Coming home from a great trip? How to get over the post-vacation blues.

It’s really easy to get used to the holiday lifestyle. Escaping everyday obligations and sunbathing all day long is a dream come true for most people, but as it happens, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, that's when most travelers have a hard time coming back to their regular lifestyle, and this problem is commonly known as the post-vacation blues.

While some get over it fairly quickly and painlessly, others have a hard time with coming to terms, and spend months daydreaming of the time when they’ll set off once again on a new adventure. If you belong in this group, we have a few simple tactics that can be used to regain the joy of life quicker than you might’ve imagined. Here’s how to do it!

Sort out the photos and souvenirs

What’s the first thing most travelers do immediately when they get back home from their trip? Why, look at the memories they created, of course. Some even do this before unpacking their suitcase. It turns out that there’s a psychological aspect to it. You see, by allowing yourself to appreciate the journey, you will be overcome with the feelings of gratitude. Furthermore, you will avoid the unnecessary buildup of nostalgia, which usually happens when you postpone this action to a later date.

Do not go back to your office immediately

This is probably the worst thing that you can do when returning from holiday. If you do not give yourself some time to relax and catch your breath, while instead jumping head first into the daily work-related tasks and duties, you will burnout. Fast.

A much better idea would be to take a day or two off upon returning from your trip, just to get acclimated to constant change of your surroundings. You shouldn’t feel guilty of taking good care of yourself. Allow your coworkers to pick up some of the load, and make sure to return the favor when the time comes for their holiday as well.

Pick up the chores slowly

This rule is similar to the above mentioned one. On holiday, our bodies get used to the feeling of relaxation and whether you like to admit it or not, most of us get a bit lazy as a consequence. Curing this condition is simple enough, just get back to your routines and soldier on. However, make sure you do it at your own pace. By forcing yourself too much, you will not only start hating life, but you’ll give half-ass effort that won’t be enough either way.

Get in touch with some friends

Besides going on holiday, the second best thing is sharing your experiences and memories with the people you love. On top of all, there’s nothing better than hanging out with friends to make the blues go away. Have a few drinks, share a bit of laughs, and catch up on the stuff that happened while you were gone. It’s always a nice feeling when someone feels happy to see you.

Clear your to-do list prior to taking off on vacation

Can you imagine the dreadful scenario where you come back from a different time zone, tired as a dog and desperate for some sleep, but instead of relaxing, you end up having to scrub the entire house? Even worse, the piled up work you should have done months ago but kept putting off is still there, and the deadline is quickly approaching. The very thought of it is the stuff of nightmares.

Luckily, it’s very simple to avoid it happening to you. Just be the best version of yourself prior to leaving for your vacation, and clear as many items off your to-do list as possible. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. At the very least, you’ll make sure that it won’t come back to bite you at the most inopportune time.

Plan for another quick getaway

If you’re comparing office work to jail in your mind, guess what, the reality is not going to be a whole lot different. Look at the positives as much as you can, and if you still cannot come up with a good list at the end of the day, start preparing for your next short weekend getaway to ease the tension.