Tiny Tricks to Reset after a Long Weekend
Getting back to normal after a long weekend = not my strength. But I’ve found two little habits that make re-entry way less painful.
Today’s topic isn’t directly related to creativity, but I wanted to talk a little about how I keep my energy from totally vanishing after a long weekend or trip.
It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the US, so it’s a bit longer than usual. And I don’t know about you, but… don’t you sometimes feel kind of out of it after these slightly longer breaks? Like, getting back into your normal routine feels a little awkward and slow? I used to really struggle after vacations or long weekends. The first day back was basically a fog—I’d just space out, nap a lot, and barely function.
But recently, I’ve been doing a couple of things that make it easier to get back into my usual rhythm.
1. Morning pages, always (even on vacation)
I write in my journal every morning—whether I’m at home or away. I started this habit after reading The Artist’s Way, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. It’s like I do a little emotional decluttering every morning. So if something exciting, unexpected, or even awkward happens on a trip, I can kind of sort through those feelings in real time. That way, when the trip ends, I don’t feel like I’m dragging leftover emotions back into my normal life. It helps me return to my daily routine without getting stuck in the dreamy vacation afterglow for too long.
2. The suitcase situation: finish it fast
This one’s only for post-travel days, but it helps a lot—I try to empty my suitcase either on the day I get home, or at least by the next morning. I know, that sounds… optimistic. After a trip I enter full sloth mode and want to do nothing at all. But if I can manage just one last push, it makes a big difference. Dirty clothes go in the laundry basket (actually doing laundry can wait, it’s fine), and everything else gets sorted into bags or baskets based on where it belongs. Then I do one little tour of the apartment and put things back in their homes. If I absolutely can’t do it that day, I at least sort everything, so I can finish the job the next morning.
Doing it all at once helps. Because unpacking is never going to be a fun hobby. That way, I don’t have to keep getting slightly stressed every time I pass by that suitcase in the corner.
Once my engine fully stops, it’s so much harder to start it up again. So this is how I get back into my usual routine without slowing down too much—by not leaving behind any mental or physical leftovers from the long weekend or trip.