I Just Returned from Vacation… Now I Need a Vacation!

Last week I was fortunate enough to get a reprieve from the Chicago winter in the form of a Caribbean vacation.  Now pop quiz time: Which day was I most stressed out?  The day before my vacation or the day after my vacation?  If you answered the day after my vacation… suspenseful pause… you are correct!

Seems a little backward doesn’t it?  Logically, you would think that after seven days lounging around islands in the beautiful Caribbean Sea that I would be relaxed, refreshed, and a little more peaceful.  Unfortunately, no.  All the stresses and responsibilities that were weighing me down before the trip came rushing back ten-fold as I thought of everything I had to do and catch up on once I returned home.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only persn who has fallen victim to this phenomenon that I will now dub Post-Vacation Stress Disorder.  The question is “How can you maintain the relaxing high of vacation when you return to the everyday work grind?”

1) Before you leave on your trip, clean your house and office.  Nothing adds unnecessary stress more than trying to wade through clutter and mess.  It always eases my mind knowing that I am coming back to a space that is clean and organized.

2) Leave your email account/password with a trusted co-worker that will be able to handle any work emergencies that may arise.  While this may not be feasible for all people, it is a great weight off my mind knowing that I won’t be coming home to any surprise emergencies.

3) Anticipate the work that will accumulate before you leave on your trip.  Are there any time cards, client reports, etc. that should be turned in?  Is there anything that you can do in advance?  Sometimes vacation-itis (that feeling of wanting to slack off because you know tomorrow you’ll be on the beach with a drink in hand) sets in early.  Don’t let it!  Push through and get as much done as possible to alleviate stress when you return.

And finally, don’t let the vacation itself stress you out.  Watch your sleeping, eating, and drinking patterns.  Use your vacation as a time to store up energy, not use it all up.  Don’t let the words of Elbert Hubbard ring true.

“No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.”

I think tomorrow I shall book my next trip to Peru!