Summer Newsletter - How to beat the post-holiday blues!

Nine years ago, I wrote my first article on Linkedin! It was entitled "How to beat the post-holiday blues". Having just got back from a week in the sun, I was reminded of the article and thought I'd give it a refresh for 2024!

I think we nearly all have had that feeling….? A great holiday, sun, sea and cocktails and then the return to the rain, wind and the stresses of life and the drudgery of the same routine day after day for another year until next year’s holiday comes around again.

But how can we avoid getting down on our return from our annual holiday? Well there are a few things we can do to keep ourselves upbeat in the weeks ahead.

Make a photo album of all your holiday snaps

And I don’t mean just on social media.? There are loads of sites and apps that will download your photos from your phone and create a beautiful photo book of all your snaps.? A keepsake for you to look at, flick through and share with family and friends when they call over the coming months.

Write a review or a blog

You probably checked out Tripadvisor and other review sites before you went on holidays.? Now share your experiences with others, write a review of a nice restaurant or the hotel you stayed in so that others can avail of the experience too.

Get back into a healthy routine as quickly as possible

Continuing with the holiday lifestyle on your return by eating and drinking to excess will only add to your feeling of being down.? Instead of opening that bottle of wine with dinner to “finish off” the holiday, go for a walk or to the gym.? Get back to your routine as quick as you can.? Stock up on healthy foods and fruit and maybe even do a detox day to give you an extra boost.

Make a plan for the weeks ahead

Whether it be a plan for work tasks or for personal tasks, write it down.? Your first day back in work will inevitably be spent dealing with the hundreds of emails in your inbox or voice-mails and yet you will also be expected to get the day to day work done as well.? Plan out what you want to achieve in your first few days back in work and delegate where you can.?

On a personal level, plan how you are going to spend your free time – if the rain ever stops, could you take a day out to the beach at the week-end or take the family to the park or on a hike? I love to watch a sunset, plan to head westwards to watch the sunset and make some more holiday memories at home.

Share the Love

Why not invite a few friends around to show them your new photo-book, ask them to bring theirs too.? Learn how to cook a dish from wherever you holidayed or make the local cocktail! Have a themed dinner, a French night, a Spanish night, a Greek night etc. and use the new phrases you learnt on holiday and reminisce about this year’s holiday.

Start saving for next year

Holidays are expensive and if you’ve over-done it on the Credit Card then this can add to your post-holiday blues.? Make a real effort to clear that credit card this month and then start a holiday fund for next year.? You will be amazed how quickly a small amount can accumulate by next year, 20 euro a week for the next 50 weeks will give you €1000 towards next year’s spending!

Don't leave it another year to get away

Taking a break, whether it be your annual holidays or a week-end away helps to relieve the stresses and strains of modern life, so if you can, take a break during the year and re-energise those batteries. Sometimes a few short breaks throughout the year can be better for you than waiting for the 2 weeks break during the summer.

What will be different this time next year?

If the holiday has given you space to reflect on where life is at and where it is going, write down the actions you need to take over the next year in order for you to stay still, to move forward or to make a change. Often we do this in January in the form of new year resolutions but maybe it might be more productive to do it mid-year? Take stock and if you want things to change, ask yourself - what actions do I need to take to be in a different place this time next year!

I hope you have had the opportunity to get away whether it be at home or abroad.

I hope you have had time to spend with family and friends and also time on your own.

I hope you have had time to re-energise, reflect and re-engage with who you are and what you want from the summer, from 2024 and from life in general. Enjoy!

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