Taking breaks from our routine is necessary for a mentally and physically healthy, balanced and sustainable lifestyle – especially when you’re in it for the long haul.
BUT – we totally get the feeling when you’re en route home and you’re just not feeling like your best self. We know that breaks are important, but sometimes we can’t help but feel lethargic, down and perhaps dreading all the things we need to get done the first week back. This can make it much harder to get back into our routine and make us feel out of alignment.
Here are our 10 best tips that we like to implement to feel our best after vacation.
1. PLAN YOUR WEEK OF MOVEMENT.
Schedule all your workouts the first week back from vacation in your calendar. Simply seeing them all planned out in your calendar will mentally make you feel better and prepare for the week ahead. Mentally making these decisions and preparing in advance is half the battle. Did you know you can add workouts to your calendar on the ORRO app? Also, plan in your steps too! Add your daily walks in the calendar.
2. SUPPLEMENTS.
Your body can be thrown off by even the slightest change to routine, so we love being consistent with our vitamins, supplements and probiotics. We swear by Seed’s DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic, a prebiotic+probiotic, which we take daily and bring with us when we travel. When I’m consistent with Seed, I find I experience ease of bloating + healthy regularity + clearer skin, and an elevated mood. This is something that would always affect me post travel and taking Seed has significantly helped. (You can use our code: SWEATS15 at checkout for 15% off your first month’s supply!)
3. UNPACK IMMEDIATELY.
This is the first thing we do when we get home. Why? You’d be shocked how an unpacked suitcase can contribute to the dreaded post-vacation blues. It is better to rip the bandaid off, than have to remind yourself you have another thing to take care of every time you see that suitcase in the hallway.
4. GROCERY DELIVERY.
Chances are, you had a week of amazing restaurant meals, cocktails, hotel breakfasts and that’s exactly what you needed to fill your soul… NO guilt here. But preparing for the week your back can truly make all the difference. We love to order groceries in advance, so when we land we can stock the fridge up with all the essentials. Bonus points if you can meal prep!
5. FREE UP YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR.
It’s easy to get carried away and book up your social calendar the day you’re back, but this can lead to overwhelm when you’re trying to get back into the groove of things. You might want more time to get sorted, catch up on work and then welcome plans when you have the capacity.
6. GET HOME + INTO BED EARLY.
Traveling is exhausting, even if you are quite sedentary. Jetlag, long flights, airports… we need to give ourselves time to regroup (especially if there’s a time change). Make sure to get adequate sleep. We know it’s not always possible to get home the day of travel early… but, the last day of a trip is often a right off as is, so leaving yourself time to realign the day you get back if possible, is helpful for waking up refreshed. We know not everything always goes according to plan: delays happen, flight schedules get in the way, etc. However, if you have the option to give yourself a few more hours in the day when you get home, it will definitely help.
7. HYDRATION.
No surprise here, but it’s so underrated how essential hydration is – especially after traveling. We actually add electrolytes into our water for an extra boost of hydration – because it hydrates faster than water alone. We love Hydralyte for this – because it’s effective and also low in sugar. (Code: SWEATS30 to save 30% OFF powders and tablets). It is also key to have a water bottle you LOVE. We’re obsessed with our Manna Hydration bottle: it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and something about drinking out of a straw, really helps you get more water in! Huge fan of the Chilly Tumblr’s and all the colors it comes in (SWEATS25 for 25% off!)
8. HIGH PROTEIN BREAKFAST.
It’s common for people to try and off-set overeating by restriction: but we know this backfires. Skipping breakfast is a common one, but starting your day with a high-protein well rounded breakfast will set you (and your blood sugar) up for success the next day.
9. DON’T WEIGH YOURSELF.
While every person has their own relationship with the scale (we personally do not like to weigh ourselves), there’s a chance that a post-vacation weigh in will just put you in a bad mood. This can lead to restrictive habits that will only backfire. It’s also likely that the weight you may have gained is in fact water weight. So really try to relax into the fact that you enjoyed yourself on vacation and let go of guilt. Instead, focus on habits that make you feel your best self and cherish the memories you made. We all fluctuate and becoming obsessive can definitely be harmful mentally and physically. Focus on your daily habits!
10. INFLAMMATION REDUCTION.
Especially post-flight, you might feel inflamed. Something that really helps us is a little post-vacation lymphatic drainage. First, we lie on our bed (on our backs) and put our feet on the wall. This really helps with blood flow circulation – we do this for about 10 minutes. Then, we get out our lymphatic drainage paddle and get to work! It seriously helps.
BONUS TIP: Always leave your house spotless before you go on vacation. No one wants to come home to a load of chores when they have just spent a long day traveling!
Next time you head on vacation, remember that it is meant for you to enjoy and relax. Give yourself that space to fully enjoy it and your routine will be at home waiting for you.
