On a recent visit to COMO Parrot Cay, an incredibly quiet, serene, sun-drenched island in Turks and Caicos, one executive told me he sees this all the time with return guests: the travelers arrive and start out glued to their phones and distraught over any changes the hotel has made (“You redid the reception area?!”) — kind of a bummer tone to take on a dream vacation. But once thoughts of their old lives fade, they can get into a vacation groove and get some much-needed R&R. (Which is the whole point of a Spring vacation!)

But, to state the obvious: why waste those first two or three days on a trip feeling tense, when you could slip into that blissful state the second you pull up to your destination? I tapped some mindfulness and travel experts for their freshest tips for getting into a vacation groove at minute one

Say no to notifications.

You knew we were going to pry the phone out of your fingers, right? It really is keeping you out of the (gorgeous, expensive, mid-vacation) moment. One study found that people on family vacations who were preoccupied with a smartphone actually remembered fewer details about their trip of a lifetime.

The trick is to break (or at least loosen) your phone’s hold over you before you leave town. Start your digital detox two days before you go: turn off all the notifications on your phone, and, if you can, turn off your ringer. “You will still check your phone, but it won’t be conditioning you,” said Michael DeMaria, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of Peace Within.

“We know that each time you get a ring tone or even a vibrate or the little dreaded red circle with a number in it, your brain is getting a shot of dopamine or adrenaline.” This creates a feedback loop where you just . . . must . . . check. Without the dings and buzzes, you’ll need your phone less than you think.

Take a deep breath.

Simplest yoga move you’ll ever learn: deep inhale, deep exhale. Do this a few times a day right before and during your travel, advised Dr. Parth Mahajan, an Ayurvedic doctor and COMO Shambhala therapist. “You’re using your breath to organize your energies into a bubble of wellbeing,” he said. “This will help bring the needed balance in your energy system and organize your physical body to take you through the stress of travel with minimum impact.” And if you step off the plane, train, or automobile less frazzled from the journey, you’ll have an easier time finding “fun” you.

Leave your work life behind.

Symbolically marking that transition from “work” you to “vacation” you helps you switch gears. DeMaria suggested a simple visualization: take something symbolic of your work identity — a piece of jewelry, the notepad you always carry at work, your office badge — and place it somewhere at home.

“Do a little ritual, saying, ‘You are staying here and not going with me on vacation,'” he said. “I suggest this even at the end of the day: have a little hook by the door in your garage and put your ‘work identity necklace’ on it while taking three deep breaths before going in the house so you don’t take your work stress in with you.” Another simple visualization: when you walk out of your house before leaving on your trip, imagine crossing that threshold as an imaginary threshold where you are leaving your day to day work identity behind.

Shake things up!

If the goal is to switch into a different mode, you can’t follow your exact same routine and expect your brain and body to figure it out. So switch things up, DeMaria suggested, from the clothes you wear to what’s in your earbuds. “Go on the trip in your most comfortable, peaceful, chilled-out outfit — your ‘anti-work’ wardrobe,” he said. And if you normally listen to podcasts during your morning commute, try a new, laid back playlist on Spotify, something totally different. Listening to it on the way to your destination cues your brain: we are definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Resist the inbox.

Just thinking about checking your email sets off work-related thoughts, right? But here’s the thing: you’ve taken trips before, and at some point, you’ve forgotten your phone or gone without WiFi, and the world has been totally fine without your swift responses, right? So why wait until the end of your vacation to remember that simple fact?

“Guests are often so attached to their cellphones, they’re unable to be present and connect with their surroundings,” said Natsuda Dumrongpanich, director of Gem Spa at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach.

“Setting your phone aside lets you feel more relaxed and able to connect with fellow vacationers — so you can develop meaningful conversation and even friendships.” Since it’s not totally realistic to completely disconnect, she recommended setting aside one or two designated times to check email (preferably on your laptop, so you don’t get drawn in). We’re calling it now: you’ll have a few messages to answer, a few to star for later, and a big feeling of, “Oh, right — I’m on vacation and everyone in the office understands that.”

Get some sun.

There are so many reasons to slather on the ol’ SPF and then soak up some rays. For one thing, it’ll leave you healthier and more energized. “During international travel, the major stress factor is jet lag, or confusion in the physical and energy system about the time zone into which you have traveled,” Parth said.

Exposing yourself to sunlight — especially in the first two or three days of your trip — can help you reset. Exercising in the sun can speed up the process, DeMaria added. “Do something really physical those first two days, particularly an exercise you don’t normally do: a hike, paddle boarding, a long brisk walk, a bike ride,” he said. “And make sure it’s outside if at all possible!”

The post 6 Secrets to Making the Most of Your Spring Getaway appeared first on Travel My Day Blog.

New on Jackmasters’ Numbers Imprint is an Italian artist called Dukwa.

As one half of Life’s Track with Herva from Planet Mu, he’s appeared on ‘Don’t Be Afraid compilation 12″‘ and this is his first solo EP. As part of a new wave of Italian producers – following in the footsteps of Roman pioneers like Marco Passarani and Lory D. He’s a dude who lives in the sticks near Florence, he makes real nice house and techno. Some tracks have a kinda half Anthony Shakir / Thomas Bangalter soulful and sample heavy vibe.

The post FEELS LIKE SPRING appeared first on Travel My Day Blog.

BEETS
If you’ve been keeping warm all winter by sipping on soup, your pants may be feeling a bit tight. Lighten up! You likely haven’t packed on the pounds if you generally stick to a healthy diet; you’re just bloated from all the salty broths. When you consume a lot of sodium, the body retains fluids, resulting in a paunchy belly. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: Sip some hibiscus tea. Doing so will help your pooch deflate. The flavonoids in the hibiscus plant counteract bloating by influencing how aldosterone, the hormone that regulates water and electrolytes balance, affects the body.
SWEET POTATOES
If your winter-long hibernation has left you looking a bit pasty, cook up some sweet potatoes. You’ll get a sun-kissed complexion from the carotenoids, an organic pigment that gives the spuds their orange color. But, no, you won’t look like an Oompa Loompa—we promise. In fact, when given a choice between a real suntan and a glow caused by diet, study participants preferred the carotenoid complexion. Just half a medium potato with the skin provides 200 percent of your daily recommended carcinoid intake, so eat healthily

MUSTARD
If your winter-long hibernation has left you looking a bit pasty, cook up some sweet potatoes. You’ll get a sun-kissed complexion from the carotenoids, an organic pigment that gives the spuds their orange color. But, no, you won’t look like an Oompa Loompa—we promise. In fact, when given a choice between a real suntan and a glow caused by diet, study participants preferred the carotenoid complexion. Just half a medium potato with the skin provides 200 percent of your daily recommended carcinoid intake, so eat up!

You know consuming fewer calories can help you slim down, but if you’re perpetually hungry, cutting back can be a challenge. Don’t turn to an OTC appetite suppressant to help quell your hunger pangs. Not only can they negatively impact blood pressure and heart rate, but they can also lead to insomnia, which can work against you by stimulating your appetite! Plus, there’s no guarantee the supplement will actually work.
SPINACH
Instead of starting this vicious cycle, add some spinach to your plate to ward off hunger naturally. The green’s membranes contain a powerful appetite suppressing compounds called thylakoids. A cup of spinach is super low-cal, so go ahead and add some to your breakfast smoothie , morning omelet, or lunchtime sandwich to fill up without filling out.
BANANAS
No matter how toned your stomach actually is, bloat can banish your abs from sight. Luckily, fighting back against gas and water retention is as easy as biting into a banana. Eating the fruit twice daily as a pre-meal snack can reduce belly bloat by 50 percent according to researchers! Bananas have two superpowers that help slim your stomach: they increase bloat-fighting bacteria in the stomach and provide a healthy dose of potassium, which can help diminish water retention. Translation: If you add them to your diet you’ll shimmy into those cute spring fashions with confidence.
TOMATOES
As the weather gets warmer, the sun’s UV rays also get stronger. Although it’s important to protect your skin year round, it’s even more imperative to do so during the warmer months. Yes, slathering on sunblock is a good first line of defense, but consuming foods high in antioxidants, like tomatoes, can actually ward off skin damage from the inside out. Study participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste a day had 33 percent more protection against sunburn than a control group, in one British Journal of Dermatology study. Don’t worry, you don’t have to down it straight. Look for low-sodium varieties to keep bloating at bay, and add it to soups, stews, sauces, or omelets for a hit of Mediterranean flavor.
KIWI
If you have sluggish bowels or suffer from chronic constipation, you may be sporting a bit of a belly. While you’ve likely heard that adding fiber to your diet may be helpful, you may not know that few sources of the nutrient are as effective as kiwi. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who ate two kiwis a day for a month had less constipation and a general lessening of IBS symptoms than those who didn’t in a study conducted by researchers in Pacific Asia. Add the powerful fruit to your oatmeal, throw it into smoothies or combine it with other fruits in a light, refreshing salad.

COLD POTATOES
If you typically eat your potatoes warm, you’re missing out on the spud’s super fat-fighting powers. When potatoes are cooked and then cooled in the refrigerator its digestible starches turn into resistant starches through a process called retrogradation. As the name implies, the body has to work harder to digest resistant starch, which promotes fat oxidation and reduces abdominal fat. If the idea of eating cold spuds straight isn’t appetizing, consider using them to make a potato salad. After baking Yukon Gold or red potatoes in the oven, allow them to cool and then cut them into small slices. Toss them with Dijon mustard, fresh pepper, chopped green onions, dill, and plain Greek yogurt (its probiotics can help banish bloat, so it’s a win-win). Then, mix everything together and put in the refrigerator to cool before consuming.

GRAPEFRUIT
Instead of overhauling your entire diet in an attempt to slim down for spring, simply eat half a grapefruit before each meal. This tactic can help whittle your middle—by up to an inch—in just six weeks according to a study published in the journal Metabolism. The scientists attribute the powerful effects to the grapefruit’s fat-zapping phytochemicals. But that’s not all! Another study conducted by Japanese researchers found that the scent of grapefruit can “turn on” calorie-burning brown fat cells, enhancing the breakdown of fat while reducing appetite. Sounds like a great reason to add it to your spring cleaning diet to us. The fruit can interact negatively with certain medications, though, so check in with your M.D. before indulging in the citrus appetizer.

The post Clean Spring My Day appeared first on Travel My Day Blog.

Explore The National Drinks

If you are interested in Ireland’s national drinks such as whiskey and dark beer, you can learn how they are made and go on a few food tasting rounds. If you travel to Dublin, you have to spend some time in Temple Bar, the area which is full of wonderful pubs, charming restaurants and trendy clubs. After Ireland’s economic rise, Dublin has become a destination to be reckoned with and it is just getting better.

Cozy Pub Life

Dublin is on one hand full of cozy pubs, on the other hand it is filled with ambitious design and hip markets where the traditional shepherds pie is getting replaced by burgers with sourdough bread and organic ketchup. The city is perfect for a weekend getaway, it’s easy to get around here and take a break in a cozy pub on every corner.

We have listed the highlights not to be missed on a visit to the Irish capital for the perfect weekend getaway.

Drink beer at Ireland’s oldest pub

In his groundbreaking novel Ulysses, James Joyce protagonist Leopol Bloom wandered around Dublin. One of the sites he mentioned is Ireland ‘s oldest pub, The Brazen Head. Cultural giants, such as Jonathan Swift and Francis Bacon, spent many evenings here. Order a large bowl of steaming mussels or the famous Guinness stew.

Mussels, folk music and Guinness

Despite the lack of evidence that Molly Malone really existed, the song about her life is Dublin’s unofficial song. Around the corner from the bronze statue on Suffolk Street is O’Neill’s restaurant. It serves traditional Irish cuisine in a classic pub environment – a mandatori stop on the Dublin trip!

O’Donoghue’s

Do you want to visit the place where the group “The Dubliners” had their first concert? The answer is O’Donoghue’s, one minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green in the Temple Bar district. This is where you should go if you want to experience traditional folk music, the atmosphere is great here in the evening. Rihanna visited this pub when she was in Dublin.

The World’s most beautiful library

Anyone who has seen the movie “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” will recognize the Trinity College Library. This is where George Lucas got his inspiration, the Jedi Archives in the movie is virtually a copy. This library is home to over 200,000 historical books. And for those who are interested in architecture this is a must, well worth a visit.

Fascinating tour in a prison

Just over three kilometers outside of town is the Kilmainham jail which is worth a visit for anyone interested in history. Kilmainham is one of the largest prisons although not in use, it covers some of the most tragic – and heroic – events in Irish history from the 1780s to 1924. Even women and children were imprisoned here and guided tours testify to many interesting stories.

Classical and ultra-modern

Do you like the hip hotel chain Ace? Hotel “The Dean” attracts the same type of hipsters and is decorated with design furniture and flashing neon signs. The restaurant “Sophie’s” has a great roof terrace offering a 360 degree view of the city.

At the five-star Merrion Hotel you will find Ireland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant “Patrick Guibaud”. The menu is season-based with a focus on local ingredients. Playfully decorated rooms at the Dylan Hotel look like they are taken from a Tim Burton movie. The hotel is located at Merrion Square, where one can find some of the city’s best galleries and museums .

Francis Bacon

Artist Francis Bacon, the leader of expressionism, was born in Dublin. After his death in 1992, his studio with over 7000 objects was moved to the Hugh Lane Gallery. His belongings: dried oil paintings, brushes and hundreds of empty champagne bottles are displayed at the gallery today. An audio recording of Bacon’s voice gives an extra dimension to the exhibition.

The city of writers

Dublin is a literary city, and several influential writers were born here – including George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and William Butler Yeats . All three of them have won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Another writer who lived in Dublin was Oscar Wilde, his statue stands in one of the city’s parks. The memory of all the writers lives in the city, and the Dublin Writers Museum – well worth your time for a visit – pays tribute to their work.

Phoenix Park

Every big city has its own version of Central Park, in Dublin it is Phoenix Park. The park is located north of the River Liffey and can easily compete to be Europe’s largest city park with it’s 800 hectares. The park is a nice green spot in the vibrant city, it is also home to the Dublin Zoo and several cozy cafés .

The post Dublin is a perfect weekend city to visit in the spring. appeared first on Travel My Day Blog.