Welcome back.
I can see you from here. You’re sitting at your desk (or, let’s be real, ensconced in your "home office" sweatpants), staring at an inbox count that looks like a zip code. The glow of the spreadsheet is hurting your eyes. You are physically present, but your soul is still sipping an Aperol Spritz on the Amalfi Coast.
This is the Post-Vacation Blues. And boy-howdy, does it sting.
Look, I’m in the travel business, but I’m also a recovering corporate refugee. I know that visceral Sunday Scaries feeling that hits you the moment the plane wheels touch the tarmac. But here’s the truth: That crash isn’t just "sadness." It’s re-entry shock. You’ve spent a week or two living as your best, most relaxed self, and now you’re trying to shove that person back into a box labeled "Q3 Deliverables."
Stop. Breathe. Do not open that third email yet.
We need to talk about Integration. Not the synergy-meeting kind, but the life-saving kind. Here is your official Re-Entry Protocol to stop the spiral and actually keep that vacation magic alive.
The "Rose, Thorn, Bud" Technique
Most people come back and just say, "It was great!" before burying their feelings under a pile of laundry. Don't do that. To actually process the trip and wire those memories into your brain, you need to get specific.
I steal this technique from mindfulness experts (and, oddly enough, garden designers). Grab a notebook—yes, physically write this down—and categorize your trip:
🌹 The Rose (The Highlight): What was the absolute peak? Not just "the food," but "the moment the waiter brought that specific truffle pasta while the sun was setting." Savoring the specific details locks the memory in.
🌵 The Thorn (The Low Point): Let’s be real—travel isn’t perfect. Maybe you missed a train, or the hotel AC was dodgy, or you got into a fight with your partner in front of the Louvre. Write it down. Acknowledging the "suck" takes the power out of it and prevents you from romanticizing the past effectively. It makes the memory real.
🌱 The Bud (The Opportunity): This is the game-changer. What did you experience that you want to grow in your daily life? Did you love the morning silence? The lack of notifications? The daily walk? This is a new habit waiting to bloom. This is how you bring the vacation home.
Ease Into the Throttle (The Buffer Rule)
Pro Tip: Never, ever return to work the day after you land. That is rookie behavior.
You need a Buffer Day. A demilitarized zone between "Vacation You" and "Work You." Use this day to do the boring stuff—grocery shopping, laundry, staring at the wall—so that when you log on Tuesday morning, you aren't wearing your dirty travel clothes physically or metaphorically.
Sensory Souvenirs
Photos are great, but your brain is wired for scent and sound. Did you love the espresso in Italy? Buy the expensive beans for your kitchen. Did you listen to a specific playlist on the road trip? Play it while you answer emails.
Tricking your brain with sensory cues can lower your cortisol levels and bring back that "ensconced in luxury" feeling, even when you’re dealing with a passive-aggressive Slack message.
The Cure is on the Calendar
Human beings run on anticipation.
Studies show that a huge chunk of travel happiness comes before you even leave. The planning phase is a dopamine factory.
The quickest way to cure the post-vacation blues? Book the next one.
I’m serious. It doesn’t have to be next month. It can be 18 months from now. But having a concrete set of dates on the calendar changes your psychological landscape. It turns "I have to work forever" into "I am working to fund my next adventure."
So, rip off the band-aid. Open the calendar. Pick a week next year. Call us. Let’s get a "Rose" on the books so you can survive the "Thorns" of today.
You’ve got this. Now go drink some water.
