Why You Should Stay Mindful On Your Holiday

More often than not, we get home, change, and start scrolling. We scroll until we can’t scroll anymore, hoping to escape the pressures of the nine-to-five, the bleak stories in the news, and the endless goals we’ve set for ourselves—goals that can start to feel impossible to reach. We’ve mistaken distraction for relaxation, but doomscrolling is anything but restful. Because we never know what the next swipe will bring, we can end up feeding our stress without even realising it. And somehow, we do the same thing on holiday.

Travelling to another country once meant leaving it all behind, a true attempt to switch off. Yet now, we carry our troubles and chaos in our pockets, sitting on the beach with our phones in hand. We do it so often that we return home wondering why we don’t feel as relaxed as we expected. We’ve spent thousands to escape, but we return with our nervous systems still frazzled. I know, I’m guilty of it, but something has to change. That’s why I escaped to the Maldives.

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Like many of you, I find it hard to switch off completely. These days I’m increasingly drawn to holidays that offer more than just somewhere lovely to lie down (although, let’s be honest, that’s still very much part of the appeal). Stepping away from the constant stimulation of everyday life can feel jarring, but there are more fulfilling ways to unwind. I want to come home feeling like I’ve actually experienced somewhere, learnt something, or tried something I’d never normally do. And that’s where RAAYA by Atmosphere surprised me.

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The Maldives is about much more than white-sand beaches, water villas and the bluest water you’ll ever see (even though they do all these things exceptionally well). At RAAYA, there are so many activities to enjoy on a Maldivian island that even I was surprised by how much we managed to fit in. From snorkelling reefs the island helps protect and restore to learning to make traditional boats and taking them out for a race, these slower-paced, hands-on experiences make you forget all about the phone you brought along.

RAAYA is a five-star resort in every sense. In more than 30 countries, I’ve never stayed somewhere more relaxing or enriching. There are sunset fishing trips, padel courts, and even the most intense massage I’ve ever had (yes, there was a woman standing on my back), but the icing on the cake was the impeccable hospitality. The staff are proud of their country and eager to share it with the world. The people at RAAYA are truly among the best in the business, and their warmth makes every conversation and exploration more meaningful. Before long, you find yourself sharing their excitement for the island and the world around it.

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One of the highlights of my stay, beyond the sunset fishing trips, spa breaks and seemingly endless supply of perfect margaritas, was dinner at Seb’s Farm, RAAYA’s farm-to-table experience. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘farm to table’, but how many of us have actually experienced it quite like this?

There’s a story behind the farm, too. It’s rumoured to have been started by a man named Sebastian, who found himself stranded on the island in the 50s and decided to grow his own food to survive. Whether or not the story is entirely true, it’s a rather lovely introduction to what is a genuinely unique experience.

The idea is simple, but rather brilliant. You arrive early in the morning and spend time harvesting the very fruits and vegetables that will make up your dinner that evening. Home to more than 67 varieties of fruit and vegetables, the farm is also an opportunity to learn about native Maldivian produce, much of which I’d never encountered, let alone tasted, before. By the time you return for an intimate, multi-course dinner later that evening, you have a much greater appreciation for what’s on your plate. Having picked the ingredients yourself, the whole experience takes on a different meaning. It’s farm-to-table dining in its truest sense, and a world away from the rather diluted version of the concept we’re often sold in the West.

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I arrived in the Maldives looking for an escape from reality, but left with a better appreciation of reality, with tools of appreciation and relaxation I can take back into my everyday life.

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