Back to the routine... and surviving it
- Melinda Sanchez
- Dec 13, 2024
- 3 min read
Some of us are back from vacations where some managed to fully disconnect from work and daily routines, while others less so. Do you know how to return to your routine without hitting an emotional slump filled with laziness, anxiety, or even sadness or hyperactivity?
The post-vacation period isn’t the same for everyone, even within members of a family who spent the summer together in the same place. Once we return home, three things can happen:
Some people think, “What a shame the good times are over.”
Others might feel, “Thank goodness the vacation is over; it was getting too long.”
Then there’s the group who had fun, enjoyed their time, and now feel renewed and eager to start.
This last group usually doesn’t experience negative emotions, so I’ll focus on the first two.
Case 1: When You’re Reluctant to Start Again
You’ve had an amazing vacation, and the thought of going back to routine—office, home, school, grocery shopping—feels daunting.
Questions to Reflect On:
What exactly is making you reluctant? It’s different if you dread household chores, returning to work, or waking up early.
Once you identify the main source of reluctance, ask yourself: How could I ease into this without drastically disrupting the sense of well-being I gained from vacation?
For example: I’m dreading going back to work—I’ll need to wake up early, commute to the office, and tackle piles of unfinished tasks. I don’t even know where to start!
Since it’s impossible to do everything at once, the first step is to organize yourself while respecting the relaxation and peace you gained during vacation. If you get overwhelmed before getting organized, you’ll lose that tranquility.
Practical Tips:
Maintain moments of enjoyment: What can I do daily to preserve the sense of calm, disconnection, and peace I brought back from vacation?
Put things into perspective: What are the real negative consequences of taking a gradual approach instead of going full throttle from day one? And what are the positive outcomes of doing so?
Case 2: When You’re Eager to Return
You wanted to get back because something about your vacation didn’t go well, or perhaps you missed your routine and struggled to disconnect. This isn’t necessarily a problem—feeling eager to return, having enjoyed your time, feeling calm, and being ready to get things done is fantastic. However, if you’re looking to stay busy to avoid or escape something, that’s worth addressing.
Questions to Reflect On:
What’s driving your eagerness to return? Sometimes, we come back feeling like we need a vacation to recover from the vacation.
What could you have done to enjoy your vacation more?
Within your control, what could you do differently next time?
Is there something deeper your subconscious is avoiding that might be helpful to explore or discuss during this new stage?
General Advice: Reflect, Be Conscious, and Put Things in Perspective
As I often say, the first step is reflection, followed by awareness, and in this specific post-vacation context, a lot of perspective.
Sometimes, we go into autopilot the moment we return: unpacking, grocery shopping, checking emails, buying school supplies, cutting expenses... slipping back into that cycle some call life, where we press the “on” button and, if we’re lucky, smile occasionally.
The idea is to return to daily life while trying to maintain some of that calm, peace, and reconnection. Staying tranquil in our daily routines helps us focus, be more productive, gain mental clarity, notice the little things, and ultimately, be happier—which is the goal, isn’t it?
Image by Freepik
Melinda Sánchez Coach
Comments