How to reset after a holiday

I am more than certain you can relate to that feeling of returning from a family vacation feeling a total wreck. Your mind say you had a lovely time, but your body feels agitated, irritated and depleted.

Being at war with your body is exhausting and if you are an overeater, it can perpetuate your cycle of bingeing.

Today, I would like to share with you how to reset after a holiday while illustrating step by step how to take your body out of turbulence and into tranquility. I also leave you with few counter-intuitive insights.

Initiating the reset

While it’s tempting to continue on the intense rhythm of the holiday, I would advise that you give yourself permission to slow down and reboot.

1) Pause

Pause when your body is showing signs of repetitive discomfort and acknowledge your body’s reality:“Yes body, I see you are pissed off and out of synch. I am here to listen and honor you”

2) Slow down

Assess what you can cancel, postpone and create space for rest. You will experience some blues and that’s normal.

3) Refrain from reasoning and judgement

You will catch yourself trying to analyze why you are at war with your body. The why does not matter. Your discomfort is an alarm bell inviting you to slow down and attend to yourself. Notice if you are judging yourself as fragile and invite your kind voice. You are deserving of rest and inner attention after a holiday.

From turbulence to tranquility

Just like you, I have my own struggles too. I recently returned to Dubai from a two-week family holiday in Ghana and I am sharing, in full honesty, what I have done to get my body out of turbulence and into tranquility.

1) I canceled my upcoming travel to Lebanon

After all, my body does not need additional action right now. I rested and slept a lot to recover from my exhaustion. And in this space of quiet, I began to notice what my body was hungry for.

2) My inner chef became alive

My stomach told me it was tired from eating greasy food and was longing for wholesome and healthy nourishment.

But, my body was bored from the 3-4 meals that I have been repetitively cooking for the past four months. I got excited and began researching new recipes. I changed my grocery routine and took time shopping for the freshest produce.

I prepared a falafel salad that both my husband and I enjoyed. My body loved this labor of love. I began to experience happiness, the one that rises effortlessly bringing a smile to my face and flow to my body. Excitement in the kitchen paid off!

3) Small setting socializing

Returning from our family holiday was painfully quiet. Both my husband and I work from home and in this Dubai summer, it’s easy to isolate indoors. I fought our solitude by reaching out to few friends to organize weekend get togethers.

I continued my cooking exploration and prepared a whole lunch menu of no sugar and no flour food on Saturday for a group of 5. I loved my friend’s curiosity and enjoyment. As someone who eats healthy, I get tired eating differently from others. It felt nice to be gathered around a table of healthy food that we could all share.

On sunday, we had a couple come over for a brunch. I was able to enjoy leftovers from Saturday while they indulged in their flour intense man’ousheh. We then played cards for two hours and I could feel my tank being filled with laughter, joy and silliness.

The post holiday blues were gone, yey!

4) Settling into my sleeping routine

Resting a lot and staying home at night has allowed my body to settle back to my early sleeping routine.

Living for two weeks with a four hour jet lag had taken its toll on me without me realizing it. It feels great to be back to a regular eating routine too.

I can now see I am my normal self now, joking, feeling creative and bursting in enthusiasm.

Reflecting on my reset, I would like to share with you few counter-intuitive thoughts:

• Having a harmonious relationship with your body helps you have a harmonious relationship with food. When your body is tranquil, you will feel more fulfilled and less likely to overeat.

• Being open to your discomfort will guide you to your unmet needs. So much pleasure comes from attending to an unmet need that you have not been realizing. Slowing down and holding space for your unease is painful at the beginning yet extremely rewarding just like I showed you.

• What your mind thinks does not matter, the truth lies in listening to your body by being attentive to signs of discomfort and pleasure and staying attuned to your emotions

• The cause of your discomfort is irrelevant. Your discomfort is an alarm bell inviting you to caring for yourself. Will you accept this invitation?

I’m here to support you to befriend your body

If you would like to experience firsthand how to connect within, visit my website and book a breathwork session.

Let me help you get out of your mind and listen deeply to what your body is trying to tell you. My goal is for you to leave the session feeling in harmony with yourself. Check the comments for a link to learn more about how to book a breathwork session.