You might have seen – I posted some pictures (also featured below ) on my LivingBluPrints FB page showing the state of things before we left for vacation. Here’s a summary of my promises to myself:
the Pre-Vaca Prep Plan:
Food Plan
- ALL meals I cook the preceding week will be doubled, and that means many individuals servings will be waiting in our freezer for lunches and dinners when we return. YES – I did double everything, but there was one recipe I couldn’t make. The grocery store was out of the chicken I needed (yes, my grocery store if out of at least one thing on my list every week!). It worked out ok; I was able to make the recipe the day after we got back, since we had planned a “buffer day.” We ate well right at the start of being home – a wicked success!
- I will make a “return-from-vacation” grocery list before we leave – (let’s face it, it’s just easier to do these things now, and not when I’ve been away from my fridge for a week+!!). I will even sketch out a food plan for the week-post-vacation so I remember what’s in the fridge, et al (my brain is increasingly a sieve…) YES – I did this! However, I needed to be more clear with the hubz on this. He usually writes what he needs on the fridge pad, and he hadn’t before we left… this created a bit of a problem since I only had the chance to hit the store the one time (before he realized what was going on! alas – he did not go hungry)…
- The kitchen will be clean, down to an empty dishwasher! YES – the photo indicates I got there!! So weird how something like an empty dishwasher makes you feel like the house is “ready” for you. Ok, maybe I exaggerate, but doesn’t it suck to come home to remnants of your life 7+ days ago?? I want to be in the NOW – and left over crap certainly doesn’t help!
Work Clothes
- Two outfits will be laid out (down to tights/socks and skivvies) before departure. I will choose things I REALLY like, so that I don’t second guess upon return. YES – photos indicate this was true too. Just nice to have this off the list and done/ready. I had two outfits ready for the Wednesday return (I gave myself more options depending on how fat I felt, or what mood I was in); the second outfit transitioned well into a jeans-Friday option!
- Note will be made of any shoes that need to return to under-desk-work-storage (that I might have brought on trip) This is all good – I did end up bringing one pair that sometimes resides under desk… have yet to bring back to office because I like them for home wear too!
House Condition
- All rooms picked up YES!
- Office desk clean YES!
- Bed made YES!
- <and again>Clean kitchen -> empty dishwasher YES!
So indeed, transition was really good largely because of all of the above.
I do think some other things impacted the “better” transition:
- Because I am coordinating a professional conference that begins the 1st week of April, I had to stay online to monitor emails. I normally completely “turn-off” all outside/regular life when on vacation, but who knew I’d be more ready to return since I sorta knew what was going on…? We’ll see if I choose to do this in the future. I like the result, but see work email did shift my mood a coupla times.
- I had some exciting projects to return to in “regular” life (like a LivingBluPrints Contest about to run**) – so it wasn’t like I even wanted to stay in that totally relaxed state of things…
One bigger conclusion: I just don’t do well when I let my mind go to jello (on vacation or otherwise). A sudden snap back into structure is what creates the cry-baby. Maybe even the “schedule” of being on a *ski* vacation helped maintain the structure (a fellow trip goer said described ski vaca as *job-like* -> get up, eat, dress in uniform (aka gear), hit the mountain – 7 out of 8 days!)
Anyhoo – I’m going to pay attention to how my next stint away from home goes; a conference in April, and a week+ in CA in May give me good excuse to strengthen this new muscle!
So, have YOU tried any new methods to ease transition back from vacation (or just the weekend)? Have you tried anything I mentioned in the PreVaca Post? Do you think “vacation structure” can help? Comment below!
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**I have a special upcoming OFFICE OVERHAUL CONTEST beginning in the new few weeks. Stay tuned for details!
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