Is the only time you read a book on your commute into work? Do you ever buy your coffee not to take away? How often do you walk somewhere without stopping to take in your surroundings? In our over-stimulating, constantly-moving world, we are often too busy to take a break and take in the simple pleasures that surround us.
Allow us to introduce you to the concept of simple luxury.
Simple luxury is in allowing you those unchecked moments to pause, reflect or simply feel the world around you, without the demands of real life knocking at the door:
“Luxury, one of travel’s most overused declarations… [is] not about solid marble suites or gold-leaf interiors… [It’s] about returning luxury to its roots – something precious, rare, and most important, invested in emotional value.” – National Geographic
Here are some ways you can define your own simple pleasures while on holiday:
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Watching the sunrise or sunset
Enjoy the luxury of watching the sunrise from the helipad at Constance Ephelia, Seychelles
Watching a sunset is one of the most relaxing holiday moments, but did you know there are more benefits to sunset-gazing, than just being relaxed?
For one, you can slow down time. Watching the natural beauty of a sunrise or sunset gives you a feeling of awe, which in a 2012 study, made participants feel like they had more time and were less impatient.
Sunset watching also means you have to get outside to find the best spot! Just 20 minutes of fresh air per day promotes a sense of vitality, according to the Journal of Environmental Psychology. So go exploring to find the best vista, ahead of your sunrise or sunset. Choose somewhere with a clear, uninterrupted view of the horizon, away from the noise of other people. With no one around to distract from the moment, it will feel like the sun came up just for you!
If you can’t bring yourself to wake up early (after all, you are on holiday), why not pull up a seat on the beach and see how many colours you can count in the sunset instead?
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Food for the mind – reading a book completely uninterrupted
A book is considered food for the mind. It’s the fuel for creativity and the door to a multitude of worlds. But surely you’d agree that it’s hard to read without being interrupted?
With the constant distractions of life, it can be hard to find the time and space to read. But reading is so important. It’s the perfect way to relax, at the same time broadening the frontiers of knowledge. So, choose your book carefully and indulge in the simple pleasure of reading without being interrupted.
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What about Dinner?
“… Food is not simply organic fuel to keep body and soul together; it is a perishable art that must be savoured at the peak of perfection.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
We couldn’t agree more with the above. When almost all your days revolve around deadlines and meetings, cereal bars and junk food become your staple diet. So when you’re on holiday, you want to make sure you’re enjoying your food – both what you eat, and where you eat it.
Embrace the luxury of a mouthwatering meal with a jaw-dropping view, on your simple luxury holiday! All else aside, a meal taken at ease is better for your digestion, and will leave you happier and more relaxed.
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Quality time with the little ones
The simple pleasure of spending quality time with your family is hard to beat, especially when you take the demands of everyday life out of the equation. Whether it’s teaching little ones how to swim or releasing baby sea turtles back into the wild, these are the family ‘kodak moments’ that you’ll look back on again and again, for years to come.
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An amazing night’s sleep
Besides resting your beautiful body and mind, sleep plays a very important role in your overall wellbeing.
According to the American Psychological Association, the luxury of a good night’s sleep enables better concentration, productivity and performance as it heal damage cells, boosts your immune system and helps you recover from your day’s routine.
Our hectic schedule though, doesn’t exactly aid sleep and while you’re on holiday, our recommendation to you is to indulge in one of life’s simplest luxuries – a good night’s sleep.
From taking your pick of pillows from our pillow menu to ordering a lavender-scented bath, you’re sure to wake up feeling like a whole new person. Just don’t forget to turn off your alarm – after all, it’s not like paradise is going anywhere.
If you’d like to take time to explore some of life’s simplest, most precious luxuries, why not consider one of our stunning locations in the Indian Ocean? Come join us at Constance Hotels & Resorts – we’ll help you check out of reality for a little while.
Featured image credit: @selinozzambak captures Constance Moofushi Maldives
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What are your favourite simple pleasures to indulge in on holiday? Tell us all about them in the comments below.