by Sarah Donaghy

Created on: January 25, 2009

Coming home from a vacation, be it a short or long vacation, is always a bit of a downer. We all have our own ways of easing back in to reality after a vacation, though the following 5 tips can help all of us to readjust.

1. Don't dwell on your return. It is often the case that a day or two before the return date we can start to feel melancholy with the realization that our holiday is coming to an end. Acknowledge these feelings and then channel your energy into making the most of the end of your vacation. Easing back in to reality isn't so hard when you feel that you enjoyed your vacation to the full.

2. Take it slow on your return. It is best to leave a day or two before returning to work, and save family get togethers until the weekend following your return. While your loved ones may be eager to catch up and hear about your vacation, you will want peace and quiet while you settle back into real life. On the same token, don't make plans for your first day or two back at home.

3. Unpack and decorate shortly after arrival home. Reestablish yourself in your home. Do a load of laundry if necessary and put your suitcases away. Display your souvenirs, get your photos developed, and place tokens of your vacation around you. These will provide visual reminders of the fantastic time you have had.

4. Reestablish your routines. Immediately after arrival home reestablish your sleeping and eating patterns to minimize jet lag as much as possible. Once you have returned to work, reestablish your other normal routines- going to the gym, going to social clubs, volunteering, and calling on friends and family. This will gradually get you back in sync with the rhythm of your reality.

5. Remain connected with your vacation without getting wistful. Send post cards to the new friends that you made, share your photos and anecdotes with your friends, maybe even begin to plan your next vacation. However, you will find it far easier to ease back in to reality if you do not allow yourself to get wistful. When you reminisce, don't waste your time wishing you were still away on holiday. Instead, soak up how wonderful it is to be at home and be able to have so much new to share. When a post card arrives from your vacation friends, reflect on how wonderful it is that you had the opportunity to meet them. Vacations are ultimately meant to enhance our reality and make it better, not to make it seem like a chore.

With a little bit of planning and an optimistic outlook, easing back in to reality after a vacation can be, well, easy after all.

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