Maintaining your holiday mojo

Staying in holiday mode once the vacation is over and you’re back at work is something that most travellers find hard to do, especially Australians, according to the Sydney Morning Herald and a swag of other media that recently ran the story ‘Keeping Your Holiday Mojo’. It seems people too easily pick up the habits they left behind, rapidly resume their usual routine and allow themselves to get stressed again, the benefits of the break quickly disappearing. One expert interviewed suggested re-charging your batteries frequently with mini-breaks throughout the year in addition to the annual holiday, more ‘me-time’ generally, stay-at-home holidays where you don’t see anyone and do what you want to do, along with providing a list of 10 ways to find and keep your holiday mojo:
1. Be realistic about the lead up to your holiday. Allow plenty of time to pack and be organised so that you're not up to 2am the night before you leave trying to find your sarong/bathers/walking boots.
2. Plan ahead - have enough food in the house so that when you get home you can at least whip up a bowl of pasta without having to rush off out to the supermarket. Better still, set up home delivery of fresh food ahead of time.
3. Plan to arrive home from your holiday at least a day before you return to work. This will allow you time to reflect on your holiday and the experiences you've had. It will give you a chance to get back into your normal routine, and give you time to get your washing done.
4. Ease back into your work gently and prioritise your time. Answer only urgent e-mails on your first day back and make sure you leave on time. Take the time to go for a walk or swim during the day or in the evening to remember how you felt while you were on holidays.
5. Keep your holiday spirit alive by keeping a reminder of your holiday close to you. Create space in your diary to reflect on your experience in the weeks following your holiday.
6. Keep your connection with the great outdoors alive by having lunch in the park or organising a short weekend break or day trip so you can get out of the city.
7. Have a television-free night each week and slip into holiday mode instead - read a book or just turn out the lights and eat by candlelight.
8. Learn to relax everyday. Enrol in yoga, tai chi or meditation class so the practise of unwinding becomes a regular thing.
9. Become a tourist in your own home city or town.
10. Plan your next holiday. All great ideas, don’t you think?