For Men’s Health Editor-in-Chief Rich Dorment, a truly restorative getaway isn’t about spa menus or silent retreats—it’s about listening to what recharges your spirit. Fresh from a revitalizing trip to Bermuda with two friends in the mental health field, Dorment shared his top strategies for turning a vacation into something transformative. Whether you’re diving off cliffs or sampling rum by the sea, these wellness travel lessons are adaptable to your own rhythm.
Set an Itinerary—Then Let Go
Decision fatigue is real, especially if you spend your days managing teams, deadlines, or family logistics. For Dorment, pre-planning was key to letting go once he arrived. “Having that set itinerary and making a lot of those decisions ahead of time is amazing,” he says. The weekend in Bermuda included everything from yoga and meditation to jet-skiing through shipwrecks and sampling Gosling’s rum—creating contrast between high-energy adventure and mindful calm.
Mixing physical activity with opportunities for introspection, the itinerary served as a framework for restoration—not a schedule to be rigidly followed.
Don’t Stay Trapped in the Resort Bubble
“A lot of people go to a tropical location and just check into a resort and stay there,” Dorment admits. But in Bermuda, he found that the real soul of the island lives beyond the hotel gates. Interacting with locals, exploring restaurants, and walking through neighborhoods revealed a contagious sense of joy that added depth to his trip.
“There’s a generosity and a graciousness,” Dorment notes, “but you have to look up from your phone to find it.”
Wellness Looks Different for Everyone
There’s no single definition of a “healthy” vacation. For Dorment, daily workouts still had a place—just not the rushed 30-minute sessions squeezed between meetings. At the Rosewood Hotel, gym sessions became something to savor, not squeeze in.
“Some people recharge by doing nothing. I recharge by doing something that makes me feel good—and that’s often working out,” he says. That said, he emphasizes listening to your body. A run along Bermuda’s pink-sand beaches or a round of golf may be more rejuvenating than a gym circuit.
Eat for Joy, Not Just Health
Vacation eating is often code for indulgence, but Dorment reframed it as a chance to eat better. At home, he’s grabbing leftovers or whatever’s convenient. On vacation, access to fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals helped him eat more mindfully—most of the time.
“I try to eat as healthily as I can on vacation,” he says, “because it’s available and so good.” Still, he wasn’t about to skip Bermuda’s famous fried fish sandwich on raisin bread, washed down with a Rum Swizzle. Balance is everything.
Escape Doesn’t Have to Mean Isolation
Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family, the essence of a wellness vacation lies in intention. Plan just enough to create space for joy, connection, movement, and nourishment—on your terms. For Dorment, that meant diving into both the ocean and the culture of Bermuda, and coming back home more present than when he left.
As you plan your next trip, remember: wellness isn’t always about slowing down. Sometimes, it’s about waking up—fully engaged, wherever you are.
