You've just returned from your relaxing dream vacation spent lying on pristine beaches, sleeping late, and sipping fruit smoothies. Now it's back to the every day grind of six o'clock wake up calls and the demands of your not so stress free job. You may understandably experience a let down after enjoying a carefree week of sun and sand. What can you do to offset those end of vacation blues and make your transition back to your job less traumatic?
Give Yourself a Day or Two For Recovery
When you return from vacation, give yourself an additional day or two off the work schedule so you'll have a chance to recover and reorganize the items you took on vacation. If you return to work the next day, you'll probably feel stressed and disorganized. A day spent house cleaning before returning to work can be relaxing and satisfying and it can make the first day back feel less foreboding.
Make a Memory Album
Be sure to bring along a camera and take lots of photos on your vacation. Have them developed before you leave and buy a special album to place them in. On your first day home, secure your photos in the album with funny captions. Include any momentos you may have collected such as restaurant menus and tickets in your new album. Remind yourself that can relive the happy memories just by browsing through your memory album.
Plan Your Next Vacation
On your way back from your vacation, start planning your next vacation. This will give you something to look forward to and can make you feel less let down about your current vacation ending. Browse through travel magazines and travel books in search of your next destination. This can be quite therapeutic for post vacation blues.
Eat Out On Your First Day Back to Work
Make the transition back to the office easier by allowing yourself a small treat on the first day back. If you usually brown bag your lunch, have lunch with a co-worker at a local restaurant during your lunch hour. If you don't have time for a full lunch, go to a local coffee bar for a quick treat. Tell your friend about your vacation as you sip your lattes.
Wear A New Outfit Back to Work
Buy a flattering, new outfit on your trip and wear it on the first day back to work. Choose one that will show off the sun kissed skin you gained from frolicking on the beach. The new outfit will give you a psychological boost as you make the transition back to your normal routine.
Returning to your normal routine after a vacation doesn't have to give you the post vacation blues. Keep in mind that your next relaxing vacation is just around the corner.
