Coming back from vacation can be dreadful, especially when you’re coming back to cold weather or a laundry list of things to do or just responsibilities.

Personally, I enjoy taking vacations often and I always think I’m ready to get back to reality at the end of my trip and when I get back I find myself having a hard time focusing on work, and adjusting back to my regular schedule. I even find myself complaining about being back.

I was recently on vacation and I returned home ready to get back on the plane back to paradise. I always wondered why I felt sad to be back from my time off, and if it was a reflection of not being satisfied with where I was with life. Basically, I thought I wanted to stay OOO because I didn’t want to get back to my reality where I wasn’t 100% satisfied.

I really like being away, in spaces that are different and experiencing different cultures, foods, people, and adventures, which can bee sad to have to leave behind when you’re used to home and what that feels like.

I found some things that helped me this go-around when I got back and found myself going through some post-vacation sadness:

• Take some extra days off after you return from your vacation:

  • Taking some days off after you’ve come back from vacation allows you to acclimate back into your regular schedule.

  • I always make the mistake of jumping right back into work when I get back from and I regret it each and every time…do not be like me.

• Bring some of your vaca back with you

  • For me, I normally bring some snacks back with me that I enjoyed.

  • Learn a local recipe that you really like so that you can cook it at home, you’ll feel like you’re back on vacation…..sort of.

• Organize

  • Clean your home before leaving, empty your dishwasher, do your laundry, get your grocery list done for your return, all that good stuff.

  • Coming back from a vacation with nothing sorted our or organized can be very overwhelming and stressful. Save yourself some time and effort by making sure you organize yourself before leaving.

• Souvenirs

  • Self-explanatory. I bring a mug back from everywhere I visit. Sorry to my lover, our home will have an endless amount of mugs..that don’t match. But they all have a wonderful story behind them.

• Plan your next vacation

  • Planning your next vacation can take your mind off the fact that you’ve returned from one and you have something to look forward to. The vacation you’re planning might not happen for another few months or maybe the following year but it’s definitely something to look forward to.

• Express gratitude

  • Before, during and after your trip make sure you express your gratitude to be able to be taking a trip, to be in a different state/country, and to have been able to have that experience.

  • Feeling grateful through and through can really help zone you back in and makes you realize why you were so excited to go in the first place and highlights the hard work you’ve done.

We often forget that there is a lot happening around us and some of us aren’t as privileged to be able to take time off and experience certain things the way others can. I realized that I had to stop complaining about being back from my vacation because it’s a blessing to be able to take one. Although I work really hard for everything I have and I work to be able to do so, it’s still really important to remain thankful and humble.

Do small things to get yourself back in the swing of things and quit complaining about wanting to be back on vacation. Be grateful you were able to take one, be grateful you got back home safely and be grateful that you get to take another one and experience more.

Do you get Post-Vacation Blues? What do you do to make yourself feel better? Let me know in the comments below!