How to recenter yourself when your holiday triggers stress, not relaxation

I was sitting at the beach, the sun warming my back, my feet in the sand, the wind playing with my hair

— and still, I felt everything but relaxed.

Maybe you know that feeling, too? You’re in a beautiful place, with every reason to enjoy yourself, and yet your body just doesn’t follow along.

Holidays can actually be some of the most challenging times of the year. It’s not just you or me. Being somewhere else, with all the new impressions, expectations, and unfamiliar surroundings, often stirs up shadows. Add to that the closeness of small spaces, the lack of a private corner to retreat to, and all too quickly, there is more tension than relaxation.

At the same time, holidays also bring so so many gifts: new insights, fresh perspectives, and different ways of connecting. But still, sometimes you find yourself sitting in one of the most beautiful places, feeling more miserable than you did at home. I definitely did last week.

For me, that contrast feels especially painful. Not only is the harmony I’m always seeking missing, but there’s also this unspoken pressure to enjoy every single moment. Because soon, too soon, daily life will catch us again. And so, instead of soaking up the sun, I sat on the beach angry enough that I wouldn’t have been surprised if steam had started coming out of my ears.

If you’ve ever felt like that, welcome!

Here are three things I did on holiday to reconnect with myself — and that you can try, too, the next time you feel out of sync:

1. Drawing light language in the sand.
There’s nothing like moving your feet through the sand. The moment I draw light codes, the energy of the place shifts. I remember that there’s something bigger than me, bigger than my anger, bigger than any challenge I’m facing. And you can tap into that bigger picture, too, in your own way. (If you’re unfamiliar with light language: it’s a channeled, intuitive language of energy — a way to transmit healing, clarity, and activation beyond words. I’ve made a supershort explanation here)

2. Hypnosis meditation.
I’ve become such a fan of hypnosis meditations recently. At the moment, I’m especially loving Paul McKenna’s BLISS Meditation. You don’t need the exact same track, of course — but finding a guided meditation that helps your body soften and your mind unwind can be a game-changer when tension spikes.

3. Long walks.
Yes, this one sounds simple, but it’s so underrated. Moving your body moves your emotions. And for reasons I’m sure science has explained many times, walking frees the mind, clears out stuck thoughts, and allows clarity to return. A practice anyone can do, almost anywhere.

These practices remind me again and again: you don’t need to wait until life is perfect, or until you’re at home, or until the holiday is over, to feel better. You already have access to tools that bring you back to yourself — in moments of overwhelm, stress, or emotional turbulence.

If you’d love a whole library of these kinds of practices to lean on — so that next time you feel disconnected, you already know exactly what to do — you’ll find them inside  TOOLS OF TRANSFORMATION. A space filled with energy practices, guided exercises, and supportive resources to help you reconnect to yourself anytime, anywhere.