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Taking time off, though necessary for your sanity, can also be very stressful when it’s time to get back to the reality of home life, and, work. With Easter time, and, Spring Break on the horizon, people are looking forward to getting away, but, along with “getting away” comes “coming home”, and, back to reality.
Kids may be out of their routines, work may loom on the horizon, and, suddenly, your vacation almost seems negated by life.
I’m not an expert on such matters, and, I don’t even play one on the Internet, but, here’s some things that help me make the transition from vacation to work/home easier:
- I try to take an additional day off from work after we get home for transition time. Though I hate the thought of using an extra vacation day, when it comes down to time, I am always glad I did it.
- We also do our best to plan travel so that we get home at a normal hour, preferably during daylight, so that the kids can play outside, we can eat dinner at a table rather than in the car, and, everyone can decompress before bedtime. It makes me feel like we have an “extra” day when the whole day isn’t taken up by driving or flying.
- Make to-do lists, and, leave notes around the house, and, the office before you go, to give you a clue what you were doing before you left without having to wonder what in the world the papers on the counter or the file folder on your desk is about.
- Plan to do something special a few days after you return to give everyone something to look forward to after vacation.
- Though many may disagree with me, I listen to the voice mails at home on the way back from vacation, since, it makes me feel more in control upon my arrival home, and, I listen to work voice mails, and, check e-mail the night before I go back to work, so, I know what I’m getting into before I get there. But, that method’s not for everyone, I realize.
- We all know that preparing before you go is the best way to reduce stress upon your arrival home, but, sometimes that’s easier said than done. I do try to get the laundry done, and, get the kitchen cleaned before we leave, as well as try to get big work projects wrapped up. Additionally, if it’s during the school year, I try to get the kids school items (backpacks. books, lunch money, etc.) ready to go for the return to school before we leave.
- At work, I treat myself to a nice lunch my first day back, or, make plans to meet a friend for lunch, if time permits.
What helps you get back in the swing of work, home, and, kids after some time off?
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Oh God! I am so terrible at transitioning it’s unbelievable. I am learning from the kids to remember everything, take it all in and to accept that our lives are where we are at the moment and to enjoy it.
About 50% of my work is portable so, while we aren’t burdened by the school year, we take off when we can to spend time with my family and my husband’s in our respective countries while we live in a third country.
While I feel like we’re always missing someone, my kids act like they are just happy to be where the are and ease into each different culture without missing a beat!
I always try to leave the house clean when we go. Coming home to a clean house is a najor stress-reducer for me. I also like to come home at a reasonable hour, to give everyone some down time before bedtime. If we have plans to be gone for a whole week, I like to get back on Saturday so we have Sunday to get the vacation laundry done and get ready for school.
Good advice I need to heed, especially this week! Thanks.