I want to preface this by saying that I am in no way a mental health professional. I’m a mum who’s struggled with her mental health for her entire life. These are my personal views. Even though I work in the travel industry, it isn’t in any way biased or pushing anyone to book with me. Feel free to get in touch if you do want to though! However, I feel strongly about the matter and think that holidays for mums are super important. Important for the whole family to be honest.
This post includes some affiliate links, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases but the items will cost no more.
As a child, I was lucky enough that my mums and dad took me away on holiday every year. We always had 2 weeks in the middle of the summer holidays and we always went Half Board. We went half-board because my mum always said she wasn’t spending her holiday cooking. I didn’t get why she didn’t want to do it, but as a mum of 3 who cooks 99% of the family meals – I get it!
Mums need an opportunity to relax and recharge, motherhood is non-stop. It’s beneficial for the whole family too, a time to bond, a time to chill, and a time for the kids to see mum not frazzled from the stresses of modern family life.
Mental Health and Well-being
From my experience as a mother, I don’t have much time to relax, especially with the family. Running my own travel agency business full-time is demanding. With 3 kids in different schools, keeping up with emails feels like a full-time job. I handle 99% of the cooking, clean the house, plan meals, and manage all general planning. It’s incredibly draining, and I need a break to maintain my well-being. For this mum, and many others, holidays are super important!
A break from the routine can work wonders. Just the knowledge that tomorrow there’s no school run, no packed lunch to make and no cooking. That alone lifts the mood! To go away, whether you stay in a hotel like we always used to or stay in an apartment and have meals out in new restaurants, to me is pure bliss.
It’s incredibly important that we all get a break. Burnout is real and affects so many people. The chance to relax, have a break from the routine and do something that we enjoy is what we all need at times. Whether we are having a weekend break in Cleethorpes or a 3-week tour around the USA, the benefits are the same. Also, whether you’re a mum who works or a mum who is a full-time carer to your children, you still NEED that break. Don’t let anyone tell you that if you aren’t working you are on constant holiday!
Physical Health Benefits of Holidays for Mums
As well as the mental health benefits, there are lots of physical benefits too. The change in scenery often means we move our bodies and explore a lot more. For instance, we just got back from Mallorca, the resort was new to us and I noticed my daily steps were around double those in my usual work day.
My steps at home are pitifully low, to be honest, and it’s all too easy to hop in the car for a short journey. But there were no complaints from anyone when there were a lot of new things to see. When we went to Singapore in 2019, each day we walked for more than 25,000 steps and again, not one complaint as it was all new and exciting!
As well as the walking we did things like swimming, we joined in with activities at the hotel this time and made time for family activities. Aside from being active, the other physical benefit is that the relaxation and change of environment can improve your sleep.
Strengthening Family Bonds
One thing that I think is so underrated but so important is the time that we spend together on holiday. There is no other time than on holiday that we can all spend uninterrupted time together. My eldest loves nothing more than sitting playing card games with us on holiday, but when we’re at home there’s always something else to distract us.
The memories created on holidays are something that last a lifetime. My kids speak as fondly about the time we’ve spent together in a caravan in Mablethorpe as they do our further flung holidays. Both are equally important to strengthen those bonds. The time that the kids spend together too, even if they don’t want to involve mum and dad for a while.
Personal Growth and Learning
Getting away gives you all the opportunity to try new things. Whether it be food, drink or experiences. There’s an opportunity to try something that you wouldn’t have the time to do at home too. I’m not even talking about things having to be wild, we love a pedalo on holiday – this isn’t something we’d do at home. And of course, travelling abroad gives us the chance to try different cuisines. My crew are all big fans of Greek Gyros wraps and churros thanks to our trips!
Mums get more of an opportunity for self-care on holiday, which is important. Happy mum means happy family! Take the time to get a massage if the budget lets you. Or even just stealing half an hour to yourself with a good book, how many mums get the time for even that at home?
Tips for Planning a Mum-Friendly Holiday
So, we’ve established that holidays for mums are super important for lots of reasons. Here are my tips for planning a mum-friendly holiday.
- Choose the right place. Look for somewhere that everyone will be happy in. Whether it be a quiet villa or a full-on fun caravan park. You know your family better than anyone and know that if they’re happy, you’ll be happy!
- Plan as much as you can, even if you’re planning to not plan… I know that sounds like I’m speaking gibberish but hear me out. If you’re planning to sit back and relax, make sure that you budget for it. If we go on a self-catering holiday I’m budgeting for lunch and dinner… I will not be cooking any meals or making any sandwiches on my holiday!
- Use lists for packing to make sure you’ve got everything you need. Don’t forget a medical bag to avoid as much stress as possible – I should take my advice, we always forget something!
- Don’t pay more than you can afford, the holiday will be wonderful no matter what you do. It isn’t worth getting into debt for a holiday, if you do that will eventually cause more stress than has been relieved! Check out the reviews but don’t take them to heart, if the majority are good don’t worry about the odd one or two moaners. Look out for things like the location and the room size, and above all make sure you book with a reputable company, look out for the ABTA and ATOL logos for peace of mind.
Concluding why Holidays for mums are important
So to recap… holidays for mums are super important for many reasons! There are mental and physical health benefits, strengthening those bonds with the family, and the opportunity to learn something new too. Take the opportunity to take a holiday when you can. It’s not just something you want, it’s something you need. Even if it’s a night away camping, whatever it is, take a break, you deserve it, mum.
Let me know in the comments about your top hips for holidays for mums.
Becky x
New Sheffield Foodhall: An honest review
Uncovering the Culinary Delights: Exploring the Best Restaurants in Kalamaki
Easy Side Hustles that will pay for a holiday
Why Holidays for Mums are Super Important
Affordable Hand Luggage Essentials For A Stress-free Trip
