Vacation is meant to get you out of your usual daily routine and allow you to explore outside of what you normally do, and for a majority of people, it’s a well-deserved time to relax. But if you’re an explorer at heart like me and love adventures, staying active, and have FOMO while traveling, then returning home is when you recover and relax after a tiring vacation. Most people upon returning home like to sleep to get their energy back, but if you really want to recover from an adventurous but tiring vacation, here’s the full package.
1 – Sleep, Obviously
The biggest way to recover from an adventurous but tiring vacation is to sleep. Usually I can recover from a vacation after 1 good day of sleeping in, but this also depends on the person and how much activity they do. Give your body and mind time to recover until you feel like you’re back to your normal self. Try to return to your normal sleep pattern and even taking a melatonin may help your jetlag and allow you to sleep better. Getting enough rest will instantly rejuvenate you overall.
2 – Take An Extra Day Or Two Off Work Or Return Home Just Before The Weekend
Don’t just jump right into work the day after you come back from your vacation. Take an extra day or 2 off if you need some more time to recover from a tiring vacation. If you want to save your days off or can’t afford to take more time off, come back on a Friday so that you can take Saturday and Sunday to get back to your normal routine before having to get back to real life on Monday. Slowly ease back into your daily routine and give yourself some buffer time. Most of the time, I go right back to work the next day because I rather use all the time I can get to travel and feel good enough to work right away since I travel so often, but the past few trips I’ve taken, I’ve come back home on a Saturday and have Sunday to relax or do any chores before having to get back to work which was really nice.
3 – Get Comfortable
To really get into recovery mode from a tiring vacation than to put on something super comfortable to really settle in at home. It’s also a plus when it’s stylish and cozy. I like wearing fleece-type materials or really soft fabrics. If I’m lounging around my house all day or have minor chores to do, I want to feel comfortable and have the ability to move around easily. I also find that when I’m wearing something nicer at home and not just an old t-shirt like I did in high school, it makes me feel better and not so ‘blah’, if you know what I mean. I’m always cold so I like to wear my Ugg Orla Double Face Fleece Drape Jacket and a comfy pair of joggers.
4 – Order Take Out
I’m sure for most people, when they return home their fridges are usually empty. At least mine is since I don’t want anything to go bad so I consume most of everything before I leave for vacation anyway. Yes, vacation is over and it’s back to saving money, but ordering takeout gives you a buffer between getting groceries, having to cook, and it allows you to recover from an adventurous, but tiring vacation. I know most people like to use UberEats for convenience sake (use code eats-jorgep180 for $10 off your first order), but since I live around many restaurants, I like to use Ritual to pick up my food if I’m not feeling that lazy. Here is $10 off your next order!
5 – Pamper Yourself
Now, pampering yourself can really help you recover from an adventurous but tiring vacation. You can easily do this at home without going to a spa.
Give yourself an at-home facial! Include a cleanser, scrub, toner, face mask (the ones that you leave on your face for 10-15 minutes and dispose after – really makes you feel like you’re at a spa), serum, eye cream, and a moisturizer at minimum. Here’s also how you can Combat Jet-Lagged Skin With These Post-Vacation Skin Repair Tips.
Don’t forget your hair! Like how the skin goes through stress while traveling, so does your hair. Especially if you’ve been swimming in chlorine or the ocean with the drying salt water. Aside from a good clarifying shampoo like the Ouai Detox Shampoo, use a hair mask or hair treatment to bring nutrients back to your hair and repair the damage that could have been caused while on vacation. The Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector is a professional-grade hair treatment that you can wash out and it strengthens the hair with results that you can see. If you want a leave-in treatment, the Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother is a reparative styling creme that adds moisture, strengthens the hair and reduces freeze.
Enjoy your bath time. Soaking in the tub is really relaxing for me, and depending on my mood, I like switching between bath bombs, Epsom salt baths, and bubble baths. While I’m in there, I like to watch a movie on my tablet (a majority of the time I’m working on my blog, but remember that this is your time to relax!), have a snack and/or a drink, or scroll through my phone. I got this very handy bamboo bathtub caddy that also has a foot stand which can be used in bed or on the couch and I love using this when I take a bath.
6 – Watch Some Movies
What better way than to do what many people are already used to in order to take your mind off things: watch some movies! While you were on vacation, I’m sure that a couple new movies or TV shows would have come out and it’s time to catch up. These days, we have so many different platforms to choose from and there is definitely something out there for everyone. I love watching movies or TV shows at home to relax (when I have time) while I have my take out. It’s simple, but I really feel it’s a form of stress relief and can bring comfort since you can really be lazy about it.
7 – Enjoy Your Vacation Memories And Souvenirs
Although your trip is over and it’s time to recover from a possibly tiring vacation, take the time to reminisce on your recent trip. Whether it’s through the thousands of photos taken or the cool souvenirs you brought home, reflecting on your trip helps you transition back into daily life with the positive vibes these memories brings. And who knows, it may even get you inspired to start planning for your next trip!
8 – Literally Do Nothing
It’s alright to be lazy all day and do nothing at all, besides the bare necessities. Traveling can take a toll on the body and mind, especially if you’re going halfway around the world or are just not used to traveling. Take the day for yourself and don’t feel guilty about not being productive. Sometimes traveling can be work in itself and you end up being more active than you are at home. If your body is telling you you’re tired, you should probably listen. Give yourself time to recover because soon enough, you’ll be back to your daily grind.
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