by Kristen M. Anderson

Created on: January 28, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

We all know the agony of returning to the daily routine after sleeping in, eating out, and doing whatever we please during vacation. While we may fly high for a few days on pleasant memories of sun and sand, soon it's back to the reality of demanding jobs and daily tasks.

There are several things you can do to make this easing process easier. Consider the following ideas the next time you plan a get-away.

1. If possible, book your return flight for a Friday or a Saturday. You will appreciate having one or two weekend days to regroup, particularly if jet lag is an issue.

2. Do as much work as you can prior to your vacation to minimize a potential pile of work upon your return. It's much easier to put in extra hours when the prospect of vacation looms large in your mind.

3. Clean your house before you go on vacation. Better yet, hire a maid service or ask a friend to tidy up while you're gone (you can return the favor for your friend later on). If you've gotten used to having a daily maid service in your hotel on vacation, returning to tidy surroundings will help ease you back into reality.

4. Send yourself a postcard from your vacation destination. You don't have to write anything cheesy; the point is to remind yourself of the wonderful places you visited and the great time you enjoyed. You will appreciate this gentle reminder when the "glow" of your vacation wears off.

5. During your travels, buy some small incidentals for you to enjoy upon your return. Unpacking your suitcase will be much more enjoyable while munching on macadamia nuts from Maui.

6. Check your email once or twice during your last few days of vacation. Not only will this provide an opportunity to share about your vacation with friends, it will alert you to any "red flags" that may need to be addressed directly upon your return. Note: Try not to check your email during the first part of your vacation if at all possible.

7. One or two days before your vacation ends, check the weather forecast in the city you live in. This kind of small preparation tells your mind what your heart doesn't want to accept (vacation is drawing to an end; soon we'll be returning to six inches of snow).

8. Once you're home, try extending your vacation in small ways. When I travel to a warm place, I like to turn up the heat in my home and wear shorts for a couple of days. Or, buy tanning cream to help maintain your bronze complexion. These small things will recreate the spirit of your vacation and help the easing process.

9. Publish and/or develop your photos as quickly as possible. Another trick is to bring a framed photo to work the first week after your vacation. When you're having a particularly hard day, put yourself back in the photo and relive the memories.

10. Plan your next vacation. Whether you make flight reservations or simply dream about destinations, planning your next vacation will give you something pleasant to think about as you return to reality.

Using ingenuity and planning ahead, you can gently ease back to reality after a luxurious vacation.

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