This week I want to talk about how to enjoy your time off and switching off after a long stint onboard.

Until now I have always taken time off, going home, seeing family or doing courses. Never had I thought, I wanted to do something for me that I love.

So, these two weeks that I’ve had time off in August (IMAGINE THAT IN YACHTING, thanks to the very cool people I work for). I decided with my lovely boyfriend we’d travel Italy and accidentally some of the French Alps in our little T5 transporter van.


Alpine shapedbythesea
Image from: Shaped By The Sea

Life is too short to spend all your 20s and 30s just working and travelling home anytime you get time off.

GO ON AN ADVENTURE!

Now, everyone who knows me will think this doesn’t sound like Melissa. However, recently I’ve learnt that yes, I LOVE MY JOB… But I also love having time to travel, work out, try new things and push myself outside of work.

The last two weeks I’ve been to places I’ve wanted to see since I was a child. But also, I got to see more of the places I’ve been on yachts but only seen the port off (Yachties will know the exact feeling I mean)!

  • Cinque terra
  • Pisa
  • Florence
  • Monteroggino (Tuscan countryside-Possibly the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen)
  • Verres (Aosta Valley, Italian Alps)
  • Chamonix (French Alps)
  • Annecy (French Alps)
  • Alba (Piedmont Italy)
  • Barolo
  • La Mora
  • San Remo

How do I properly switch off my time off?

1. Leave the boat WhatsApp group or put it on Mute.

2. Try not to check your boat email account unless you’re waiting on something very important.

3. Take yourself away from the sea, go to somewhere new or another place you love as much as the sea.

4. Before you go on holiday make sure you’ve wrapped up everything you need to before you go, so you’re not thinking about a job left open.

It’s amazing what you can achieve when you allow yourself to try something new, I’ve always loved the mountains, from doing my Duke of Edinburgh award as a teenager to doing Sunday walks in the Mourne mountains at home. So, when we decided to leave Tuscany and head for the mountains for some cooler temperatures, I was excited but nervous.

When Matt suggested going to trial running and doing an alpine climb, I thought why the hell not?

We all know that one person in yachting that everyone admires because they are always on an incredible surfing, kiting or hiking holiday. There’s no reason why you can’t do it too. Today’s blog encourages others to take that leap and do that dream holiday you’ve always wanted!

“Life’s is for living, so live it, or you’re better off dead”

Passenger, All the Little Lights Album.

If you enjoyed today’s blog, leave a comment, subscribe and share with a friend.

As always keep smiling, laughing and loving the sea. 🤍


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