Vacation Brain Fog

By: Lindsey Bernhardt

As I walked back into the classrooms after Spring break, I was reminded how difficult transitions can be for some of us. Not just for our students but for the teachers, administrators, and parents as well. Of course, going back to work or school can be challenging, but changing our daily routines can cause brain fog, making it more difficult to get back into the swing of everyday life. The shift from “vacation you” to “real life you” is scientifically proven. According to the American Psychological Association's 2018 Work and Well-Being survey, about 60% of U.S. adults polled said that the benefits of their time away disappeared in a matter of days (Truong ,2018). This means, potentially, that all the benefits of soaking up the sun, spring cleaning, or just spending time taking care of you, can seemingly go away as quickly as it came. 

The good news is that we can combat this vacation brain fog. Part of the stress of returning from a vacation is finding a full inbox and a million things you may have missed. Preparing for your away time is crucial to minimizing stress upon your return. Planning ahead so that you can dive deeper into relaxation mode can make for a better vacation. Easing your way back to “normal” life is also imperative for a smoother transition. Consider dosing tiny amounts of time where you can relax, practice mindfulness and re-visit “vacation you” throughout the day. Ideally, this is done regularly, but be more intentional in engaging in self-care post vacation and upon your return to work, school, etc.

It is always wonderful to get away and take time for yourself, but planning ahead and managing the impact of the transition back to everyday life can really extend the calming benefits that getting away does for us. 

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/coming-back-from-vacation-tips