We think... • August 2016
Relaxation is key to a good break away from home. Two celebrities who have always liked to enjoy themselves reveal what stimulates them these days
The case for hedonism, by Judge Jules, DJ
What exactly is hedonism? The pursuit of happiness can come in many forms, but for me it’s about stepping away from the norm of everyday life. If your life usually involves sitting at a desk for 37 hours a week, then the excitement of hitting a nightclub in a foreign land, of riding a jet ski, or of eating an indulgent meal (every day, for an entire week) can only have a positive impact on your life.
Sure, you might need to hit the gym a little more when you return home, or go to bed a bit earlier, but experiencing things that are not ‘normal’ for you in the pursuit of pleasure is a form of mental relaxation, in that it takes your mind off real life. A week out of the office doesn’t need to be mind-numbing; I prefer the idea of a mind-stimulating break, one where I can immerse myself in a situation I’d never experience back home.
If you’ve ever turned on your Out of Office to go and hit the clubs in Ibiza for a week solid – I can certainly get behind that idea. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a career out of my hedonistic pursuits. While not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do that, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be using your holiday for energetic ventures – they can still relax your mind. After all, you should work to live, not live to work, a phrase that has continued to hold considerable significance for me throughout my life.
And against, by Nell McAndrew, model and charity ambassador
I have enjoyed burning the candle at both ends and, looking back, as much as I had fun, I am ready for the next chapter – enjoying simple things such as running on a beach in the early morning, or watching the sun go down while listening to the water gently lapping the edge of the sand.
A yoga retreat could be an experience of a lifetime, energising the mind and body through eating simple healthy foods and exercising. Returning home ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead, and having the energy and positive focus to cope with day-to-day life and give of your best.
We all pursue pleasure, and above all health and happiness, but if we don't look after our bodies then life may be cut shorter than we wish.
Taking part in a fitness event such as a marathon, triathlon or iron man is my idea of a huge sense of achievement. To over-indulge in food that won’t fuel my body to do anything but sit doesn’t excite me. I want to have positive energy, eating foods that will help my body to be fit, strong and healthy.
My perfect holiday would involve exercise and eating healthy food. So while I do want to enjoy life, I also want to return from a holiday that has felt like a proper break from reality – to come home ready to take on whatever each day brings, not to be so tired that I need another holiday.
Holidays are to de-stress and re-energise, to look after mind and body.
So to those who want to be hedonistic on their approach to holidays, I say go and have a great time. I am just at a different stage in my life and crave the opposite of over-indulgence. I crave simplicity.