Today (05 October 2022) marks 88 days until the new year, and as the end of 2022 fast approaches, more than 11 million (57% of the population) Australians feel they have not made the most of the year so far[1]. With recent findings that the planet is spinning faster, resulting in shorter days [2], it’s time for Australians to seize the day and make the remaining 88 days of the year count by booking a well-deserved, sun-filled holiday.
On top of believing they have not made the most of the year so far, Aussies are also feeling exhausted. Forty-three percent of the population say they currently feel tired while almost four in ten (39%) say they are feeling stressed and overwhelmed [3]. Worryingly, only 6% say they feel refreshed and less than a quarter (22%) relaxed[3].
Dr. Gina Cleo from the Habit Change Institute holds a PhD in habit change specialising in sustainable health and wellbeing and is an Assistant Professor at Bond University on the Gold Coast. She said those who push through feelings of tiredness and stress without taking a break are doing themselves a disservice, when in fact taking time out to reset and refresh is a more sustainable approach.
“When we feel burnt-out and flat it’s easy to fall into the cycle of continuing as we are and just pushing through, when what we should be doing is checking in with ourselves, acknowledging how we are feeling and actively giving ourselves a well-deserved time out. It’s essential for our health and wellbeing to do things in life that make us feel happy, satisfied, and content,” Dr Cleo said.
“The fact that more than half of Australians are currently feeling stressed and overwhelmed and over 11 million of us don’t feel like we’ve really made the most of this year, means that now more than ever, we should be pausing to prioritise our wellbeing and looking at what we want to do to do before the end of 2022.
“And while it may feel like the end of the year has suddenly crept up on us, something as simple as a 48-hour break in routine and changing up daily habits by doing something new in a different environment can be enough to revitalise the mind and significantly boost our mood.
“Whether it be a family holiday to the sunny Gold Coast, checking out an event in Brisbane or discovering the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, exploring somewhere outside of our daily surroundings and creating special memories is something that as human beings, is essential to maintaining a positive life balance.
“You’d be surprised the positive impact a holiday can have on our sense of well-being. Holidays give our brain and body time to rest and recharge, time to reconnect with ourselves and time to make lifelong memories with those closest to us.
“My advice; if you are feeling tired, take a moment to pause, reflect on the year so far, and seize the day to make the most of the remainder of 2022.”
When asked if taking a holiday would help improve how they are currently feeling, around three in five Australians (63%) agree that a getaway would elevate their current mood[4]. Meanwhile, respondents in New South Wales and Victoria need a break the most with 65% and 66% respectively stating a holiday would have a positive impact on how they currently feel[4].
On the flip side, describing how they feel following a holiday, 39% of Aussies say they feel refreshed following a trip away, 35% feel happy and 34% come away relaxed[5]. Unsurprisingly, a whopping nine in ten (91%) of those who work full time experienced a positive lift after a holiday[5].
Great Barrier Reef tourism operator, Adam Jones, Experience Co General Manager said his crew notices an instant uplift in guests who visit the Reef Magic pontoon, 45km off the coast of Cairns.
“Generally, our guests arrive excited and relaxed, but by the end of the day they return positively and totally transformed,” Mr Jones said.
“When they see the Great Barrier Reef for the first time there’s this instant moment of ‘wow’ – it just washes over them like a wave of mind-blowing wonderment with an undercurrent of contentment. All of their worries drift away with the flow of the Reef – if you ask me, it’s the best place on the planet to reset and be in the moment.”
Similarly, speaking from a camping and glamping eco camp on the edge of the Noosa Everglades at the Sunshine Coast, Habitat Noosa Business Development Manager Kelly Cattanach said a holiday in nature is the best medicine for the soul.
“You can definitely see the shift and reset in people from when they first arrive to when they fully embrace the moment and the place they’re in, switching off from the pressures of everyday life,” Ms Cattanach said.
“It gives a true sense to the meaning of a getaway, the chance to reboot through a real connection with nature and making memories with friends and family.”
Despite this potential boost in wellbeing and the number of Aussies currently feeling stressed and overwhelmed, almost a quarter (24%) do not intend on taking any trips or holidays in the next six months[6]. But of those who are planning on taking a break in the next six months, weekend getaways (35%), road trips (33%) and beach holidays (25%) top the list of getaways[6].
In a coup for travellers, select flights to Queensland booked with Virgin Australia between 09 – 16 October 2022 are available from just $95; including $95 from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, $115 from Brisbane to Cairns and $135 from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast. And for a limited time, those who book a flight to the Sunshine State can also receive a $50 off tours and attractions offer with Experience Oz to spend on a Queensland experience[7]. Further, visitors can also get their hands on hundreds of discounted and value-for-money deals across tours, activities and accommodation available on queensland.com.
With 7,603,200 seconds left in 2022[8], it’s not too late for Australians to make every moment count and inject a little happiness into their day. Visit queensland.com book a sun-filled escape to the Sunshine State and save on dozens of holiday deals.
