How to ease back into work after a holiday

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened
image @MSGM via Instagram
words Sophie Wilson and Rhys Thomas
‘Tis the season for long weekends, summer holidays and sun-drenched city breaks. Whether you’ve just been on a life-changing trip across the world, or are eyeing up a wonderful bank holiday on the edge of summer, these are the moments that make us realise what life’s all about. We don’t dream of labour, we dream of holidays. Sitting there, touching grass, getting those bare feet sandy, revelling in a time where you have zero things to do, is a vital reminder that we work to live, and not the other way around.
While all that rest and relaxation is very welcome, and important(!) relaxation can help our heart health, muscle tension, brain function, and more according to Yale University. Sometimes the anxiety around going from slow mornings, lots of lounging and frolicking around, back into reality: work, rain, and doing the dishes, can put a little (or large) cloud in the sky.
Going on holiday can feel like pausing a game of Sims when it gets too stressful. Only, when you get back, the house is still on fire and someone’s taken the ladder out of the swimming pool. But instead of burning out or drowning beneath the responsibilities you’re returning to, it's possible to ease back into your routine slowly, integrating some of the good vibes from your holiday into your daily life.
In the best case scenario, you come back from holiday feeling revitalised. You have a renewed sense of where you’re at, what you’re up to. Perhaps you’ve resolved to set up some new habits so you don’t get too burnt out between now and your next break, perhaps not. Either way, here are some tips and tricks to beat the post-holiday blues or maintain your new-found sense of calm, in the meantime. And hey, if all else fails, you can always just book another holiday!
time to focus
If you find yourself struggling to focus because you’re too busy daydreaming about your next holiday, these Focus + Function capsules will help give you that extra boost of energy you need to get back into the swing of things at work. The synergetic combination of caffeine and adaptogens help with cognitive function and mood regulation so you can focus on the task at hand without getting too stressed.
matcha power
A morning treat can make your days feel worth getting up for. This sweet and mellow matcha blend is as energising as it is delicious. Simply add one teaspoon of matcha to a cup, add a splash of water and whisk until all the lumps are gone. Then top up with hot water or a plant-based milk of your choice.
sun kissed
If you built up a bit of a tan while you were away – while still wearing SPF, of course – then this tan enhance after-sun formula will help you hold onto that healthy glow. The shea butter blend provides powerful hydration to calm and soothe the skin after a day, or a week, in the sun.
rise and shine
The jolt of an alarm on the first day back to work is what anxious nightmares are made of, but with Lumie’s gradual bodyclock alarm, you’ll wake up slowly and more naturally. You can choose from over 10 sounds and adjust the sunrise intensity and duration so you can wake up feeling fresh.
my cup of tea
Spice up your tea break with Teapsy’s chai rooibos blend. If it’s a caffeine-free boost you’re looking for then this is it. You can take them into the office with you, but keep an eye on them – the adorable packaging might be too hard for your colleagues to resist.
treat your face
Constant stress does not make for a happy complexion. Going on holiday is one solution, but seeing as we can’t be on holiday all the time, _FAACE has released a daily moisturiser to target signs of stress. It’s made from a luxurious blend of ingredients that improve skin tone and texture. Plus, with jasmine, ylang ylang, geranium and patchouli, it smells great too!
be happy
Few things are as joyful as relaxing in the sun with the people you love, but just because you can’t do that everyday, you can still welcome a little extra happiness into your life in other ways. These Happy Drops are designed to boost your mood and clear brain fog to life your mood to happier thoughts.
sweet dreams
The absolute best feeling when you get back from holiday is sleeping in your own bed. Even if you splashed out on a fancy hotel with the comfiest bedding, there’s nothing quite like your own set of sheets. Recreate that luxury hotel feeling at home with House Babylon’s Egyptian cotton bedding set. Suddenly, being back home doesn’t seem so bad.
simple!
The calm patches from Ross J. Barr are exactly what they suggest: patches which calm you down. The acupuncturist crafted these out of a blend of herbs to help support and maintain the relief of headaches, stress, tension, brain fog and neck pain. But they're also ideal to help take the edge off after work.
crash-free energy
Do you find yourself relying on a little more caffeine than normal when you're trying to get the motions going again? Many of us do! But for something that'll get you buzzed without the jitters, dehydration, and eventual crash, consider this powdered goodness from Sixways. The blend of Vitamin B complex, Lion's Mane Mushroom, Maca Root Extract and more is designed to help focus and generally elevate energy levels, but in a calm way.
and breathe
Breathwork is incredible, it can help with all sorts of stresses and anxieties (we said help, not solve). This tool is like having a little guide in your pocket. Hold your moonbird in your hand and follow the rhythm: Breathe in when you feel it expand, breathe out when it contracts. Let your breathing synchronize with the rhythm of your moonbird and immediately feel how you relax. Sunday (or Monday) scaries be gone!
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