Returning home from vacation is always bittersweet. On the one hand, you’re leaving behind the carefree days of relaxation, freshly served meals without the kitchen clean up and beautiful views. On the other hand, you’re returning to the comforts of home and your routines.
During my last day on the resort in Cancun, I started thinking of all the ways I could carry over the Mexico vibes to my busy home life. The thought of jumping back into the hustle made my whole body tense up, and I knew how important it would be to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Below are my top tips to help you ease back into home life after a relaxing vacation (without losing the peace of mind you enjoyed while away.)
1. Continue eating fresh
One of the joys of vacation, especially in places like Mexico, is enjoying fresh, flavorful, and locally sourced food. I ate a fresh veggie omelet every morning, enjoyed a lot of fresh fruits and flaky fish. All of my meals were light and I took it easy on the alcohol, only having 2 drinks poolside the entire time I was there. My palate adjusted quickly to the lightly sweetened pastries – the sugar there was nothing like the heaviness back in the states. Overall, my digestion benefited greatly from the lighter, fresher meals.
Continue eating fresh when you’re back home. For me, this has been a veggie omelet for breakfast and a little less creamer in my coffee.
Post-vacation nutrition tips:
- Meal prep with vacation inspiration: Think about the dishes you loved on your trip and find ways to recreate them at home with fresh ingredients.
- Hydrate with fruit-infused water: If you enjoyed sipping on tropical beverages, you can carry this into your home life by making fruit-infused water to keep hydrated and refreshed.
- Incorporate fresh herbs and spices: If your vacation meals were flavorful due to fresh herbs and spices, bring this into your kitchen. Fresh cilantro, mint, basil, or even chili can elevate simple dishes into something more reminiscent of your time away.
2. Ease back into your routines
The expression I need a vacation from the vacation is real! Especially with flight delays, long flights, different time zones and disrupted sleep patterns. Prioritize rest when you return, and give yourself permission to nap, sleep in, or go to bed early as needed.
You don’t have to immediately hit the ground running.
3. Incorporate slow living practices into your daily life
While you can’t recreate your exact vacation environment at home, you can get pretty close by incorporating slow living practices into your daily life. Here are some practices you can try to keep the vacation vibes alive:
1. A morning walk
2. A leisurely cup of coffee or tea
3. A short meditation practice before logging into work
4. Sunshine on your face first thing in the morning
4. Plan your next vacation
Be proactive about planning your next escape.
One of the best ways to combat post-vacation blues is by starting to plan your next trip, even if it’s months away.
Your return home doesn’t have to mean the end of your rest and rejuvenation. With a mindful approach, you can carry the ease you felt on your trip into your everyday life.
Tell me, when was your last vacation and where are you headed next?