8 signs you need a spa break

Life gets busy and between school runs, checking in with friends, taking care of fur babies, work, and even running around doing all the things we want to do, sometimes it all gets a bit much.

Our downtime out is precious and how we spend it has a powerful impact on how we feel and how we manage in other areas of our lives. Our downtime is not just precious, it's also important. Luke Sherriff, Co-Founder of Proverb Skincare, made an observant point in an interview with us, saying:

"I think often we don't realise that the reason we're so precious about these rituals [such as watching football with friends or heading to the gym] is not simply because we enjoy them but because there's something about them that we need...Through understanding this connection, we might also be able to make better choices for ourselves. For example, if our 'time out' is in the pub having a drink then we might be able to say to ourselves ‘actually, perhaps it's not the drink I need, but the chat with a friend’, and make healthier decisions that way that actually make us feel even better."

While a spa break isn't the answer to everything, and if you have serious signs of burnout or exhaustion then it's important to see a medical professional, it is a wonderful way to relax, re-energise and focus on you, your health and wellbeing, whether it's for an evening, a day or a few days away.

In fact, a survey commissioned by Spabreaks.com showed that 67% of respondents regard time at spas as a vital part of their health and wellbeing. In fact, 92% said that they use spas to get away from the stresses of life.

With that in mind, here are some of the common signs that you too could benefit from a Spabreaks.com spa experience. How many do you recognise?

You and your partner only get the chance to chat by text

Spas offer a haven of tranquillity, calm and restoration. It’s also the done thing to switch phones off and enjoy the digital detox together. Shared treatments bring a feeling of togetherness and time to catch up. No deadlines, no emails and no demands on you - other than to chat, relax and reconnect with one another.

You can’t remember when you last finished a meal with loved ones

There’s always a homework crisis, another errand to run or an evening that could be dedicated to clearing out emails. Press pause and really savour a meal in the company of those you love at spas with fantastic restaurants. Whether you fancy total decadence or nutritious and healthy, there's a foodie spa break for every occasion.

Your day is always about meeting other peoples' needs

Let’s talk about you for a change. Let’s plan your perfect spa break. Is it going to be a short and sweet twilight spa experience, a full day, or are you going to treat yourself to a couple of nights away in the lap of luxury? Wherever you go, a spa break is unapologetically all about you whether you're travelling solo or visiting with a friend, parent or partner, you are always the centre of attention.

Your last ‘treatment’ was when you had to de-nit the children

A treatment is one of the many joys of going on a spa break, from massages (the most booked treatment) to facials, and even touchless or self-administered treatments like mud rasuls for those who feel more relaxed that way. We have always been advocates of the power of touch - we often don't realise quite how stressed out and disconnected from our bodies we are until we're having that massage, for example. If you can't remember when you last had one, maybe now's the time?

You're feeling a bit 'ick'

If you're just not quite feeling yourself, you feel at a bit of a low ebb, and perhaps you have a groggy feeling a lot of the time, then time spent in a sauna, steam room and enjoying delicious, nutritious food can work wonders. A spa day or break is a great way to re-set, remind yourself how good it feels to feel good, work out, wind down, rest and recover. For us, wellbeing is about doing the things that help you to feel good - put the phone down, let someone else do the cooking, and give mind, body and soul a rest.

You and your group of friends keep saying “we must meet up”

Go on, be the one that makes it happen. Our survey suggests that 58% of our guests use spas as a way of getting together with friends for some much needed time together. A great way to celebrate special events and, frequently, just to enjoy special friendships by treating one another to the most precious of gifts - uninterrupted time together.

You spend the day counting...

We do an awful lot of counting these days... counting steps, counting calories, counting unread emails and uncompleted tasks, and it's all admirable, but sometimes you've simply got to stop, put the smart watch down and be in the moment.

Your internal monologue is set to 'negative'

Is that little voice in your head spending all its time thinking about what you didn't do rather than the many things you did do? Is it constantly beating you up and cringing about whether you said or did the wrong thing? Stop. Give yourself a break and in the immortal words of Elsa, 'let it go'. From forest bathing to Sun Meadow rooms, meditation to massage, be in the moment and give that inner voice a chance to reset the tone.

Any of these sound familiar?