Self-Care After a Vacay: 5 Simple Tips to Get You Easily Back on Track
We’ve all been there…you just got home from a vacay and it was great or maybe it wasn’t. You were so busy that self-care went straight out the window. Now, you’re coming back exhausted and completely out of whack.
You’ve got unpacking to do, a laundry pile the size of Mt. Everest, and a lonnnggg to-do list, but really and truly, you’re needing another week to recover from the vacation you just took!
You have to go back to work soon and are questioning what the heck you’re going to do to feel like a human again…SELF-CARE IS THE ANSWER. Who cares better for yourself other than YOU? But you might be wondering what self-care even is or why it matters.
What is self-care anyways and why is it important?
Self-care is taking the time to do things that will help you live well and helps improve not only your physical health but also your mental health.
Self-care can help you manage your stress levels, can lower your risk of illnesses, and even help increase your energy levels.
Even doing tiny acts of self-care has been shown to have a huge impact.
So, now that you know what self-care is and how it plays a pivotal role in your overall health, here are some quick, simple tricks to help make you feel like you again after your vacation.
Self-care Tip #1: Get a solid’s night sleep
Seriously, getting back into a great sleep routine is KEY. Your body clock is probably off from sleeping in, staying up later, or maybe you even traveled to a different time zone. Whatever it is, sleep is CRUCIAL to your overall health. And let’s face it, there’s nothing like sleeping in your OWN bed after being on vacation…PURE BLISS.
Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep a night so, go to bed when you normally would & try waking up close to when you normally would. Your body will thank you and you’ll be feeling like yourself again in no time.
Self-care Tip #2: Have some quiet time by yourself
I don’t know about you, but all the social interactions and activities, while they can be fun, can also be draining. You usually don’t realize how draining they are until you have a moment to just be in a space that is quiet. People need a second to just be with their own thoughts.
Studies have shown that sitting in silence helps to restore the nervous system, helps with sustaining energy levels, and helps our mind be more adaptable and responsive to the complex environments we live in & encounter in life and at work.
So, give yourself a little time to just sit in the quiet…even if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom to get quiet time and even if it’s only for ten minutes.
Self-care Tip #3: Go to the chiropractor
After sitting in the car or on a plane for long periods of time or sleeping on a not-so-comfortable bed, your back is probably ALL KINDS of out of whack. Being out of alignment can affect so many different parts of your body & if you’re in pain…JUST GO ALREADY. Why would you try to suck it up and suffer through it?!
Going to the chiropractor can help ease tension & stress in the body, can improve mobility, and even help with enhancing sleep…aka getting you back to feeling like your best self again.
Self-care Tip #4: Take an Epsom salt bath
Guys, I know what you’re thinking if you’re reading this, “Baths are for girls! I’m not gonna take a bath! I’MMA MAN!” Hear me out bro…
I’m not saying you have to shut all the lights off, light candles, and put cucumbers over your eyes…unless that's what you want to do. You do you, boo! But in all seriousness, there are health benefits to this.
Not only is it relaxing to soak in a warm bath, but it also helps with muscle tension. Some believe it can even be detoxifying and possibly help with weight loss so soak away!
To take an Epsom salt bath, put 2 cups of Epsom salt under the running water to help it dissolve & soak for 20 minutes for maximum relaxation and rejuvenation.
Self-care tip #5: Get outside
Ahhh, there’s nothing like being outside on a sunny day to lift the mood & get your circadian rhythm back in check. Not to mention, you’re getting to soak up some vitamin D in the process.
Many in the United States are low in this crucial vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium which is linked to bone health. It also helps in the regulation of many other functions within the body. Vitamin D is considered to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, & neuroprotective properties.
Just being outside in nature has shown to be relaxing, and helps in reducing stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension, & even lower heart rate. I mean, who wouldn’t want that for themselves?!
Other quick & easy self-care ideas to explore
Write or doodle in a journal
Read a book
Go get a massage
Do your nails
Practice yoga
Cook your favorite meal
Hug someone or your pet
Call a loved one
Meditate
Diffuse essential oils
Turn off your phone
YOU are the most important person in your life. So make your self-care a priority. With these tips being so easy to implement, there’s no reason not to.
References
"Caring for Your Mental Health - NIMH." https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health.
"The Busier You Are, the More You Need Quiet Time." 17 Mar. 2017, https://hbr.org/2017/03/the-busier-you-are-the-more-you-need-quiet-time.
“Epsom Salt Detox: Uses, How to Do It, and More - Healthline." https://www.healthline.com/health/epsom-salt-detox.
"Advantages to Chiropractic Care After Travel." 26 May. 2022, https://www.thejoint.com/arizona/peoria/arrowhead-towne-center-48015/243186-advantages-to-chiropractic-care-after-travel.
"Effects of Light on Circadian Rhythms | NIOSH - CDC." 1 Apr. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emres/longhourstraining/light.html. .
"Vitamin D - Mayo Clinic." https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-d/art-20363792. .
"The wellness benefits of the great outdoors | US Forest Service." 24 Mar. 2021, https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/wellness-benefits-great-outdoors.
