So, Your Vacation is Over

Today’s edition of Wishful Working is a 4 minute read.

Hello, hello!

I had a nice few weeks off since sending the last edition of Wishful Working on June 20. First, my husband and I hosted my brother and sister-in-law for a week of Saskatchewan summer fun! Then, after celebrating Canada Day on July 1, we embarked on the 17-hour drive to Iowa to visit my family and friends for the 4th of July! 

We spread the drive out over two days and then enjoyed all the traditional July 4th festivities with my family — a parade, a BBQ in my uncle’s backyard, and enough watermelon to make you burst.

After the 4th, we got to hang out with friends and family, and we hit our favorite restaurants — a mix of Des Moines favorites and US-only chains. We went to Jimmy John’s three times in one week. 😂🥪

Then, we took our time driving back to Canada via Minneapolis, MN, and Minot, ND, and when we arrived home last Wednesday, we received a very stern lecture from our bored and lonely gray tabby cat, Frankie. 

Then, I faced the moment every returning vacationer dreads:

It was time to get back to work.

The post-vacation blues

The days immediately following the end of a trip are always a bit weird. Even if you’re not jetlagged, you’re probably tired. I always am. Plus, my body usually aches, and my digestive system is often slightly out of whack thanks to vacation indulgences.

And that’s just the physical issues.

Returning from a trip is also emotionally draining, especially when it’s a trip to visit my friends and family. 

The myth of feeling “refreshed” after a trip

You often hear people talk about returning from vacation using phrases like “feeling refreshed” and “ready to dive back into work,” but I suspect this is mostly bullshit. Maybe some people really feel this way, but it’s certainly not my experience. 

Freelance writer Kat Boogaard says it well in this tweet:

If you don’t feel like working after you get back from a trip, you’re not alone. 

Therefore…

Take it slow

Use your first day back to respond to emails, review your calendar, and reorient yourself in the working world. Handle any urgent matters, and make a to-do list for the coming week.

No, slower than that

Use your first day back to stare at your unread emails, open a few, and then go take a nap. 

Seriously, plan to do the bare minimum on that first day after a trip. Maybe the first few days. I logged precisely one hour and ten minutes last Thursday, on my first full day “back at work” after vacation.

Remember, you’ve got a lot of other things on your plate too, like unpacking, doing laundry, picking up mail, getting groceries, and handling other domestic tasks that have been on hold while you were away. 

Go easy on yourself

Even if you genuinely enjoy your job, it can be really hard to get back into “work-mode” after traveling. Don’t beat yourself up about this. And, if you’re in charge of your own time, allow yourself to ease back into things as slowly as possible.

You’ve got this.

See you next week,

Kara

Wishful Working is inspired by my desire to see more people enjoy a life not centered around work. For some, the path to freedom and flexibility is through self-employment, but we also need to challenge cultural norms and champion healthier working conditions and work/life balance for all types of workers.

Who am I? I’m a freelance writer and entrepreneur based in small-town Saskatchewan. I write longform content for B2B clients, and I help founders and independents name their brands and projects through a new venture called Naming. Connect with me by replying to this email or finding me on LinkedIn or Twitter.