Easing Back into Life & Work After Vacation: 3 Tips for Busy Professionals to Maintain the Joy!

Returning to the daily grind after a vacation can feel overwhelming, especially for busy professionals balancing multiple responsibilities. You may even start feeling that stress before you return home! That end-of-vacation dread crops up because you're feeling the impending doom of returning to reality. The reality you're constantly trying to run away from... You prematurely and mentally end your vacation. You're on a fun and relaxing trip but you know that what awaits you at home is the total opposite -- stressful and so, so busy.

As many of you are taking, and returning from, summer vacations, I want to share my top 3 tips to avoid the dread and hold on to your sweet vacation joy when you get home and get back into the regular pace of life.

1. Take a vacation buffer day and ease back in. Give yourself one day at home to unpack, do laundry, get organized, and take it easy before you get back into the grind.
2. Organize and prioritize your stuff. Make two to-do list of tasks; one for home and one for work. Prioritize the items and focus on the most important tasks first.
3. Take time to reflect on what your favorite moments and memories were. Think about how you can incorporate vacation joy into your days. Maybe it's morning walks, drinking coffee outside or reading more.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a smoother transition back to home life and work, and maintain some of the relaxation and joy from your vacation. Remember, the goal is to integrate the positive aspects of your vacation into your daily life, helping you stay balanced and happy.

And one last bonus tip -- plan your next trip or vacation! Research shows that having something to look forward to will keep you motivated and engaged, and overall improve your well-being. And when you feel better, you do better!