Have you been wistfully looking back at photos of yourself on holiday and marvelling at how
natural your smile looks, how the wrinkles don’t bother you so much with a tan and how
you were so much better able to handle the non-stop bickering of your children? It can’t just
be me. I would go as far as saying I love that happier, relaxed, ‘holiday’ version of myself,
more than the term-time me.
How to self-coach yourself through that dreaded ‘back to work’ feeling
The question is, where does that person go for 80% of the year? Whilst tan lines will fade,
there is a way to hold on to the post-holiday feeling, so you can keep the inner glow, even
when your surroundings, and the weather, has changed.
Here are some tips to self-coach yourself through the post-holiday blues:
• Keep the endorphins flowing by building some form of exercise into every day. Schedule it
in as a non-negotiable, even if it’s a 15-minute brisk walk, a jog back from the school run
instead of taking the car, or setting your alarm 20 minutes earlier to do some stretches
before the kids wake up. Moving your body is scientifically proven to increase levels of
endorphins and oxytocin, which always makes you feel better. Just 15 minutes a day will
make a difference.
• Holiday wear needn’t just be for holidays. Beachwear won’t cut it in Britain all year round,
but wearing bright clothes like the Onjenu jumpsuit (a kind gift) that I’m wearing in this
photo, brings me joy.
Take this one step further if you like, and focus on the actual colours you wear. Studies have
shown that blue and green can create a calming feeling; red and pink can inspire passion
and energy; while purple can boost creativity and productivity. However, everyone’s feeling
towards a colour is unique, so pick the hues that do it for you.
Just remember – wear the dress to that meeting and don’t squander away your sequins for few and far between events; life is too short to save your best outfits only for holidays when you can sparkle every day.
• For most of us, all of those holiday snaps so carefully set up and captured while you were
away end up sitting with thousands of others on your phone, to be looked at only
occasionally. But how great does it feel when you do revisit them? Give that sensation a
longer life by permitting yourself to spend time pouring over your holiday photos and
videos, and send some of your favourites off for printing to refresh your frames at home, so
you can transport yourself back whenever you need a quick boost. I love La-La-Lab for this.
When you’re having a tough day, it is helpful to look at brighter, happier days, as a reminder
that you won’t always feel like this.
• Don’t spend a second regretting anything you did on holiday. So you ate all the food,
drank too much wine, didn’t exercise - it’s ok, you were busy having fun and it felt great! All
we have is now, so there is absolutely zero point in wasting negative thoughts on what has
been and is done. And especially if those thoughts are tied into an unrealistic beauty
standard imposed by society or social media. The sensible side of your brain knows I am
right!
Instead, practice holiday gratitude – think of things you’re grateful for from the holiday. Eg.
A healthy body, that delicious meal, the time you danced barefoot in the sand. I try to think
of three things I am grateful for each morning when I wake. You could do three things when
you’re in bed at the end of the day, or three things in the shower if it’s easier – it doesn’t
matter when and where, and it doesn’t take long, but it will prolong the happy feels, I
promise.
• Plan another holiday! There is no better time than getting back from a trip to motivate you
to plan the next one. Having downtime scheduled into your diary always makes for a softer
landing in reality and will have a positive effect on your mental and physical health.
We all need a break, in fact it is essential.
Good luck 🏖️