With so many travel plans canceled, it seems like almost everyone I know has been turning to simple road trips for their vacations. Friends are visiting national parks, going camping, or getting rentals a few hours away to escape the same-old, same-old of life at home with kids. Whether your travels take you far or near, there's one thing that remains the same: coming home from a trip is a DRAG. Maybe you didn't catch up on sleep like you thought you would (just me?), or your kid screamed their head off in the car on the way back. Or maybe your toddler's suddenly taken to waking at 4:00am now that you're back home. Well, we just had an amazing trip about an hour and a half outside our hometown, Seattle. I noticed what helped me with re-entry into normal life and wanted to share the steps with you here! Brave Self Care's Essential Steps to Avoid Post-Vacation Blahs 1) Give yourself time to enjoy the photos and videos you took while away. Post to social media, share with a friend or just remind yourself of the memories you made. Enjoy the afterglow! 2) Bask in the joy a little longer. A reader, Cashew, writes, "On our drive home or at next meal together we each take turns sharing our favorite part of the trip. Even though we are all there together, we experience the trip differently so it’s wonderful to hear from everyone what they enjoyed most. And it helps us bask in the joy a little longer." 3) If you traveled with anyone else, send a text to thank them for a great time. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. 4) Chill out a bit, then get those bags unpacked ASAP. Get everything out of suitcases by the time you go to bed (or within 24 hours of getting home). It's hard enough to be back without tripping over bags filled with damp swimsuits and dirty laundry. 5) Let your first meal back be easy and tasty. We used broth and frozen wontons we had on hand to make dinner. A bagged salad kit, mac 'n' cheese, or frozen pizza work, too. 6) Have something to look forward to when you get home. I had an anti-racism discussion on the calendar with my sister and dear friend the night we got back from our trip. It was so nice to be reunited! Is there anything I missed from this list? Comment below and let me know! P.S. When you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you go from martyr mode to ready to change the world:
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