Now more than ever the memories of holidays bring us hope and a sense happiness. Even that terrible holiday where everything went wrong from the awful hotel to the closed pool seem almost magical now.

If, like most of the country you’re locked down, with no apparent end in sight, the thought of a holiday might be viewed as fanciful. But why can’t we dream, the hot sun toasting your skin, the ice cream smeared around your child’s face, the smell in the air of garlic roasting, from the blue sea stretching as far as you can see, to the rolling hills and countryside views.

We all have our own vision of a perfect holiday, sometimes we have to compromise to allow for the young or the elderly, and sometimes we don’t. My point I’m rambling towards is, it doesn’t matter where, when or how, the point is we need holidays to create the memories that help our wellbeing.

Family holidays are the source of happy memories and the benefits don’t stop just because you are home. Emotional, psychological and social benefits of family holidays last long after the break itself ends. 55% of adults agreed that family holidays had given them happy memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Just under a quarter (24%) said they call on these happy memories when times get tough. With this evidence in mind, we have created a range of products that bring these happy memories alive in your home. So even when things get tough, we have these happy memories to look back on.

If you logically think of the cost of a week or two somewhere exotic would we ever go? But if you think back to when you were small, I bet you can remember most of your holidays. Even (especially) if they were awful!

Memories give you a sense of fulfilment and love

We don’t necessarily reconstruct the exact feelings we had when we were on holiday. For most of us it’s more about how it feels to think about those times – there might be a wonderful sense of fulfilment, or love, and that is quite different from the original feelings felt when you were right there in the moment.

Nostalgic thoughts, like all reminiscences, play an important role in shaping our identity. They have a number of positive effects on how we see ourselves. When we think back over past experiences it makes us feel as if our lives are full of purpose and meaning. It increases our self-esteem. 

Memories remind us of our strengths

Nostalgia can also be a powerful social glue, for a number of reasons. The people we are closest to are often the subjects of our reflections. We replay significant moments in our relationships – the early days of a romance, birthday parties, special holidays with friends. Because our recollections are largely positive, we are promoting positive feelings about our relationships. Nostalgia can give us the sense that we are supported. In one study, simply recalling a memory made people feel more certain of the support of their friends.

In short, nostalgia can make us feel happier, increase our self-confidence, and make us feel closer to the people around us.

Memories reduce stress

Happy childhood recollections, particularly involving parents, make a person less likely to be depressed or suffer chronic illnesses in their adult lives. They suggest the happy memories help reduce stress and make people feel more positive generally, making them more buoyant.

Memories make us thankful

Thankfulness makes you a more positive person. Remembering how lucky we are to have each other is one of the most important things to be thankful for, especially in unprecedented times like we are in now, People who are thankful are more positive instead of negative. When they see a glass with water in it, they say the glass is half full. Negative people will see that same glass of water and say it’s half empty. We want to be thankful for the water that is there, not worry about the water that isn’t.

Memories give you a sense of achievement

Being thankful for your home and appreciating what you have or are creating forms a sense of achievement within your life, and helps to gain an extra feeling of accomplishment – you have made a house your home by showing love towards it.

When styling your home with appreciation in mind, you naturally start to make your home more personal and comfortable, therefore creating a happier living environment for you and others within the household.

A memory wall is a fabulous way to bring all of these memories together and to celebrate momentous occasions and remember what’s great about the people who are part of them. Important moments in our lives sometimes seem to pass by in a flash – whether it’s a wedding, graduation or birthday party or your first home, it’s easy to forget to stop and appreciate the moment.

The covid-19 outbreak will change the world forever, if just one positive thing can come of this, let it be, that we are grateful for what we have. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, but be thankful for what you have and all of the memories you have shared with loved ones.

By recalling our happy memories through keepsakes we increase our day to day happiness. We compiled a few ideas to help bring these happy memories alive in your home. So even when things get tough, we have these happy memories to look back on