy and things to share with you in September and I wish you a very good summer too!
Extra finds
Verina Astra, Sifnos
From 155 euros - Check latest prices and availability
Verina Astra is situated at Poulati, Sifnos, in the Greek cyclades islands. The breathtaking view and the wild beauty of the area blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment and the sight of the castle. Poulati is only 3km away from the picturesque village of Artemonas.16 bedrooms, some with private pools and there is also a common outdoor pool.
Palazzo Previtera
From 141£ - Check latest prices and availability
Palazzo Previtera is the only Living Museum of Etna. It classifies itself as a luxury Bed and Breakfast with four bedrooms and two cottages. Family-owned, it sits on the slopes of Mount Etna, and was restored over ten years. The style is definitely opulent with ornate ceilings, heirloom furniture and contemporary paintings combined with a museum, art gallery, library of rare books and garden. No pool
Palazzo Margherita, Italy
Double rooms from €350 per night in low season - Check latest prices and availability
This 19th-century building is one of director Francis Ford Coppola's homes which he now opens go guests. This one is in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy. You can either stay in a room or hire the whole house for exclusive use. In fact, Palazo Margherita feels more like a glamorous family home than a hotel. There are extravagant suites designed by the Coppola family, rustic southern Italian cooking and a small but peaceful outdoor pool.
Casa Oliver Principe Real, Lisbon
From 110 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Located in Praça do Príncipe Real Square in Lisbon, Casa Oliver Príncipe Real is set in a renovated historical complex with several buildings and offers rooms with modern designs with large window. A variety of restaurants can be found within a walking distance. No pool
Grosvenor Hotel, UK
B&B doubles from £149 - Check latest prices and availability
Renovated in 2019, the 34-room hotel and restaurant is now full of colour. The inn is right at the heart of trout-fishing and horse-racing country. A well-tended garden is lovely for a stroll while indoor you can enjoy a dining room, a lively bar and a plush lounge. No pool Details
