There is nothing like going on vacation. It’s the coming back home that can put a real damper on things! Unloading your stuff, dealing with the piles of laundry that you bring home with you, and not to mention catching up on all those unread emails. If you need some help in simplifying the inevitable transition from vacation bliss to the daily grind, then you can consider these smart, sanity-saving techniques.
Do Some Prep Work
Prior to your long-awaited vacation trip, declutter your home as carefully as possible. Sort out the trash, ready the beds, sweep or vacuum the floors and do the laundry, etc. Returning to a clean and organized home after a long exhausting journey can help save your mood and sanity. It already creates an easier situation to ease back into.
Shorten Your First Week Back at Work
Try to set your return trip during a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday which is a weekday so your first week back at work will be a brief one. Simply endure a few days at the office and afterward, you will already find yourself enjoying a whole weekend to recharge.
Give Yourself a Recovery Day
If you are allowed to, reserve a single day for rest and catching up on other responsibilities, suggests Sociologist, Christine Carter, Ph.D., and author of The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work. “It’s a luxury to be able to check email without being under the pressure of everyone expecting a response.” Plan Your Next Vacation Try to schedule another vacation sometime in the following 6 months. This can certainly help with post-vacation blues. There is nothing like anticipating your next fun trip. It will keep your spirits up until that special date arrives.
Plow Through the Vacation Photos
Take advantage of the “free” time that you have while you’re aboard the plane or bus on your trip back to sort through your vacation pictures to relieve yourself from going through the ordeal once you finally arrive at your home. “Having a neat, orderly collection of all the moments you really want to remember lets you revisit them anytime you need a boost, so you can feel those same positive emotions you felt then,” says Dr. Carter.