Everyone loves a good vacation. A few days away from the norm, away from your desk and away from responsibilities. Perhaps you decided to stay in the Holiday Inn Resort Beach House on Hilton Head, or anywhere really. It doesn’t matter where you decide to go on vacation though, the problem with vacations is that no matter how far you go or how long you’re gone, all the stuff you needed a break from is waiting for you when you return. No matter how much you plan ahead and delegate certain tasks, you will still feel a bit of a culture shock returning back to the daily grind.

I just got back from 5 days in New York City and instead of feeling relaxed, I feel exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out! Don’t get me wrong, I had an amazing trip but between my full time job and full time side hustle as a blogger/freelance writer, I have multiple to do lists!

Here are a 5 things you need to do to get you back into the grind.

Sleep

I know this might seem like something you don’t have time for but trust me, you will just be more sluggish and exhausted it you don’t make the time for it. I got back Tuesday morning a little bit before 1AM and had to be at work at 8:30. I was exhausted. Tuesday night I was glad I survived the workday without collapsing from exhaustion, but I felt like I needed to get some writing done and follow up with the new contacts I’d made in the city. I didn’t actually go to bed until after midnight again. By Wednesday night I realized I needed to do a little meditation to help clear my mind before going to bed early. I felt so much better the next day and was able to get a lot of work off my desk. I even had the energy to finally go get groceries. When I returned home from vacation I had water, 3 bottles of wine, 4 beers, 2 eggs, a 3rd of a bag of shredded cheese and rotten spinach in my fridge. Which brings me to my next point…

Get some nutrients

For most of my trip I was at the Blogher conference where I had a wide array of healthy options to choose from, but my last day was strictly for sightseeing and eating. I had nothing but junk food, which we all know can make you feel sluggish and bloated. Taking a multivitamin and vitamin c post vacation (and during) can help prevent your body from getting burnt out and sick. I bought fresh fruit and vegetables to help restore my digestive system and restore the natural energy you get from healthy food choices.

Admit you’re playing catch-up

Women have this nasty habit of apologizing for everything. We feel guilty about things we shouldn’t and we let that guilt control us. Yes, you’ve missed a few days of work while your coworkers were still working, but it’s not like you left them high and dry or pulled a no-call, no-show. You took a well-deserved vacation that you are entitled to. Don’t let the fact that you feel guilty about taking time off make you over-commit yourself when you return. If people are asking you for things don’t feel obligated to say yes.

If you do have to say yes, let them know you have a lot to catch up on but you will get to it as soon as you can. This lets them know it is a priority but is a part of list and to be prepared if it takes a little longer than usual.

Just dive in

One of the biggest obstacles some people face when they have a lot to do is just getting started. They look at their long to-do list and become overwhelmed. Remember that multitasking is super counterproductive and can lead to shoddy results. Just pick one task to tackle, complete it and then move on to the next. Little by little becomes a lot.

Cut yourself some slack

It might take a few days for you to catch up and that’s okay, just keep working. No one expects you to be perfect, and if they do then they seriously need to reevaluate their expectations. We’re all human just do your best and take care of yourself physically, emotionally and mentally.

How do you get back into the grove post vacation?

Dia Darling

Dia is a Marketing and Event Coordinator and lifestyle blogger.

She received her bachelor degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Working since age 15, she has worked in a number of industries including Retail, Insurance, Real Estate, Social Media Management, Event Planning, Blogging, Site Management and Marketing. Born and raised in Texas but a lover of travel. Her interests include karaoke, painting and cheering for the San Antonio Spurs.

She started her lifestyle blog All the Things I Do in early 2015 to inspire and connect with other millennial women looking to make the most of life.

Connect with Dia… www.allthethingsido.com