People Are Realising The Real Reason You Can’t Recline Your Seat During Takeoff, And I Had No Idea

Posted on 10/03/2025 by Boris Clair

You know those ominous black clumps you see in the branches of trees sometimes?

Well, it took a Reddit post for me to realise that those aren’t actually bird’s nests.

Nope ― they’re either mistletoe (which is technically a parasitic plant), or a “witch’s broom” growth irregularity spurred on by animal or bacterial invasions.

And now, a post shared to r/explainlikeimfive has inspired me to ask experts why we actually have to recline our chairs on takeoff and landing.

In a recent post shared by u/bishopZ, the site user asked: “Why do airline passengers have to put their seats into a full upright position for takeoff? Why does it matter?”

Here’s what experts at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group taught me:

Takeoff and landing are the riskiest parts of the flight

A now-deleted Reddit account wrote under the original comment: “You’re most likely to have some sort of accident during takeoff and landing. This is also why your tray tables have to be up and you can’t have laptops during these times: ease of evacuation.”

Indeed aerospace safety expert and associate professor of aeronautical science Anthony Brickhouse told Business Insider that 49% of deaths happen during landing, while 14% occur at takeoff.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, a spokesperson for the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group explained: “There are two primary safety-related reasons why aircraft seats must be in the upright position for take-off and landing.

“The first is that the seat gives the occupant maximum impact protection when upright, and its structure locks into position accordingly. Being upright also reduces the possibility of the occupant ‘submarining’ under their lap belt in the event of a violent deceleration.”

“Submarining” happens when a person’s seatbelt is a little loose, allowing their body to slip underneath it at high speed. They slide under the belt, increasing the risk of injury.

“The second reason is that reclined seats reduce the space available in the row behind for occupants to escape quickly if an emergency evacuation is required,” the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group added.

In fact, people who listen to “boring” plane protocol are more likely to survive disaster

The Guardian shared experts’ research into survivors of plane accidents. They found that people who had survived (rare) catastrophes had some things in common ― including being more likely to have read the plane’s safety briefing.

Knowing where the exits are, keeping your shoes on, and practising both the brace position and undoing your seatbelt can all help too.

And remember, Amanda Ripley, author of The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes, says: “between 1983 and 2000, 56% of passengers involved in serious plane accidents survived.”

I’m A Flight Attendant – This Is The Safest Place To Park Your Car In The Airport

Posted on 08/03/2025 by Boris Clair

Airport parking demand shifts hugely across the UK, Transport Network reports.

Fewer than 1% of travellers through Heathrow look for a parking spot, but 10% of those passing through Bristol Airport look out for one.

That’s partly because of local transport links, they explain. But no matter where you’ve parked your car while on holiday, you’ll want to know it’s safe.

In a YouTube Short, flight attendant Cierra Mistt shared that the most secure place to park your car may be in the spot you like least.

Where’s safest to park in an airport car park?

“If you want to make sure your vehicle is safe at the airport ― especially on those long trips ― park in either the top floor of the [multi-storey car park], or the very back of economy parking,” Mistt said.

Though those areas are far away from the airport and can seem “unguarded”, Cierra said she recommends them for good reason.

“This is actually the parking where all the employees of the airport, along with crew members that are going to be on trips, park,” she explained.

“Security is constantly monitoring that area to make sure that no one breaks into those cars, and the shuttles are over there more than any other place because they need to make sure that their employees get to work on time.”

Some airports have separate parking arrangements for their staff ― but you can usually look this up ahead of time.

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What if I don’t want to go that far?

Airports claim your car will still have lots of protection, like CCTV, number plate recognition, and patrols.

Otherwise, the Met Police suggest following some basic steps will prevent break-ins, at the airport and elsewhere.

These include locking your car, shutting your windows and sunroof, securing your number plates with tamper-resistant screws, and taking out or hiding valuable items inside the vehicle.

And don’t even leave hints of pricey electronic goods, like sat nav mounts, on show, they add.

I’m A Travel Expert – Hearing This Code On A Plane Can Mean A Tragedy Has Occurred

Posted on 03/03/2025 by Boris Clair

Did you know that airline staff aren’t just being friendly when they greet you onto the plane?

Yup ― according to flight attendant Kat Kamalani, “when you’re walking on the aeroplane and you see our happy smiley face[s], we’re actually looking you up and down, and we are trying to find our ABPs”.

ABPs stands for “able-bodied passengers” – or people who can help in an emergency.

And now, travel experts from Wander have told us: “While most flights go smoothly, flight crews use a secret language to discreetly communicate situations ranging from lighthearted quirks to serious, even life-or-death emergencies – often without passengers ever noticing.”

Code 300 or ‘Angel’ spells tragedy, according to experts

“If you hear ‘Code 300’ or ‘Angel’ on a flight, it could mean someone has died onboard,” the experts at Wander said.

“These discreet codes allow the crew to handle the situation without alarming other passengers or drawing attention to the tragic event,” they claimed.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has a set of rules airlines are encouraged to follow when a passenger dies.

Staff are advised to move the deceased to a seat, ideally one with few passengers near it. Some companies place them in a zipped body bag.

They have to notify the destination airport ASAP so the appropriate services are present when they land.

“Take extra care when moving the person and be aware of the difficulty of the situation for companions and onlookers,” the IATA continues.

Other passengers are let off the plane first, while the dead passenger and any family accompanying them stay on board “until the proper local authority has arrived to take care of the body”.

Are there any other codes?

According to Wander, yes.

They say that a “code yellow” refers to “a minor medical situation” such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous.

“While not an emergency, this term lets crew members discreetly monitor the situation and prepare any necessary assistance,” they explained.

And airline staff referring to a person as a “mermaid” is a
“playful yet passive-aggressive nickname for a passenger who deliberately sprawls out across empty seats to deter others from sitting in their row,” they added.

The more you know…

‘You’ll Never Forget Just One Shoe!’: Flight Attendant’s Trick To Stop Losing Things On Holiday

Posted on 27/02/2025 by Boris Clair

Visiting Paris gave me a greater appreciation for reliable public transport, a really well-made coffee and stunning European architecture.

In return, I gave Paris a brand-new pair of ankle boots, a book, and an unread copy of Cosmopolitan magazine. What can I say? I never really was that great at gift-giving.

Seriously though, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left behind something important when travelling and it is really starting to frustrate me. RIP to those boots, several scarves in New York and the strappy top I swanned around Berlin in.

I do take some comfort in knowing that I’m not alone. According to the holiday experts at eShores, 80% of people lose, forget or have something stolen when they go on holiday.

Thankfully, a flight attendant shared her secret to never losing important items abroad

In a TikTok video, a British Airways flight attendant revealed that she has a slightly strange technique for ensuring that she never loses anything particularly important – like documents, purses, passports, etc., – abroad again and honestly… she’s on to something.

The flight attendant, Zoe, says in the video: “When I have my passports or anything valuable, when I put them in the safe, what I always do is, I always put one of my crew shoes in the safe because I would never forget anything I’ve put in there.”

Many people in the comments agreed with her, with one adding: “I always put my belt and tie in the safe! Will never forget anything I hope!”

Zoe also helpfully assured that even as a cabin crew member, she has also lost things abroad and that’s actually what resulted in a colleague telling her this handy tip.

She added: “You’ll never forget just one shoe!”

Here’s hoping.

Here’s What Spain’s So-Called ‘Tourist Ban’ Will Really Mean For Brits

Posted on 27/01/2025 by Boris Clair

Holiday-loving Brits have begun to panic about an imprecisely-named “tourism ban” in Spain, which is the UK’s number two holiday destination after domestic stays.

It’s true that some rules and regulations have changed in Málaga, the capital of Costa del Sol, this month, as the protests against over-tourism that took place last year have had an effect on legislation across the country.

But rest assured, sun-seekers; there are no signs an outright “tourism ban” is set to come into place in Spain, or even in Costa Del Sol.

The region, which includes cities like Marbella and Torremolinos, has introduced a three-year ban on the registration of any new holiday rentals in 43 areas.

Alicante and Madrid introduced similar laws last year.

Here’s what the new legislations actually mean for Brits:

Yes, you can still book a holiday

The new ban prevents new holiday rentals from being registered. It doesn’t get rid of existing holiday accommodation, except for some holiday flats that were registered after February 22.

Those will have to give up their licences if their access and resources aren’t separate to those of the other residents.

Many Airbnbs, hotels, and other tourist accommodation will remain as-is.

Málaga’s ban is expected to extend past the three-year proposal it’s currently based on. It’s part of a larger plan to lower disruptive noise in the city.

In parts of Costa Del Sol, tourist accommodation makes up 8% of the rental market.

Cities like Seville may follow suit, the Mirror reports.

Are there any other changes to visiting Spain?

Yes. Those hoping to buy a house in Spain from outside of the EU, including the UK, will soon have to pay a 100% property tax if they’re non-residents (ie if you live in Spain less than 183 days a year).

This is yet another measure to try to address Spain’s mounting housing crisis, the country’s leader says.

Meanwhile sleeping, camping, or swimming at Benidorm’s beaches between 00:00 am and 7 am will be met with fines of up to €1,200 this year.

Fires and BBQs are banned; smoking and drinking on the beach, as well as peeing in the sea and bringing your dog to a non-pet-friendly beach will also result in fines.

You’ll also need to provide more info than most Brits are used to giving (including home addresses) when booking cars or hiring a hotel. This will apply to locals, too.

Flight Attendant Shares The 1 Seat She Always Avoids On Planes

Posted on 15/01/2024 by Boris Clair

I feel like “I’ll sleep on the plane there” falls into the same category as “I’ll let it soak” ― they’re both little but destructive lies we tell ourselves when we’re too stressed or tired to think through the reality of a situation.

And like facing a clogged-up sink hours after you said you’d clean that grimy pot, taking an exhausted exit from a plane only to face a groggy 12 hours of activities in a new country can be completely overwhelming.

Luckily, it turns out there’s a trick that only the pros know to help ensure a great nap while you’re travelling ― recently, a former British Airways flight attendant, shared with The Express where to avoid sitting to get your best shot at sleep.

What’s that then?

“If you book the middle aisle front row on a long-haul flight, yes you might get some extra leg room, but you’re more than likely to be sat next to a baby,” she said.

“This is because this seat has a fold-down table for cots/bassinets for babies to sleep instead of on someone’s lap for the whole flight.”

So, if the infant you’re sat beside is particularly vocal or fussy, it might be hard to drown out their cries well enough to nod off.

The former flight attendant also told The Express that while a window seat is often comfiest for mid-flight naps (you need something to rest your head on that isn’t an irritated stranger’s shoulder, after all), there’s one job we should all do there if we want to catch some pre-holiday Zzzs.

“If you’re at a window seat and planning to get some sleep (particularly when flying through the night into daylight) close your blind after take-off,” she told the publication.

That’s because those who don’t remember to shut their blinds will have flight attendants “climbing” all over them to close it for them. After all, they need to be down during takeoff and landing ― and, of course, it’s better for blocking daylight.

It’s also a good idea to stay in the back of the plane, she added.

Anything else?

Yep! We’ve written before about how everything from a good neck pillow to meditation can help you fall asleep on a plane.

And Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer, previously told HuffPost that how you dress is key.

“The most common mistake people make on long-haul flights is not dressing properly,” he said. “Since you will be sitting in the same seat for six or more hours, it is essential to be as comfortable as possible.”

The middle aisle of the front row isn’t the only seat you should avoid on a flight, either ― “Sitting near the restroom may sound convenient, but it’s never fun to be in that row when a line forms outside the restroom,” said Paul Jacobs, general manager and vice president at Kayak North America, told HuffPost.

So, dress comfy, cushion up, avoid the middle front aisle seat, pull those blinds down, and skip the pre-loo view if you can, the pros say. Noted.

The Best Cocktails To Make For Your New Year’s Parties

Posted on 29/12/2023 by Boris Clair

The holidays traditionally are for getting together with the people you love most. Tradition also holds that it’s the season of office parties and other semi-mandatory affairs. Whether you’re attending the next cocktail (or ugly sweater) party excitedly or begrudgingly, a good cocktail is likely to improve the evening.

While there’s nothing wrong with hot toddies or spiked eggnog (actually — I take it back, there’s plenty wrong with eggnog), an expert-designed seasonal cocktail could be a nice change of pace. Warm your bones with one of these recipes, shared by some of New York’s most impressive bars and restaurants, and give your guests the gift of a good, stiff drink.

You may have to make a trip to a bar specialty store, or, you know, the internet, to pick up some of the requisite ingredients, but we’ve included tips for substitution whenever possible. You’ll want a basic bartending set with a cocktail shaker, strainer and muddler to make these. We’ve also suggested glassware and garnishes for each cocktail, if you’re going all out. Also, flavoured syrups aren’t a bad investment — they’ll taste great in your coffee on Christmas morning.

When Smokey Sings

Not into eggnog? Good news: You can offer your guests something comfortingly creamy that isn’t glorified boozy custard. Ivo Diaz, the co-owner, beverage director, and chef at Casa Ora, a stylish Venezuelan restaurant in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg, shared this recipe for a rich and delicately spiced drink that’s sure to warm up your insides.

There is some prep involved, but you can make the chicha de arroz and cinnamon syrup hours or even days before guests arrive. To make things even easier, you can grab a bottle of premade cinnamon simple syrup online or at a kitchen specialty store.

Once you have your syrup and chicha on hand, you’re really only working with three ingredients, so it should be easy enough to shake these up for guests and still enjoy your party. For a really professional look, invest in a jumbo ice tray to make cocktail bar-ready ice blocks.

To make your own cinnamon simple syrup:

In a pot, muddle about 3/4 ounce (by weight) of cinnamon bark, and add 2 cups of water and 2 cups of Domino superfine sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 15 minutes. Strain with a fine strainer before storing.

To make the chicha de arroz:

Combine 16 ounces rice milk, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 can evaporated milk, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder in a blender until smooth. Store in a container and keep refrigerated.

To make the cocktail

Combine cinnamon simple syrup, chicha de arroz and mezcal in a shaker with ice. Double strain into a rocks glass over a jumbo rock block and garnish with mint leaves.

Nashi Sour

Treat your loved ones to a partridge in a nashi pear tree — or at least a creative and pear-flavored take on a classic whiskey sour. The Nashi Sour, by bar director Amir Babayoff of Ophelia in Manhattan’s Midtown East, features spiced winter fruit flavours frothed up with egg white.

We suggest you buy liquid egg whites rather than having to deal with cracking eggs and separating yolks while you’re trying to entertain company. For the most faithful version of this drink, try to stick to Babayoff’s suggested liquors as much as possible. Again, you can find ginger and cinnamon syrups online, if not at your local HomeGoods; or, you could go full elf and make your own.

Add all ingredients, dry shake, add ice, shake and double strain into a Nick and Nora glass. To garnish like the restaurant does, cover half of the top of the glass with a square white paper and spray or sprinkle chai powder on just half of the foam.

Cranberry Cup

If you haven’t yet had your fill of cranberry sauce (I know I haven’t), this vodka-wine spritzer by Gary Wallach, beverage director at Lindens, could be your new party signature. The bar, newly opened at the Arlo Soho in New York, serves theirs in a highball glass, dressed with an elaborate garnish of fresh thyme, lemon zest and a roll of dried cranberry leather.

If you can’t find thyme and apple liqueurs at your local liquor store, snag them online. Same goes for the spiced cranberry shrub — a traditional mixer made with sugar and vinegar for a tangy-sweet taste. You can make your own if you’re feeling ambitious. But if you’re normal, you can find inexpensive craft shrub online — here are a couple of options we found.

Once you’ve shaken all the other ingredients together, top it off with Lambrusco, a sparkling and often sweet red wine, to taste.

1 dash angostura bitters
1 teaspoon thyme liqueur
1/2 ounce spiced cranberry shrub
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/4 ounce apple liqueur
1.5 ounces vodka (Belvedere is suggested)
Lambrusco, free pour
Optional: thyme sprig, lemon twist, cranberry fruit leather, and/or grated nutmeg, to garnish

Add all ingredients except for Lambrusco into a small cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice, top with Lambrusco and garnish. Lindens uses a thyme sprig, lemon twist, cranberry fruit roll-up and grated nutmeg.

Raspberry Mint White Chocolate Holiday Cocktail

From Christmas cookies to candy canes, December is the time when your sweet tooth is likely to reign supreme. If you’re hoping for a cocktail that will fulfill your candy cravings, Irene Li of New York’s MáLà Project restaurants has one that combines chocolate, peppermint — and some raspberry for good measure. You’ll probably have to buy a few new liqueurs for your stash, so consider getting nice ones that you’ll be excited to experiment with all winter.

Combine white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, raspberry liqueur, vanilla extract and vodka in a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Pour into a chilled rocks glass. Top off with crushed candy cane pieces and a peppermint stick or two (or three … we’re not counting).

Holiday Manzarita

This light and fruity drink comes from the Kartrite Resort located in the Catskills in New York state, and it’s a great way to use up the last apples of the season.

Your first step is to muddle your fresh apple chunks, so if you don’t already have a muddler on your bar cart, now’s the time to pick one up. Or, you can simplify that step by just using your favourite store-bought apple cider.

And if you don’t already have St-Germain on hand, you won’t regret picking up a bottle. The herbal, elderflower-flavoured liqueur is a great cocktail staple that you’ll find uses for well into the spring. As for the garnish, Kartrite serves the Manzarita with a flaming cinnamon stick — but you can feel free to leave yours unsinged.

1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila
1/2 ounce St-Germain
1/2 ounce cinnamon syrup
3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
3-4 small cubed apple pieces (or 3/4 ounce of apple cider)
Cinnamon stick, to garnish

In your cocktail shaker, muddle the apple. Add all remaining ingredients to the shaker with ice. Shake for 6-8 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with cinnamon stick and serve.

How To Travel To Paris And NOT Get Bed Bugs

Posted on 10/10/2023 by Boris Clair

Recently, I haven’t been able to open a single app without being confronted with the menacing form of a bed bug. After taking hold of Paris’ mattresses, it seems the critters have started to establish their London stronghold, too (oh, good).

We know from personal experience how ridiculously disruptive the little bugs can be. So, we thought we’d reach out to the pros to find out how to protect ourselves while travelling.

HuffPost UK spoke to ecologist, conservation scientist, and entomologist Professor Adam Hart about the bed-based terrors. Here’s what he had to say:

1) Inspect, inspect, inspect

Whether you’re staying at a friend’s house or a hotel, it’s a good idea to get up close and personal with your mattress, Professor Hart told HuffPost UK. In fact, it was his first piece of advice.

“When travelling, the best thing to do is to inspect your bed carefully,” Hart says. He advises we “look online to find out what eggs, larvae and adults look like, and to see how bed bug droppings and blood marks look. That way you will be able to see if you might have a problem.“

2) Think outside the box

One of the many terrifying things about bedbugs is how good they are at hiding. Professor Hart advises we look a little further than our mattress and sheets when trying to find the beasties.

“Check other areas, like around and behind the headboard,” he says. Bed bugs may also hide in places like sofa and chair seams and old drawer joints.

3) Cover your clothes

Speaking of bed bugs’ many homes, you’ve likely already heard about their ability to cling to our clothes. So, it makes sense that Professor Hart advises us to keep our outfits securely covered while travelling.

“If you are worried then keep your clothes packed inside your closed bag. Some people even pack their clothes in Ziplock-style bags to keep any bed bugs out,” he says.

4) Wash everything the second you get home

If you’re worried about bringing bugs home, Hart says you should steam-clean or machine-clean your clothes (and bags, if possible) the second you get home.

“When you return home wash clothes at a high temperature and tumble dry; dry-cleaning and steam cleaning also kill bed bugs in fabrics that be washed or dried at high temperatures,” he says.

Heat is important here, so don’t lower the temps too much.

Ah, the joys of travel…

This Popular Spanish Holiday Destination Really Doesn’t Want You To Visit It

Posted on 17/02/2023 by Boris Clair

We’re a few months away from summer which means it’s time to start planning our holiday getaways.

For most Brits, Spain is a popular holiday destination – it’s just a few hours on the plane, close to home and it has several beaches to choose from.

This is why you’ll be sad to know that there’s a list of Spanish hotspots that are trying to keep tourists away this year. Barcelona is part of the latest catalogue of Spanish destinations to publicly share that they’re receiving too many visitors and that they’re taking action to combat over-tourism.

Ada Colau, mayor of the city says that she wants to limit the number of cruise ships going to Barcelona.

This comes after a series of restrictions were introduced to ward off tourists visiting the city. This included restricting the number of hotel beds and new hotels opening in Barcelona.

The mayor has also campaigned for the scrapping of airport extension plans.

“The great challenge is tourism. Barcelona is a very densely populated city, hemmed in between the mountains and the sea, with restricted space,” Colau told The Times.

“We can’t take infinite numbers of tourists. There has to be a sense of limits and order.”

27 million people visit Barcelona each year – a number that is an eye-watering 16 times more people than its full-time population.

Deputy mayor Jaume Collboni has said Barcelona wants to attract “quality over quantity” when it comes to tourists visiting the city – meaning fewer people coming, but spending more money when they do visit.

Barcelona isn’t the only Spanish destination trying to change the type of tourists that it attracts. Majorca, Menorca, and Ibiza announced earlier this month how they’re planning to stop a high number of Brits visiting.

They will have an “absolute ceiling” when it comes to tourist numbers in the future, the government of the Balearic Islands says.

They will try and limit the impact of tourism by encouraging holidaymakers to visit at different times of the year, tourists chiefs say.

How To Deal With Body Image Issues When You’re On Holiday

Posted on 20/04/2022 by Boris Clair

Vacations can be tricky for those of us who struggle with body image.

Sometimes the clothes we think we’ll look hot in suddenly feel wrong. These thoughts can mess with our mood and get in the way of us enjoying time off — which is frustrating, yet hard to beat. The conversations we hear in real life and from the media about “bikini bodies,” as well as systemic fatphobia issues, such as hotels not giving out size-inclusive towels and airplanes making too-small seatbelts, exacerbate this predicament.

While you may not be able to avoid focusing on body concerns entirely, you can pack and prepare in a way that helps foster better body positivity on your trip. A few eating disorder and body image experts shared their best tips.

Start with your packing list

When you’re staring at your closet, trying to decide what to pack, go for comfort first. Think of the temperature at your vacation spot, what materials feel best on your skin, variety and pieces you know you love.

“People should pack whatever clothes they feel most comfortable in and are suitable for the climate of their vacation or types of activities that they’ll be doing,” said Rachel Evans, an eating disorder psychologist. “If you have space in your suitcase, then it’s probably a good idea to pack a range of clothes, some with a looser fit and some with a tighter fit … You can decide in the moment what clothes make you feel more secure about your body.”

Then, consider what feels fit for the occasion. “Look at styling and function,” said Carolina Mountford, an eating disorder expert with personal experience and a mental health advocate. “Do you need smart or casual? Is it an active holiday or relaxing by pools or on beaches? … Once you’ve narrowed it down to comfort and function, pick your favorites.”

And don’t forget about what feels stylish to you as far as colors, prints and styles. “Are you able to dress up in a way that feels less about the body and more about who you see yourself as?” said Kerrie Jones, a psychotherapist and founder of Orri, a specialist day treatment service for eating disorders. “Turn your attention towards the individual items themselves as opposed to how they are making your body look.”

Plan ahead for scenarios that may bring up body image issues

You can also prepare for vacation by brainstorming triggers and how to handle them.

“Whether it’s social media, a certain person or group of people in your friendship circle or an experience — perhaps changing rooms — if you’re aware of situations or activities that trigger negative body image, you can work to process and respond to them in a healthy way,” Jones said.

That may look like deleting your Instagram app while you’re away or changing clothes by yourself. Mentally preparing for the circumstances you know don’t make you feel good can help you navigate them or avoid them.

Packing a range of clothes and options will help you feel more comfortable on your trip.

If negative thoughts pop up on your trip, redirect your attention

While being mindful of the clothes you pack can help with body image, you may still struggle with negative thoughts popping up. No need to feel bad; it happens to many of us.

“My body is supporting me on this holiday,” Evans suggested. Is it digesting yummy new foods? Allowing you to swim in the ocean? Helping you play with your kids in the sand? “Research suggests that when we focus on what our body can do for us, rather than what it looks like, then we develop a better relationship with our body,” Evans said.

Treat yourself like you’d treat someone you love

“Speak as kindly to yourself as you would to a friend. Remind yourself that this is your holiday; you’ve worked hard for it and you deserve to enjoy every moment,” Mountford said. “Remind yourself that outward appearances are a desperately poor measure of contentment. Remind yourself that those around you love you as you are.”

She explained these thoughts can help you reset your focus and re-connect you to the present.

Think of other aspects outside of your body

Jones also recommended reminding yourself that you are so much more than a body ― both on vacation and at home. Think, “What makes me laugh? Who do I love, and who do I know loves me back? What fulfills me? What areas of my life do I want to nurture?” she said.

And when you’re worried other people are judging you, remember feelings aren’t facts. “You’ll likely see that almost everyone is too busy getting on with their vacation to be focusing on what your body looks like,” Evans assured.

Lastly, she shared her favorite quote from Zen Shin for when you catch yourself comparing: “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

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