7 Ways To Hold On To Your Post-Vacation Serenity
When the getaway is over and the demands of normal life resume, how do you inject a sense of escapism and tranquillity into your everyday existence? Here, EVA RAMIREZ shares ways to keep the holiday spirit alive, long after the sun-kissed glow has faded
We’ve all been there. You’re on vacation, far from life’s daily duties, feeling energized, relaxed, buoyant and inspired. Like you might just overhaul your entire life when you get home. Then you start asking yourself: Why can’t days always begin with long, leisurely breakfasts and coffee accompanied by a view? Why does an espresso after a long, languorous lunch feel chic when you’re on vacation, yet a 4pm flat white on any other Tuesday veritably sends you into a downward spiral?
Who knows if it’s the sun, the slow starts or the fact someone else is making your bed in the mornings. Whatever the ingredient, you want to bottle these feelings of lightness and repose and take them home with you.
Having time off is crucial, and not just because of the productivity-related benefits. It can reset sleep, improve our mental wellbeing, encourage fewer hours in front of screens and more spent in nature, and allow for uninterrupted connections with ourselves and our loved ones. It’s no wonder you return feeling refreshed and optimistic. However, these feelings rarely last forever, and it’s not long before you find yourself rushing to book the next trip.
Post-vacation melancholy can be a real downer, but there are lasting ways to recreate that getaway-induced serenity and joy into your daily life. Here are some ideas…
Have a sit-down breakfast at least once a week
Not in front of your desk or while commuting, but at home – even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Whether with family, friends or alone, carving out this time allows you to set the pace for the day ahead, start the day before starting your to-do list, and tune in to how you’re feeling. You could even put in the extra effort to recreate a favorite breakfast dish from your most recent vacation.
Incorporate a sense of adventure, however small
Travel often presents us with moments that push us out of our comfort zones, whether these involve physical activities or navigating a place where we don’t speak the language. This in turn boosts confidence and makes us feel braver and more capable – all things that can benefit us in daily life, too. If there’s something you’ve wanted to try out but have had doubts, now is the time to go for it. A new hobby, learning a new skill – whatever it is, feeling nervous isn’t a bad thing, and you might just surprise yourself.
Eat what you fancy – just don’t stress about it
On vacation, eating habits are more relaxed. Have you noticed how a bowl of pasta might not bloat you as much as it does back home? That’s likely due to the gut-brain axis, a two-way signaling system between the gastrointestinal tract (gut) and the central nervous system (brain). Our bodies respond to emotions – and when we’re relaxed, the digestive system is happier. Stress increases cortisol, which boosts blood sugar while suppressing the digestive system. So if you are eating when stressed, your gut may react to food very differently to how it would when you’re in a more relaxed state. It’s not always about what you eat, but how (or when and where) you eat it.
Practice mindfulness
When we are somewhere new, it’s as if our attention is fine-tuned to everything around us, soaking up every color, sound and detail of our surroundings. So how much might you be missing when rushing around on autopilot back home? Practicing mindfulness or present-moment awareness can help us feel more in tune, relaxed and less anxious. A simple way to do this could be switching up a usual travel route; lack of familiarity encourages you to pay more attention to what’s around you, making you feel stimulated and increasing the opportunity for new sources of inspiration.
Start your day by doing something for yourself
Me-time is easier to have on vacation than it is back home, where you have more daily demands. If possible, try doing just one thing in the morning, before anything else, that is solely for you and unrelated to any obligations you might have. It could be anything – meditation, reading, journaling, movement, cooking, calling a friend for a catch-up – and it doesn’t have to be the same thing every day. This seemingly small habit can help to foster a sense of self-care and self-love; there’s nothing more precious than time.
Get out in nature
On vacation, we tend to spend far more time outdoors than inside. Back home, something as simple as a daily 20-minute walk in your local park could benefit you. Studies have proven that spending at least two hours a week in nature has a positive impact on health and wellbeing – providing similar benefits to those you get from meditation. Getting outside and away from screens can restore our cognitive functions and make us more productive, too. A recent study by the American Science Daily website found that after three days of hiking, participants saw a 50 percent increase in creativity and problem-solving skills.
Reorganize or refresh your space
What do you love most about a hotel room or a holiday rental? Quite often, it’s how uncluttered they are – almost as if the space allows you to breathe and think better. It’s enough to make you realize how relaxing it is to live without disorder. So when you’re back home, try reorganizing your space and streamlining where possible. Be it a work-from-home desk, your bedroom or bathroom, injecting a renewed energy will freshen up the space and hopefully welcome back that vacation-induced inspiration and calm.
Find more of Eva Ramirez’s writing here