How to get back on track after a holiday

If you’re like me and have just got back from your holidays, and you are feeling a little overwhelmed thinking about jumping back into your routine, then this is the post for you. Here’s how to get back on track after a holiday.

1. Let’s unpack

First things first, lets unpack.

Depending on what time you get back (because if you get pack at 1am you don’t want to be unpacking lol).

But let’s just say you arrived back at 3pm. As soon as you get yourself back home and get yourself sorted, maybe you eat first, or change out of your clothes, make it your first official task to unpack.

It’s probably the most daunting task to think about, but it’ll only get more daunting if you put it off, and have a suitcase staring at you for weeks.

It really does kickstart getting back on track, and get you back into a routine, as well as cleaning everything – like a reset.

How to make it a little bit easier:

• Firstly, lets put some music or a podcast on so that we can entertain ourselves.
• Next, open your suitcase and stare at it for a few seconds while you build up the courage to start unpacking.
• Then, start taking things out and separating them into piles.
  • The piles depend on you, mine were: needs washed, doesn’t need washed – needs put away / hung up, shoes, toiletries.
• Then once you have that pile you can start putting away your clothes and your toiletries, so that you are tidy.
• Now you can tackle the washing.

2. Have an everything shower

Getting back on track doesn’t have to look like you working hours and hours to catch up. Fill your own cup before anyone else’s.

After a day of travelling, especially if you spent it in a hot country on transfer buses, airports and long planes, you always feel like you need a good wash.

There is nothing better than getting back from your holiday, getting into your own shower, and making yourself squeaky clean.

It also makes you feel fresh and ready to get back into your routine!

How to have an everything shower:

• First things first, 1-2hours before your everything shower, you want to oil your hair. I don’t know about you, but because I’ve been in the sea, the pool, sandy beaches, etc, my hair felt disgusting and was in need of some serious TLC.
  • Oiling your hair 1-2hours before and letting it do its magic is key. My favourite oil to use is rosemary oil! (https://amzn.to/3yXK5JF)
• Now it’s time to wash your hair. I am no expert, and definitely want to look into getting better shampoo and conditioner. But I do know that you should rub the shampoo in your hands until it suds up, them massage it into your scalp, and repeat this twice.
  • On top of this I also love to use a scalp massager to give my scalp an extra massage!!
• Conditioner (to make my dry, sea salt, chlorine hair soft and smooth again lol).
  • I use the Garnier hair food (https://amzn.to/3JmG7jd) and apply that to the mid / ends of my hair.
• Whilst I am leaving this conditioner on for 2-5 minutes, I am exfoliating my body. There is no better feeling, than being tan AND feeling smooth. I feel like this is an extra boujee step, that I don’t always do, but when I do, I feel amazing!
• After I have rinsed of my conditioner, it’s time to wash my body and smell amazing! After travelling and sweating a lot, it is so nice to feel squeaky clean and fresh!!
• Now it’s time to shave. To add to the smooth feeling from the body scrub, shaving will make you even softer!!
• Let’s moisturise!! Lock in the softness by moisturising with the best smelling moisturiser you can find!
  • I have been trying to do lymphatic drainage massages, especially on my stomach after my holiday. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I go on holiday, I get so bloated, and the bowels don’t move as well (if you get what I mean). So an at home lymphatic drainage massage makes me feel better. (Bonus points if you get a professional one).

3. Skincare

Alongside your everything shower, you want to do you skincare.

Depending on what time you are having your everything shower, will determine whether you are going to do your daytime or nighttime skincare routine.

Either way, I encourage you to go all out. Even if you don’t have tons of product (like me), take your time with it.

As you can see, my skincare routine is not a lot at all. I randomly get acne flare ups, and I have sensitive skin, so having a minimal, gentle skincare routine is essential for me.

But I take my time moisturising my face, as well as feeling fancy using a gua sha.

It’s like I give myself a little treatment and I feel amazing for it!

Feeling your best = the best way to start getting back on track as you feel your best!

4. Workout

I couldn’t wait to get back into my routine of working out and moving my body more.

Depending on what time you get back, you may want to wait another day to fully adjust to any time changes etc.

But getting back into it always feels amazing after a few (well needed) days off.

Listening to my body has been the biggest game changer for me and finding the motivation to workout.

I used to force myself to do workouts that I didn’t enjoy, and wondered why I was waking up, not wanting to workout at all.

Now I do what I like, because the main goal for me right now, is to just move my body in healthy ways, and feel my best.

You may have certain body goals, so you may want to start a program or a plan, or you may just do whatever workout you’re feeling in the moment.

Either is amazing!

Reminder: I try to remind myself during this first workout, that I may find it harder than normal. I have been relaxing for a week straight, as well as readjusting to getting back into the swing of things. So be kind to yourself.

My favourite workouts:

• Move by Nicole yoga Pilates. This combines yoga and Pilates, making it gentle with the stretching breaks, but also challenging with the yoga Pilates combination. I would definitely recommend!!!
• Move by Nicole Pilates. She is more well known for her Pilates workouts, and that’s for a reason. They are amazing, challenging, but easily modifiable, making it perfect for anyone!
• Strength training. I don’t think I’d be up for a strength training workout right after a holiday, but I definitely love strength training 2-3x a week. It makes you stronger, more toned, and so many other benefits. (And the strength x yoga x pilates combination is chefs kiss).
• Walking. Honestly, I would never have considered this as a workout when I was deep into strength training 6x a week sometimes 2x a day. But now, if I can get a walk in everyday, I am happy. It is gentle on your body, as well as being amazing for the mind. Couldn’t recommend enough!!!

5. Journal

I know you might be thinking how is journaling going to help me get back on track after a holiday. But trust me on this one.

Getting back off holiday, and feeling overwhelmed about getting back on track, is normal. But you don’t want to increase your stress by worrying about it.

Get all of your thought’s out by journaling.

Journaling is amazing to de stress and just get out everything that you’re feeling, so that you can have a clear mind for whatever you have to get back into.

What to write about:

• *optional* you could write about how amazing your holiday was, and all of the amazing feelings and memories you experienced there. Reflecting on the good times is just as important as reflecting on the bad times!
• Write about everything you are feeling.
• Write about everything you are stressed about.
• Write about everything you could do to minimise that stress

Just getting out everything will already make you feel like you have a weight off your shoulders.

If you want more tips on how to journal, I have a whole blog post here! (http://bigsisterera.com/how-to-journal-journaling-inspo/)

6. Plan a major To Do list for the week

There’s nothing that makes me feel better and less overwhelmed, than when I can see everything that I need to do. This is probably the best tip to help me get back on track!

Blocking in time to do all of these things will make it WAY less overwhelming, because you know that you have given the time to do it, rather than just trying to get everything done at once.

Just say you have a week to get things back on track, maybe catch up with a few things, this is how I would plan my weeks to do list.

• Everyday, I would have 3 non negotiable / important tasks. And I would plan these in first, for the full week. So that everyday I have 3 things that I need to be doing.
  • Be realistic. Don’t set yourself too much to do. Make sure the tasks you are setting are realistic and achievable!
    • Go easy on yourself if these 3 things don’t all get done, you are only human.
• Make a separate to do list full of absolutely everything you need to do so that you have it.
• Then, every morning pick things from that list that you can do (on top of your 3 non negotiable as).
  • By this I mean quick and easy tasks that can get done on top of your important tasks. This means that if they don’t get done in the day, it’s okay you can just put them onto the next day and finish them then.
• Schedule time to eat, relax, workout, prioritise yourself. If you don’t fill up your own cup, then how do you expect to fill up anyone / anything else? Make sure you are making time for yourself so that you don’t burnout.
• You could set yourself a weekly goal. Whatever this may be. Having a goal there can keep you motivated, but remember to be realistic and don’t burn yourself out.
• Give yourself a reward at the end of the week.
  • At the start of the week, think about what this reward could be, so that you can look forward to something. This could range from buying yourself something, or if you’re wanting to save money, you could have a movie night in and sit on your sofa all day.

Thank you for reading <3

Firstly, I hope you had an amazing holiday!! I know getting back on track after a holiday can be so hard, because all I want to do right now is chill at the beach!

I hope this post helped on how to get back on track after holiday, and make you feel a little less overwhelmed!

P.s. this post does have some affiliate links, you won’t be charged any more, but I will get a small commission if you use my links – thank you.