Schedule a buffer day. A study in the journal
Leisure Sciences confirmed what you've probably suspected: Coming back to a huge postvacation workload can eliminate the restorative effects of your holiday. Instead of parachuting home on a Sunday and rushing in for that Monday-morning meeting at 8 a.m., arrive back on a Saturday, sleep in on Sunday, and let the holiday pace linger.
Ease into the saddle. "Don't expect everything to get done on your first day back," says Robert Leahy, PhD, a clinical professor of psychology at Cornell University's Weill Cornell Medical College. Preserve the benefits of your vacation by putting some framed shots from your trip on your desk, and take yourself back to the beach, vineyard, or mountains with the occasional glance.
These adventures will change your relationships—and your life.
