Six Ways to Reset After Vacation (+ One Thing to Do Before)

I recently got back from the first big vacation I've taken in a while and so, naturally, the post-vacation letdown hit me like a ton of bricks. Here are six of the things I did to settle back into my daily routine, plus one thing I desperately wish I'd done before I left.

Preserve the memories

Next to taking pictures, journaling is my favorite way to immortalize a trip. So I can focus on living in the moment, my method is to make shorthand notes throughout the trip, then flesh them out in a full-blown journal entry (complete with amassed ephemera like parking passes and receipts) once I'm back home. Whether your method of remembering is journaling, scrapbooking, making a photo book, or something else entirely, make sure to do it as soon as possible, while everything is still fresh in your mind.

Restock the refrigerator

One of my favorite things about coming home from vacation is coming home to an empty fridge — I'm serious! There's just something grounding about building a new meal plan and then shopping for the groceries to complete it. Plus, while the refrigerator is empty, it's a great time to give it a quick clean, which leads me to our next step.

Reset your space

Although you probably won't be in the mood to clean your entire house at the end of a long travel day, sometime in the next week it can be satisfying to do a quick once-over to make your space feel like yours again. As with the fridge, this can also be a great time to reorganize your closet, toiletry cabinet, etc.

Take an everything shower

I'm down for any excuse to take an everything shower — which, for the uninitiated, really does mean everything (deep conditioning treatments, body scrubs, face masks, etc.). In addition to being a physical reset, literally washing the travel away can also provide a mental/emotional reset, separating "vacation life" from "real life."

Get something fun on the schedule

While you probably won't be able to jet off on your next big adventure the week you return, you can find something small to look forward to: a manicure, a special coffee, your favorite homemade meal — you get the point. After spending weeks looking forward to your vacation, it can be discouraging to come back and have nothing on the calendar except the daily grind. Whatever little indulgence you choose, go the extra step by actually scheduling it on your calendar so you'll have something to smile about every time you see it.

Start planning the next vacation

Even if you don't actually go, I find that planning another trip helps immensely with the post-vacation letdown — whether that's as simple as just thinking about your next dream destination or going so far as to book the hotel. Plus, any travel lessons learned will still be front of mind. (For instance, on my recent trip, I learned a lot about ways to manage my time better on future trips. Whether I actually remember any of it when the time comes is anyone's guess.)

+ Before you leave, make sure any trip-related calendar reminders are cleared.

The first thing I saw when I logged into work on the Monday after was a leftover pop-up reminder I had forgotten to clear the day before my trip: "Schedule OOO response." Like I said, ton of bricks.