Holistic tips to ease back into work after a busy vacation: Return refreshed & ready

Travelling can be a whirlwind of activity—exploring new places, meeting new people, and engaging in a myriad of activities. It's exhilarating but can also be exhausting, especially if you're an introvert like me who expends a lot of energy in social situations and new environments.

I know this well from my own experiences. In the past, I would try to squeeze every last drop out of a holiday break, arriving home at 1:30am, then waking up at 7am feeling unrested with a chaotic house, no downtime, or plan ahead of work. Inevitably, I'd get sick a few days after returning because, well, I was burning the candle at both ends.

Back when stress and anxiety were regular features of my life, I see now that I would dive straight back into work without taking any time to reset my energy. I didn't realize the importance of honouring my cycles and needs, and this led to burnout and illness.

Recently, during a road trip from Vancouver to San Francisco—logging 30 hours of driving over eight days—the journey was filled with loads of excitement and discovery, but I was definitely drained by the end.

Now, I’ve learned the value of respecting my energy and taking deliberate steps to recuperate before returning to my regular work routine. Today I choose to approach things differently rather than having the choice made for me (by my body shutting down and getting super sick).

Here are my reflections and practical tips for returning to work after vacation so you can actually feel refreshed, ready, and balanced. These are some of the exact things I recently did to ease back into my work week (and I was fully unplugged the whole time I was away).

16 Ways To Transition from Vacation to Work With Ease

Before You Go Back to Work...

1. Ensure You Have a Full Day Off Before Returning to Work

Schedule at least one or two days off to transition smoothly from vacation mode back into your routine. This buffer time allows you to rest and mentally prepare for work, easing the shock of jumping straight back into your responsibilities.

It also gives you time to reset your home by unpacking, grabbing groceries, tidying your space, and doing any other chores neglected while away. This invaluable transition day sets you up much better for the week ahead. Plus, it gives your mind and body the necessary space to readjust to your typical routine.

2. Get Back to Your Regular Diet

Replenish your body with nutritious food and get that grocery shop done! Even if you went on an incredible foodie trip to Italy or similar, you’ve probably eaten more fast food or different foods than usual. When returning to the swing of things after a trip, give your body healthy fuel to recover and recalibrate back to usual.

Eating a balanced meal with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein can help restore your energy levels before your upcoming work week. My husband and I have even used services like Instacart before when we were especially not up for doing the shop ourselves. My take: paying the $25 premium to stock your fridge is better than ordering expensive takeout throughout the week.

3. Wash & Put Away Your Clothes

Unpacking and putting away your clothes can be a therapeutic way to transition back into your daily life. It also helps create a sense of order and normalcy.

By organizing your belongings, you can create a more peaceful and clutter-free environment, contributing to a calmer state of mind throughout the week (no frantic, "Where's my shirt and is it clean?!").

4. Journal About Your Trip

Reflect on your experiences and set intentions for the week ahead. Journaling can provide clarity and closure, helping you process your trip and prepare for what's next.

Writing about your journey can also help you remember the highlights and lessons learned, making it a valuable part of your post-trip routine. Setting intentions helps you get back on track in the likely event things don't go as planned during your first week back (and you’re pulled in a thousand directions within your first 30 minutes online).

5. Reconnect with Your Body

After a trip, you might feel "buzzy" and physically stiff. Yin yoga (a.k.a. mindful stretching) is an excellent way to stretch your body and ground your mind. Personally, I find it helps release any tension and reset my energy in a big way.

Taking time to practice gentle yoga or stretching can help you feel more balanced and relaxed, making it easier to transition back to your routine.

6. Listen to Soothing Sounds

I know my nervous system gets quite disrupted while I’m on vacation. Travelling exposes you to various noises and vibrations that can disrupt your balance, especially if you’re a sensitive person like me.

Reclaim your tonal harmony with sound therapy, such as tuning forks or gong sounds, to soothe your nervous system (as a starting point: check out the playlists I created on Spotify). This practice can help calm your mind and restore a sense of peace after the sensory overload of travel.

7. Smudge Your Space

Cleanse your environment with smudging to clear any lingering energy from your trip or stagnated energy in your home. This practice can help you feel more settled and refreshed. Smudging with sage or palo santo can create a serene atmosphere, making you feel more grounded and comfortable.

8. Engage in a Slow & Restful Activities

On your buffer day back home, engage in relaxing hobbies like painting, drawing, reading, or playing cards. These activities can help you unwind and gently reconnect with yourself.

Engaging in a slow, enjoyable activity can provide a sense of calm and satisfaction, helping you recharge. You may have gotten caught up in a certain type of rest during your break, but chances are, there’s an opportunity to sink into it even more.

9. Limit Catching Up

I know it’s common to let people know you’re home safe and sound and want to share your holiday's highlights. However, this exerts a lot of energy, especially if you can chit-chat on the phone for hours (like me). I’ve appreciated avoiding extensive phone calls or texts to share my travel stories, at least for a few days.

A simple message to let others know you're home safe now will suffice and will conserve your energy big time! Saving in-depth conversations for later lets you focus on your recovery and transition back into your routine more smoothly.

10. Normalize Your Sleep Schedule

Resetting your sleep routine is crucial after vacation. Ensure you get enough rest to feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle your tasks. Nothing beats a deep and restful sleep in your bed, especially if you’ve been Couchsurfing, staying in hostels, or not in the most comfy arrangement.

Not to mention, consistent sleep helps regulate your body's natural rhythms, improving your overall health and well-being, no matter if you are away or not.

Once You're Back at Work…

11. Block Meetings on Your First Day Back

Avoid scheduling meetings or important tasks on your first day back at work. Use this time to ease into your routine and catch up on messages and prioritize the most necessary tasks at your own pace.

This approach allows you to transition more smoothly, actually catch up on without further delay, and reduce the stress of jumping back into a hectic schedule.

12. Delegate, Defer, & Deprioritize

I know for myself, I could easily get overwhelmed with the 600+ unread messages, 40+ outstanding tasks, and 10+ team members to catch up with. Where to start right?! I found that it’s easy to get sucked into email and just communicate about projects, which hardly moves the needle forward.

Plus, you might try to catch up every little thing the day you're back online, but the truth is, you’re not going to smush two weeks of work into a single day. Instead, highlight your top 3 priorities and look to delegate, defer, or deprioritize everything else that week. It's better to actually “ship” game-changing activities rather than get bogged down in a slew of irrelevant comms.   

13. Cancel Obligations You Don’t Have Energy For

Do you have two birthday parties, a rec soccer game, and a coffee date the week you get back? Check in with yourself and actually ask if you’re up for doing all these things.

When I returned from San Francisco, I skipped a double-header softball game because I wanted to prioritize rest and my energy back. I couldn’t have been happier with this decision. I would have been so beat if I actually ended up going.

The bottomline is: it’s okay to say no to things, so you can show up with more energy and focus next time around. 

14. Book a Wellness Appointment

Consider scheduling a massage, chiropractic, counselling, or acupuncture session. Choose what feels right for you based on your trip's physical or emotional demands.

For instance, if your trip involved a lot of physical activity, a massage might be beneficial, while counselling can help you process any intense emotions you experienced. After 30 hours of driving down the West Coast, my neck and shoulders needed some serious TLC, so I booked a massage and chiropractic appointment and felt immediate relief.

15. Engage in Gentle Movement

Light exercise, like walking or stretching, can help re-energize your body without overexerting yourself. You may be craving your regular high-intensity workout, but chances are, you’re probably still a little too zapped for that right out of the gate.

Gentle movement can also help you feel more connected to your body and improve your overall mood as you transition back to work. 

16. Maintain a Relaxing Home Environment

Spend time creating a serene and comfortable space at home this week. Light candles, play chill music, or take a warm bath to help you unwind and feel at ease. A relaxing environment can calm your nervous system and ease your back into your routine.

​​A Quick Caveat…

You don't need to do everything on this list..!

It's important to discern what works best for you—I'm sharing from my perspective, which is not the only one. Some things may energize you while they drain me, and that's okay!

Also, I'll be the first to admit that I didn’t complete everything "perfectly" myself. For example, there’s still some laundry to do, items to put back into storage, and I'd love to tidy the kitchen more.

These recommendations aim to encourage small, meaningful actions to set yourself up for more ease, order, and relaxation. Listen to your inner voice and your body’s cues about what you need, not what you think you should do.

The more you practice this, the better you'll get at preemptively setting yourself up well before you’ve even left for holiday, leading to fewer chaotic and stressful moments in the future.

Experience an Easier Transition Back to Work

I get it. Implementing these tips can be easier said than done. Life gets busy, and prioritizing yourself often takes a backseat if you’re not used to it. 

Unfortunately, if you don't step in and set up your week well, you’re far more prone to getting sick because you’re overexerted (and you won’t have the choice when that “forced rest” happens).

But consider this: What's keeping you from taking this essential time for yourself? If you struggle to find the balance and need guidance, I'm here to help.

Let's uncover what's holding you back and how you can actually prioritize your well-being. Set up a breakthrough call with me, and let's work together to ensure that you don’t need to take another vacation after you just got back from one. 

Remember, vacation is a break from routine, but it comes with its own set of demands. Taking the time to rest and recuperate can make all the difference in how you transition back to your regular schedule. 

You can make a conscious choice to prioritize yourself—and I promise, your body and mind will thank you.