How to mentally detox on your next long weekend

Because actually unplugging is harder than you may think

Meditation teacher and founder of The Broad Place, Jacqui Lewis, shares seven sure-fire ways to turn your next mini break into a mental retreat. 

Sometimes going on a mini break can be more stressful than staying home. Crazy, huh?

After you tie up all the lose ends at work, pack the car, repack the car, drive to your cute little Airbnb in that god-forsaken spot that took you longer than expected to get to, check your emails 50 thousand times (just me?), unpack the car and finally collapse on the couch, you need a holiday from your holiday.

But there are ways to use your next long weekend as a mental detox so you can actually return to real life feeling refreshed, relaxed and energised.

Jacqui Lewis, founder of mindfulness platform The Broad Place and meditation teacher, knows all too well how hard it can be to unplug - she’s seen it first-hand with her students. 

Lewis' top tips to refresh over the long weekend

#1. Use the break to learn to meditate

There's no greater skill to cleanse your mind and create inner stability than meditation, and it's far more than sitting still with your eyes closed.

There are a lot of free guided meditations available online,  and many programs through The Broad Place.

Start where you can, no matter what that start looks like, and dedicate yourself to it. Your future self will thank you!

There's no greater skill to cleanse your mind and create inner stability than meditation, and it's far more than sitting still with your eyes closed. Image: Unsplash

#2. Take some time to recap

Sit quietly by yourself and write a list of all the things you have learned over the past year.

Journal as much information as you can, and let your mind pull out all the little nuggets of learnings and joy as you sift through the months. 

#3. Intentions and commitments for the rest of the year

If you've fallen behind on the intentions you set in January, that's okay.

Get clear on your goals again by writing down who you would like to ‘be’ by the end of the year.

Focus less on the stuff you want to acquire or the things you want to achieve, and instead bring your awareness to how you would like to hold yourself. What will authenticity look like for you? How can you bring more love,  kindness and clarity into your days?

Sit quietly by yourself and write a list of all the things you learned over the past year. Image: Pexels.

This will create some direction for you for the coming months, and is best done with a fresh mind.

What kinds of commitments do you want to keep to yourself, and what strategies will you need to put in place to achieve these? 

#4. Stay hydrated

It sounds really obvious, but many of us forget. Your brain needs a lot of water, so prioritise your hydration to think more clearly.

Your brain needs a lot of water, so prioritise your hydration to think more clearly. Image: Pexels

#5. Take a social media break

Whether it’s dedicating time each day or taking a whole week off, stepping away from social media will bring so much clarity so that you can return with a fresh, and hopefully healthier, relationship to social media.

There are lots of benefits to social media, and many downsides, so taking a detox to balance out our minds is imperative. 

#6. Write a gratitude list

Add as much information from memory as you can – jot down all the things you are grateful for from the year so far.

Gratitude is the medicine we need to combat the angst and fear of 2025.

Once you have your list, if you feel compelled to take it deeper, go through and share your gratitude with those you're grateful for.

Stepping away from social media will bring so much clarity so that you can return with a fresh, and hopefully healthier, relationship to social media. Image: Pexels.

#7. Don’t over-socialise before you leave!

It can be tempting to try to jam as much as possible in before a quiet weekend alone, but you want to ensure you don’t burn yourself out before your getaway.

Try to have a few quiet early nights before you leave, so you can dive into deeper relaxation this long weekend.

Originally published as How to mentally detox on your next long weekend