Guest Blogger – Christie Crowder

You all have heard someone say “I need a vacation from my vacation”…or maybe you have said it yourself once or twice. It is largely due to the fact that we rarely just flat-out relax when we are on vacation…especially with kids. There is always an activity or some place to be which leaves us parents exhausted when we get home. What’s worse? We come home to the reality of our everyday lives and the rollercoaster starts all over again… combined with unpacking from our trips. I cannot tell you how many times I was dreading what I would face when getting home from the airport. Here is a short list of ways to hopefully help minimize your post-vacation stress. Understand that this takes careful ahead of time planning and preparation, but believe me, it is worth it in the long run.

1. Do all laundry before you leave. If you are anything like me, then you also feverishly wash only the clothes you plan to pack for your trip one or two days before your departure. This can mean DOUBLE the laundry when you get back. I learned a good lesson from my last trip away. Wash and fold ALL dirty clothes, linen, and towels before you leave so when you get back, there is only what you took with you to worry about…hopefully just one or two loads!
2. Clean house. If you can work it into the budget, arrange for a housekeeper to clean your home the day before you leave or the day before you return. Make sure the work order includes changing bed linens. Nothing is sweeter than returning from a long trip to a nice clean home and fresh sheets (especially when returning late at night!). It is truly worth it to include this expense in your future trip planning!!
3. Get groceries. If it is a service in your community, arrange for grocery delivery to arrive when you return. In most cases, this can be done online. You go to the service or store website, create your order, and schedule the delivery. I always hated coming home to an empty fridge and having to do take-out until I mustered the energy to shop. If this is not a service in your area, arrange for a trusted friend or relative to stock your place with basic staple necessities to get you through a day or two back in town.
4. Clear the calendar. Easier said than done…especially for those of us entrepreneurs. When initially planning your trip, allow for a couple of days at the end of the trip to get back into the swing of things. Too often, we return on Sunday night and jump right into the urban grind on Monday morning. We need time to decompress, re-focus, and ease gently back into our routine…hence that feeling of needing a vacation all over again. Have a few work-free days to get your home (and brain) ready for action. If you can swing it, get one or two days on the front-end of the trip, too, to give you a smooth transition in and out of traveling.
5. (Last but not least) Schedule some “Me” time. Once again, easier said than done…especially for moms. When you are clearing that calendar of professional (or other) obligations, schedule some personal pamper time. Get a massage or facial or manicure/pedicure, etc. Have a leisurely lunch with a friend. Send the kids to a friend’s or to Grandma’s and take a hot bath with some herbal tea and smooth jazz. What a way to recharge!

As I said before, this takes preparation and must be thought of at the onset of your vacation decision making. If you take these tips into consideration and allow for time/resources in your budgeting/planning, your post-vacation stress will be at a minimum…hopefully non-existent!

List lovin’ mamma Christie Crowder is a Life Coach and Writer in Atlanta GA. Read how she lives an imperfectly inspired life that excels within the chaos of the every day on her blog My Life – A Work in Progress.