I believe there are two types of people in the world: those who live out their vacations until the very last minute, and those who wake up on the last morning of vacation and put it in overdrive to get home. I, my friends, am 100% the second type of person. Once I started working and was in the “real world” I learned very quickly about the importance of starting the week off on a good note. I learned how necessary it was (for me) to get back to my place of residency and mentally start preparing for the week.

As I’ve just gotten back from a fun family weekend away, I figured it would be perfect timing to share the tips that I follow to transition from vaca to work in a snap.

1. Unload Straight Away

This is your starting point. You may think this is silly, but I’ve heard of some people who leave luggage, bags, and any other residual vaca items in the car for days at a time. This is a no go in my book. As soon as you pull in the garage, it’s time to start unloading. Having everything out of the car makes step number 2 easier.

2. Unpack As Much As Possible

Before twins: would have everything unpacked and in the washing machine within an hour of being at home.

After twins: delegate what NEEDS to be unpacked to ensure you and your children have a smooth evening and morning. You probably do not need the beach towels unpacked, but you do need your bathroom products. Unpack your bags, even if it means sorting the clothes that need to be refolded or hung up. Plug all your charging cords back in, make sure glasses are by your bed, and by all means, make sure the noise machine is plugged in 🙂

I really do not like leaving things to be unpacked until the next day; however sometimes you run out of time. In these situations, it is more important to get in bed and get a good night’s sleep than staying up all night unpacking and washing clothes.

3. Wash Clothes

If time permits, start washing clothes ASAP. The last thing you want is to walk in the door on a Monday or day after vaca with a Mt. Everest pile of dirty clothes. Be realistic about your approach to this. If you are a family of five and have been gone for five days, the chance of getting all the laundry done in one afternoon/evening is very slim. Decide on a game plan for tackling this monstrous pile of clothes, and follow it.

4. Make Sure To Drink Plenty of Water

Traveling can wreak havoc on your body. Everything from time changes, new foods, being out in the sun all day, exploring new parts of a city, spending hours on a plane or in a car, or staying up too late can seriously throw you out of whack. It’s always best to continually drink plenty of water throughout your vaca, but really try to get in the H20 on that last day. You do not want to start off the week feeling dehydrated.

Something else I would STRONGLY advise – make sure to continue to take all of your daily vitamins/medicines. I always make sure I have my probiotics and vitamins with me when I travel.

5. Don’t Slip on Your Evening Routine

I’ve 100% been there. You get home, you are exhausted, and all you want to do is crawl into your own bed, watch a little tv, and drift off into lala land. I highly advise making sure you stick to your normal Sunday evening. If you normally wash your hair on Sunday evenings, do it. If you normally do a face mask, do it! This helps mentally prepare you for the start of the new week – the week of returning to work.

6. Have Your Coffee & Eye Patches Ready

Most likely you’ve been sleeping in on your vacation. Having your eye patches out on the counter ready to put on when you stumble into the bathroom will ensure you get them on. I like to put on my eye patches first and then go make my coffee. This also goes for anything else you do not want to forget – deodorant, dry shampoo, mascara, etc.

7. Check #PostYourWorkWear for Outfit Inspo

Then steam and lay out your clothes. When all you’ve worn is bathing suits, jumpsuits, and cover ups for the past five days, trying to pick out a work out fit could prove to be quite challenging at 5 am. Also, once you decide on what you are wearing, go ahead and steam it as well. This will save you time and effort in the morning.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO #POSTYOURWORKWEAR

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8. Exercise

Try doing some sort of low key activity, like walking. Your mind is already being put to the test with all of the stress from traveling, so maybe keep it chill today, but definitely do something to get you moving.

9. Buffer Day

I know this isn’t always possible, but if so, take that one more day to get yourself organized and slowly reenter normalcy. Check your inbox for any items that need your attention upon your arrival. Use this day to do laundry, meal prep, and make sure all bags are put up. Unfortunately, this isn’t always doable, but it will take some of the stress out of returning to work.

10. Make A List of All the Things You Will Need For Work

Mornings can be rough, but mornings after a vacation can be really rough. Write out all of the things you will need to take with you to work. Or what you need to do in the morning – write it ALL down. I’m talking everything from feed dogs, water bottle, get gas, food bag, daycare bags, bottles for daycare, opening dog door, etc. You will be surprised at how helpful having a list can be and how forgetful you can be when returning from vaca.
Don’t leave anything on your mind or you will not be able to sleep well, so leave a note pad by your bed and write down anything that is on your mind or worrying you.

11. Quiet Time

Before bed, allow yourself some quiet time. Whether you read, journal, watch tv, or play on your phone, give yourself some time to just chill. You’ve most likely been running around all day and this is you telling your body that it’s time to chill. This will help you settle down and get a good night’s sleep, which is a MUST. Go for the full eight hours.

12. ROUTINE!

Most people THRIVE on routines, including myself. One of the very best things you can do is jump right back into your routine. This is not the time to hit snooze five times or allow your self to sleep in a few extra minutes. This is not the time to dress super casual when you normally dress more business-like. This is not the time to skip breakfast or your morning make up routine. With that said, it is definitely not the time to dwell on how tired you are or how you were normally still sleeping at this time. Accept the fact that you are back in work mode, and move on. I think I struggled with this for a while, and would almost get kind of upset about it. But then, something happened – maybe maturity? I realized nothing good comes out of thinking that way. No good comes out of complaining about how tired you are. No good comes out of wishing you were still on the beach. Because guess what? You’re not. You’re sitting at your desk, or setting your alarm clock for 5 am, or changing the second poopy diaper of the diaper all before 6 am. So once you accept these things and have real expectations, things will run a lot smoother and I promise you will be happier.

13. Get to Work Early

Try getting into the office a few minutes early. You’ll want to appear bright and fresh and caught up to speed with anything that might have happened while you were out. Grab that extra cup of coffee, check your inbox and voicemails, and decide on your plan of action for the day. Say “hello” and “good morning” to your coworkers. Remember, appearances matter 🙂

Before Going on Vaca

1. Make a to do list for your return.
2. Set your out of office telling people you are gone and let them know who to contact in your absence and when you will return.
3. Set your voicemail with the same info.
4. Clean and organize your desk.
5. Bring home any food that will go bad.

I hope you find these tips useful when returning to work after going on vacation. These are the tips that I have used for years and have found transitioning back into a work/real world mindset not terrible. Again, it’s all about expectations – if you think about how miserable you are, then you will be miserable. If you accept the fact that you are back at work, it won’t be that bad. And if, for some reason, you are struggling so hard on the day of your return to work, just push through with all your might and go home and get to bed early.

What do you like to do when returning to work after vaca? Leave a comment below.

Feature photo outfit details