SPIRIT OF adventure

Feed your curiosity, explore new experiences, and embrace the endless opportunities of summer, writes Holly Treacy

As the temperature rises and the sun beckons, there's an unspoken desire to break free from the shackles of routine and try new experiences at this time of year. The season of adventure is upon us, offering myriad opportunities to reconnect with our inner wanderer and rediscover the joy of spontaneity. From invigorating dips in natural waters to leisurely afternoons lost in the pages of a book, it's time to release ourselves from the grip of relentless responsibilities, and dive headfirst into the thrill of exploration.

But, what does travel look like in 2024? I'll admit that, for me, far-off destinations and long, lazy beach breaks are something I often daydream about, but aside from visiting my sister in Amsterdam last year, I haven't been on holiday since 2018. My husband and I were due to fly to Bali in 2020 for our honeymoon, but that became a distant dream with the arrival of the pandemic.

And, since then, things have changed. We're now navigating life with a toddler, nursery bills, and a cost-of-living crisis, so even ensuring our passports are in date falls to the bottom of the never-ending to-do list.

And it would seem we're not alone. In the British Airways Holidays 2024 Travel Trends Report, 42 per cent of working adults confessed they do not take their full annual leave allocation. So how can we break free of routine and embrace our adventurous side? 'To galvanise us to do things differently, it helps to connect with the purpose of adventure,' says psychologist Suzy Reading. 'But it can take bravery and inspiration to encourage us to deviate from the norm. You could consider what adventure means to you: why might it be calling to you, and how might you benefit from carving space for it (or what might you stand to lose if you don't)?"