Sun, idleness, relaxation, carefree, exciting activities, tasty meals and fresh cocktails, walks, swimming… Holidays are all about pleasure and rest. However, all good things must come to an end and returning from vacation can be heartbreaking. Worse still, studies have shown that the benefits of time off fade in just two to four weeks. In short, after returning to daily life and resuming work, things go wrong: we return to bad habits and our stress levels skyrocket. The feeling of well-being then fades very quickly, quickly giving way to fatigue, nostalgia for happy days and depression. However, this is not inevitable. There are tips to make the joy of vacation last a little longer and soften this harsh return to reality.
With these little techniques, discover how to extend your vacation a little and ensure a smooth transition. Enough to face the return to routine with a smile and reduce the back-to-school blues!
1) Return to work slowly as much as possible
Sometimes work piles up during vacations, so much so that you end up with a mountain of files to deal with when you return. As much as possible, set aside a few days without scheduling too many meetings or making too many commitments with your friends and family. This will give you time to manage late emails and pending files, and deal with the most urgent matters. In short, take a few days upon your return to gently get your feet back on track and get back organized.
If necessary, create To-Do lists to list your priorities and keep in mind that you are human. Too bad if you are a little late in emptying suitcases and laundry baskets or if you cook more frozen foods. With a little indulgence towards yourselfthe return will be less violent.
2) Have fun and enjoy yourself like on vacation
During these few days of rest, you took care of yourself and took the time to do pleasant activities to recharge your batteries. Why not allow yourself to do so the rest of the year? After all, life is not limited to the endless metro-work-sleep.
So as not to let yourself be devoured by routine, allow yourself small pleasures and fun activities : outings with friends, eating chocolate, going to the swimming pool in a heated outdoor pool or to the park… Everything is good to soothe your heart! The good idea: become a tourist in your own city or the surrounding area to discover new places and new sensations. Enough to still feel like you’re on vacation without swallowing the miles. You can also create a heavenly rest area at home with a deck chair, a parasol, greenery and why not a small fountain to relax and enjoy well-deserved moments of soothing rest.
3) Plan your next vacation
According to a study published in 2020 in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychologythe fact of planning your next days of rest and being able to project yourself towards future jovial moments automatically provides a boost of serotoninour pleasure hormone. So take a moment to organize your future vacations or even more simply to think about your next weekend activities to add a nice brightening to your somewhat gloomy back-to-school routine.
4) Put your sleep in the spotlight
During your vacation, you sleep at your own pace and wake up naturally without stressing about the clocks! It is therefore not surprising to recover well during this rest period where you can listen to your body. At the start of the school year, time commitments and the daily routine make us change this rhythm and this can make the return even more difficult to cope with. Yes! we have schedules and unfortunately we have to stick to them. It is then essential to adjust your sleep rhythm so as not to let yourself be overwhelmed by fatigue. To do this, try toadvance your bedtime the days preceding in order to gradually resume a sleeping rhythm in accordance with your schedule.
Moreover, take care of your sleep hygiene allowing at least seven to nine hours of sleep depending on your needs. Furthermore, avoid stimulants (alcohol, tea, coffee, etc.) and ban screens before bedtime to help you fall asleep. By taking care of your sleep, your change of pace will be less harsh on your body.
5) Good meals and convivial moments for a smoother return
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean you should automatically give up on social time. Aperitif dinners with friends, a romantic picnic, a gourmet coffee with a colleague you can’t wait to see again… Don’t limit these special moments to vacations and organize new ones when you return! This will give you new reasons to rejoice even if morale is not high. Additionally, please feel free to recreate the dishes and cocktails that delighted you during your vacation. Churros, planchas, local specialties, ice creams… Everything is good to remind you of the sweet flavors that have enchanted your taste buds abroad and prolong, seemingly for nothing, the pleasure of these moments of rest.
6) Do not overuse screens for your mind
It’s difficult not to accumulate fatigue when our ultra-stimulated brain remains tirelessly exposed to screens, notifications, emails and social networks which keep it in a constant state of alert. However, during our holidays, we have a certain ease in disconnect naturally to enjoy the moment. To avoid returning to your old ways and losing all the benefits of this “detoxification”, do not hesitate to reduce your consumption and continue this disconnection. This can involve establishing rules such as a connection time limit, the habit of turning off your phone in the evening (which will also allow you to sleep better) or prohibiting yourself from checking your work emails outside of work. work.
7) Take care of yourself so as not to get depressed when you return from vacation
During his holidays, we had to time for yourself that you can dedicate to your well-being. Don’t let these moments just fade away when you get home! To make your tanned complexion last longer, for example, you can moisturize your skin daily. Your healthy glow will last longer and will brighten you up well after the start of the school year. Also consider using monoi treatments or any other scent that will remind you of your vacation (lavender, etc.). Finally, you can also continue to wear your flip-flops and put on colorful outfits to bring cheerfulness into your daily life and emphasize your pretty tan.
What matters is to take care of yourself not only through activities that please you and relax you, but also taking care of your health, well-being and beauty.
8) A vacation souvenir for the home and/or office
There’s nothing better to make you smile than to have a beautiful decoration or holiday photo to instantly recall good memories and find a smile again at least for a moment. If you can, don’t hesitate to add a decoration or frame to your desk for this purpose.