Holidays are lawless events.
From the moment those suitcase wheels touch the airport arrivals floor, our former well-behaved selves go on a hiatus, and out comes our ‘f**k it’ alter-ego.
We are no longer governed by the mundane unspoken rules that plague our nine to five lives. When it comes to eating, drinking, dress codes and romance, normalcy goes out the window.
Why? Well, to revive the previous decade’s buzzword: yolo.
In celebration of this nonchalant attitude in the summer months, we asked Metro writers what behaviour they reserve for letting loose on holiday…
Unashamed round the clock drinking
Catching a morning flight? There’s little doubt that many of us will be headed straight to Wetherspoons once we’ve checked in. Does it matter that it’s 7am and we haven’t had breakfast? Of course not. Half the airport has had exactly the same idea.
Would you grab a bottle of prosecco along with your Pret croissant on an average Tuesday? No. But in the airport, on a sun lounger, or on your hotel balcony, no one bats an eye.
Fashion, but make it holiday
Do you have a holiday wardrobe which is almost solely reserved for being packed into a suitcase? You wouldn’t be alone.
Vacation outfits are bolder, brighter, and usually a little more revealing than our standard UK fare. All of a sudden we look like wannabe influencers – minus the followers.
We’re also braver with our choices, trying out trends and styles we perhaps wouldn’t wear in our day-to-day lives.
And fashion ‘rules’ go out of the window too. A bikini in and flip-flops in restaurant? Absolutely.
Cheeky cigarettes
For those of us who like the odd cigarette, but are trying to be good, all that progress is usually put on hold once we’re on holiday.
Not only are they cheaper abroad (hello, Duty Free), the sun and the al-fresco dining (and boozing) makes it even more tempting.
Before you know it, you’re a pack deep and you’ve got a voice as raspy as Louis Armstrong’s.
Child’s play
It’s been a long, long time since you spent a summer holiday on a trampoline/playing Velcro bat and ball or having water gun fights.
But once you leave that aircraft, your inner child comes out. Those pictures of you screaming with glee, arms (and legs) akimbo as you fly down a waterslide at an ancient waterpark will never make it to social media, but it’s certainly one for the memories.
Hotel entertainment
Do you often frequent your local Bingo hall? We’re guessing not. But give us a cocktail and a dabber on holiday, and we’re ALL in.
Whether it’s aqua aerobics, line-dancing on the beach, or public karaoke, we suddenly lose our ability to cringe and your hotel’s questionable roster of events are the height of entertainment.
Would you join in with a spot of Greek dancing at a hotel bar in London? No, but a few all-inclusive cocktails (and the fact you’ll never see these people again) means you’re on stage quicker than you can say ‘Opa!’
Unruly romance
If you’re single, a holiday is the perfect time to make some slightly ill-informed, but pretty fun, choices.
Yes, that ridiculously hot waiter might be a walking red flag, and a totally unsuitable choice long term. But for the week you’re away, he’s exactly what you’re after, and you’ve suddenly got all the confidence of Casanova to get the sparks flying.
What happens on holiday, stays on holiday.
Dessert… after every meal
Whether it’s a good old 99 Flake, or you’re all about those European offerings (who remembers a Maxibon?), ice cream comes at any time day of day, after every single meal.
Thoughts of ‘being good’ are left at home, and the most difficult decision you make all holiday is what flavour you should pick every day.
This rule also, of course, extends to crisps. Because what is a holiday without an endless supply of Lays?
Afternoon delight
Monotonous work days, trips to the supermarket and just being knackered means that sex with your significant other can slip to the bottom of your ‘to do’ list in normal life.
But a holiday with your partner can suddenly reignite that spark, and that gorgeous air-conned hotel room can really bring out your inner porn star.
Morning sex is a yes. Shower sex, no matter how difficult it is, is usually attempted. If you’re getting ready for dinner, you’ll likely squeeze in a cheeky shag there too.
Does it make walking straight a little tricky? Maybe, but it’s certainly worth it.
Day naps
Taking a day nap at your desk while your inbox fills up may earn you a stern telling-off from your boss, but on holiday, 12pm feels like a great time for a sleep.
Whether you’re cooling off in your room or dozing off by the pool, no one will be shaking you awake. (Unless, of course, you have kids, sorry.)
Your Daily Horoscope
Conversely though, lie ins aren’t always on theagenda. Nope, we’re up at the crack of dawn to try and get that prime beach real estate. Somehow though, the early starts don’t feel like a chore.
So, why do we let loose on holiday?
‘There is an undeniable magic to holidays that grant us a refreshing emotional free pass,’ psychologist Daniel Glazier tells Metro.co.uk.
Daniel says at home, we’re anchored to routine. ‘Our daily environments constantly reinforce patterns and condition specific behaviours,’ he says.
‘That first hit of morning caffeine, the traffic-clogged commute, even our favorite worn sofa grooves… they’re all subtle tricks that solidify how we “should” act in our familiar settings.’
But Daniel explains that when you take someone away from that environment, those strings are severed.
‘Suddenly, our inner child wants to come out to play, free from the usual constraints. Why not split that vacation bottle of wine over lunch and let loose a little? Or indulge in a third helping of crème brûlée,’ he says.
These novelties actually light up the reward pathways in our brain, and our usual environment back home can’t compete with this.
‘It’s this intoxicating blend of freedom, dopamine activation, and simply being present that allows us to loosen those tightly-held restraints,’ Daniel adds.
So yes, we get to let loose, but our psychologist believes that there’s a greater benefit to doing whatever the hell you want on holiday.
He says: ‘Without the typical filters and facades, we touch back into our authentic selves in a liberating way. These novel contexts give us space to shed constructed identities and simply be.
‘We interact without performing roles and to experience vulnerability without judgement.’
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