For many, the return to reality after a blissful holiday can feel like a crash landing – inboxes overflowing, calendars crammed, and the pace of life suddenly dialled back up to full volume. And within a very short time, the restorative effects of your holiday can be undone as the pressure returns. But what if the secret to beating the post-holiday blues lies not in what you do after your trip – but in how you prepare before it?
Samantha Pillay, Director at leading lifestyle and travel brand ekko, believes holidays should be planned from departure to return – ensuring you leave with peace of mind and return able to ease into the swing of things. “We often focus all our energy on the getaway itself – the destination, the itinerary, the escape. But the real game-changer is when we also plan for the return. A well-thought-out comeback strategy can extend the benefits of your holiday and help you re-enter your routine with vitality, motivation, and optimism,” she says.
Essential strategies for maintaining that holiday glow:
Departure prep
- Prioritise and action what needs to be done before you leave, and flag non-urgent tasks that can be deferred.
- Submit any required documentation, e.g., expense reports that will fall due while you’re away.
- Prepare a clear, comprehensive handover document to brief your manager, colleagues, or stand-in on responsibilities, key contacts, and any daily tasks you need to delegate.
- If any work requires a password, ensure it’s shared securely with the responsible person(s).
- Inform key clients or stakeholders of your absence and who to contact in your absence.
- Organise your workspace so it feels welcoming when you return.
Tidy your digital space
- Clear your inbox of lingering threads or flag key items for follow-up.
- Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails to avoid adding to the deluge when you return.
- Mute notifications from non-essential apps
Set realistic expectations
- Review priorities before you leave and set realistic expectations for your first week back.
- Acknowledge that you won’t catch up immediately, and that’s okay.
Ease into your routine
- Don’t let your post-holiday self get swallowed up by old habits again – avoid diving straight from poolside to inbox.
- Rather, make provision for a buffer day or two at home before returning to the office. Use this time to reset sleep patterns, unpack, and mentally shift gears.
- Schedule a lighter first day back – reserve your morning for email triage and low-stakes solo work rather than meetings.
- Avoid back-to-back meetings or major deadlines in your first 48 hours.
- Reintroduce your routine gently and remember to make time for things you enjoy, like the gym.
Prepare Your Home For An Easy Return:
- Clear your fridge of perishables and tidy up your home – you don’t want to dread coming back to the chaos left in your haste to leave.
- Set yourself up for a smooth first night back by changing sheets and laying out fresh towels before you leave.
- Consider scheduling an online grocery delivery for essentials so you don’t have to shop after a long trip.
- If you are taking a December holiday and have school-age children, buy any new school clothes and stationery before your departure to avoid a last-minute rush.
- Allow everyone time to adjust – resist the urge to jump straight back into packed schedules and activities.
Book your next adventure: Research shows that anticipation is a powerful mood booster. In fact, the Institute for Applied Positive Research found that 97% of people feel happier simply by planning a trip, with 82% reporting a significant boost in happiness once the trip is booked. Even if it’s months away, having another trip on the horizon can lift your spirits and give you something exciting to look forward to.
As Pillay notes, “Holidays aren’t just about escape – they’re about renewal. So, don’t just plan your holiday – plan your comeback and avoid the post-holiday blues, she concludes.”
Plan your next getaway with the benefits of an ekko portfolio – visit www.ekko.co.za.
