How to Get Out of a Post-Vacation Slump

 

Nearly three weeks ago I returned to Indiana from a near-month long trip back home to Hawaii and ever since I've been in a funk. It might have been the jetlag, having fewer daylight hours, or even a little bit of homesickness and not wanting to return back to work. Regardless, I've had to really rely on my arsenal of wellness tools and practices to get myself to my baseline. Here are a few of the things that have worked for me. 

1) Keeping a set bed and wake time 

It was really tempting to lean into the jetlag and stay up late. However, it is really important to get back on a normal sleep schedule as soon as possible. Taking moon juice dream dust before bed in a small cup of warm water felt like a bedtime ritual and also helped make me sleepy (or was a really good placebo). The first few days were really hard and I used a lot of caffeine to power through the sleepiness but after a few days it got much easier. 

2) Doing one thing everyday

I am one of those people who feels better when I am productive. I joke that I'm like a shark and I need to keep moving forward to stay alive. During a slump, I find it hard to do things and then I feel badly because I feel like I'm not doing enough. I've found that taking the time to just do one thing that moves me forward to one of my goals intentionally makes me feel good. I also wanted to share two affirmations with you that I have found extremely helpful in my life: 

"Resting and taking immaculate care of my well-being is enough."

"Resting and taking immaculate care of my well-being allows me to show up on purpose and in my full power."

3) Gratitude journaling

Every morning I like to write 5-10 things I am grateful for in my journal. This practice is even more important when I'm in a funk. It pulls me out of my head and into the present moment and no matter how bleh I'm feeling, there's always something to be grateful for. 

4) Get outdoors

My natural instinct when I got back to Indiana was to stay indoors and rest in my cozy apartment. However, getting fresh air and sunlight helps reset your circadian rhythm to your normal time zone. Getting outdoors for a little walk is really helpful for acclimating to a normal time zone and has the added benefit of adding a little extra exercise to your routine. A tangent to this is also if you don't have a wake-up light alarm clock, it is a really good way of resetting your circadian rhythm. I use the Hatch Restore alarm clock and while there are cheaper options on the market, it is so pretty and functional (it is programmed from your smartphone!) and was one of the best purchases I've made. 

5) Hydrate and eat well 

Ordering food is a go-to for me when I'm not feeling my best but eating takeout and fast-food doesn't do anything to make me feel better. Hydrating is also really important after a flight. I am not great about staying hydrated and I try to compensate for that in the days following. Eating healthy and staying hydrated really goes a long way to pulling me out of a post-vacation slump. 

Let me know in the comments what tricks and tips you use to pull yourself out of a post-vacation slump (or any slump)! Also feel free to leave suggestions for future posts down below.