The "After Vacation Blues"

You have been waiting for that vacation for months. High expectations and excitement go into planning every phase of your perfect vacation. Your vacation date arrives and everything seems to be going as planned. But a day or two before your vacation is over, you start feeling this nagging pull, the realization that you will have to go back to life as it was before the vacation, before the months of excitement leading up to the vacation. Returning home from your vacation brings the reality that life is returning to your normal routine. Then it hits, the "After Vacation Blues."

Rarely do we think about, much less plan for the aftermath of our vacations. From a lack of motivation, to extreme stress and anxiety, the "vacation blues" affects us differently. Whichever category you may fall into, there may be some strategies you can use to help with the "After Vacation Blues."

Helpful Strategies

• Set up an extra vacation day and use it just for transition and 'down time'. That extra day can give you the time you need to get back into your pre-vacation routine. Give yourself some time to relax and recover, (much less catch up on laundry!).
• Plan an entertaining event after your vacation. Setup a mini vacation, or just plan an evening to reminiscence about your vacation. This will give you and your family something to look forward to after the vacation. Order in dinner, have the pictures developed, and spend the night talking about favorite moments!
• Returning to work after a vacation can be hard. You may want to plan for this before your vacation. Try to have any critical or difficult work decisions made before you go on vacation. Give yourself the appropriate time to reconnect with your job responsibilities so your work decisions won't be rushed.
• Another helpful suggestion would be to contact a trusted co-worker before your return to work. This communication can give you an update of what's been happening in the office and may be useful if you have any surprises waiting upon your return to work. In comparison, checking-in directly with your voice mails and e-mails may intensify your stress.
• Begin discussions for your next vacation. Start Internet searches, start a 'wish list', start thinking and talking and planning. Maybe it's sooner and maybe it's later, but even if it's a year or more away, knowing that it's coming 'down the road' and having something to plan for and look forward to is always something that brings cheer.
• If you are returning to your regular family activities, keep in mind that daily routines may have been altered while on vacation. These routines may need to be readjusted. For example: if you have children, they may need to be brought back to normal routines (such as eating, playing, and sleep times) that may have been expanded while on vacation. It may be helpful to have a few days after the vacation set aside to readjust to normal schedules.
• These strategies are only short-term fixes after coming back from your vacation. In most cases that's all you will need to get back to your "normal" daily routines. If your "After Vacation Blues" continues for longer periods of time, you may want to consult with your doctor or talk with a counselor.

This material is provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc. for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical/clinical advice. Only a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan. For more information about your behavioral health benefits, you can call the member services or behavioral health telephone number listed on your healthcare identification card.