Club Med Insider

We’re Baaaaaaaack: Carry On Your Vacation At Home

You’re tan, rested and ready! Or at least you were thinking it as the wheels touched ground on the tarmac back home. Now tan, rested and ready has come up against commuting, carpools and laundry. Oh and that lovely nagging question of “How in the hell will we get back into our real world routine?”

Why nag yourself now? You had an entire vacation where you allowed yourself some slack, tried new things and broke out of your routine. Did you completely become a different person on vacation? Probably not. Most likely you kept some of your home life with you while on vacation, so why not bring some of your vacation back home? The aspects of your vacation which make sense to incorporate into the Every Day. We’re not talking about turning in your business suit for a bathing suit (although it might make things a little more interesting around the office), nor are we suggesting you begin each day with a giant margarita (although, there are some mornings where it makes sense!). There are definitely components of your vacation which can be adapted and used when you get back.

Really? Yes!
Tell you? Okay.

Remember that independence you allowed your kids to have on vacation? You don’t need to reel the kids back in completely when you get home. If they were able to handle getting around the resort on their own, how about teaching them to use public transportation at home? If you have a light rail system or public bus system, let your teen try it out with your help and guidance. Maybe a future birthday gift can be a new wristwatch. Then you can hit the mall, synchronize your watches and let your tween meet up with you in an hour.

While you may not be able to wander into your kitchen at home, grab a plate and head to the buffet, you can recreate some of the offerings you enjoyed. Did everyone eat more fruits and vegetables while on vacation? Guess what? Your grocery store sells fruits and vegetables! YES! They do! And you know what else? You can buy them! YES! You can! You can also check out some of the resort recipes and try making them at home.

Let’s say you don’t like to cook. No problem. How about creating a soundtrack based on your vacation? Make a list of new music you heard while on vacation, burn it, download it or buy a CD of it. Then while you await the pizza delivery you can dance around the kitchen instead of whipping up a meal there.

On vacation your days are filled with outdoor activities which may have replaced being plugged into a computer or other electronic device. During your vacation did you have to admit anyone to the local hospital for withdrawal? If the answer is “no”, then maybe you can get out more at home and spend a little more time being unplugged as well. Head to the park, the zoo, even the mall; places you can hang out, meander or wander around without a formal agenda.

It’s true that when you come back from vacation, your work may have piled up or your schedule will be just as jam packed as it was prior to your hiatus. However, if the world did not end while you were gone, then maybe you can take some time to re-prioritize. Bringing back what you experienced while away and trying it when you return home might not earn you any frequent flier miles but we think there will be a substantial pay off in rest, relaxation and sense of renewal.