Dreaming of travel? Horsham woman offers free downloadable virtual holidays to help lift spirits

The government warns that we may not get back to normal until next summer and many people find their state of mind slipping downwards without any holidays trips to look forward to.

In response, clinical hypnotherapist Christine Tompolski is helping people to travel to their favourite destination – from the comfort of their own armchair.

She says she understands why holidays are so critical to the average person’s psyche.

She said: “The coping process of escapism is common to many people in difficult times, and by wanting to still book a holiday, we are actively engaging in escapism behaviour.

“Escape is key in our mental self-care, and it can be good to seek a happy escape when things seem impossible – that feeling of ‘I just need to get away’.”

Christine has now created four free downloads to enable people to spirit their minds away to an amazing holiday destination and in doing so, take back a little of the relaxation and release they would have enjoyed had they actually been away.

She said: “At a time when we can’t guarantee a lengthier reprieve, something as simple as taking a ‘virtual holiday’ can offer a brief moment of escapism. This allows you an outlet for the stress we are facing, and provides some energy to start a new year while there is continued uncertainty.”

The free downloads are a form of self-hypnosis, and simply require you to sit down in a quiet and comfortable spot, close your eyes and listen to Christine’s words, visualise the holiday destination, and relax.

Christine has chosen four types of holiday for her recordings – beach resort, mountains, safari and a road trip – to reflect predictions made by David Sutherland, Crawley-based personal travel consultant and owner of EyeLine Travel, which specialises in organising tailor-made trips for people around the world.

David from EyeLine Travel, believes there will be a number of key things holidaymakers will look for once the travel industry reopens for business.

He said: “We’re expecting people will be seeking plenty of open space and fresh air after being cooped up for so long – destinations such as New Zealand, Canada and America will be popular especially for self-drive trips as well as mountain destinations. Also, many people will feel like doing something completely different as an antidote to months of boredom, so an adventurous African safari might well appeal.

“Conversely, some families might want privacy to reconnect with each other after enduring being forced apart for such a long time. I think we will see idyllic islands like those in the Caribbean proving popular for multi-generational groups involving grandparents, parents and children all enjoying some quality time together, whereas couples might favour treating themselves to some luxury in the Maldives.”

He added: “We understand how essential it is for many people to have something to look forward to once we emerge on the other side of this terrible pandemic, and a holiday away from Covid restrictions will be a real tonic.

“I think Christine’s offer to help people take a short break, in spirit if not in body, is a lovely idea, and hope it helps people stay positive in these difficult times.”

The downloads are available on Christine’s website.