The blissful days of summer vacation have long faded into the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Memories of that velvety season now surface less frequently. However, psychologists believe that the spirit of happiness and celebration from vacation can indeed be recreated in our autumn and winter routines.
Recently, Finnish researchers published the results of a large-scale, long-term study. Over 40 years, they tracked the lives of 1,200 businessmen prone to cardiovascular diseases. They found that participants who took vacations lasting three weeks or less each year had a one-third higher chance of dying young. According to the study’s leader, Timo Strandberg, the benefits of vacation were equally felt whether participants traveled to a resort or stayed home.
The conclusion is clear: instead of lamenting the end of vacation, we should consider how to bring that joyful spirit into our dreary weekdays. Psychologists have several simple strategies to help revive the festive mood of our time off.
Become a Tourist in Your Own City
When was the last time you explored the city you live in? Check out a tourist website. It will remind you of attractions you’ve been meaning to visit for years but have always found excuses to avoid. You might discover something completely new in familiar surroundings.
“A tour can help you see your environment from a fresh perspective,” says Gosia Gocłowska, a lecturer at the University of Bath (UK). She believes that “you can find novelty even when you closely observe a single place.”
Reassess Your Daily Schedule
Holidays, including vacations, transport us to entirely different environments. This change of scenery alters our behavior, according to Rachel McCloy, an associate professor of applied behavioral sciences at the University of Reading. “When you return from vacation, think about the mundane tasks you didn’t do while you were away,” she advises. Of course, this includes laundry, commuting, cooking, and childcare.
Moreover, vacations are often devoid of distractions like watching TV, chatting on the phone, and other activities that can hinder effective time use. McCloy believes this time can be better spent on activities that bring joy.
Choose New Autumn Reads
During your vacation, you may have completed your annual reading quota. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find time for books in your daily life. Keep an eye on new releases from book fairs, which are plentiful around the world in the fall. Browse literary reviews, visit bookstores, and share your reading experiences with friends. And finally, clear off those dusty books from your nightstand that you’ve promised yourself to read but never got around to.
Change Your Commute
Emra Düzgün, a professor of cognitive neurobiology at University College London, is convinced that walking through new places “stimulates significant brain plasticity.” Even small changes to your usual route can help with this stimulation. She recommends walking or biking to work (preferably through a park). Often, all it takes is leaving home half an hour earlier.
Develop New Habits
The best way to change habits is to replace them with new ones, says Trevor Robbins, a professor of cognitive neurobiology at the University of Cambridge. For example, you could pull out your sneakers from the closet the night before. In the morning, instead of “jumping” into a robe, put on workout clothes and sneakers and head out for a bike ride.
Enjoy the Little Things
On vacation, we slow down. We open ourselves to all our senses, which unfortunately dull when we return to our usual routines. However, according to renowned British positive psychologist Miriam Akhtar, it is entirely possible to “enjoy the routine at home so it doesn’t feel like a routine.” For instance, you can find pleasure in a simple shower, your commute, or catching up with an old friend.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you find enjoyment. The key is to revive the long-forgotten habit of savoring life from your vacation and carry it into your everyday existence.
Plan Your Free Time Differently
The freedom from obligations makes time during vacations feel different. In your daily home schedule, it’s not too difficult to carve out a bit of unplanned time. It’s best to fill it with something you hadn’t considered before. For example, you could pack your swimsuit in your work bag and head to the pool instead of chatting with colleagues during your lunch break.
Embrace Day Trips
Typically, we plan our vacations well in advance. We worry about which places we’ll visit, what new sights we’ll see, and what unusual foods we’ll try. Rachel McCloy suggests planning a few short trips in “adventure mode” soon after returning from vacation, while the festive feeling still lingers.
These trips don’t have to be expensive or far from home. The key is to write them in your planner before the fear of risk sets in and the desire for romance is overshadowed by daily chores.
Recreate the Scent of Vacation
Bring back scents from your vacation that remind you of carefree times. For example, spices or handmade cosmetics from a Moroccan market, or artisanal olive oil and sun-dried tomatoes from an Italian shop. On long, cold evenings, you can simply light a scented candle.
Act on Your Insights
Vacation frees your mind from unnecessary thoughts and inspires it to generate wonderful ideas. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a notebook handy—even on the beach or during excursions—to jot down unexpected thoughts. In the future, these could develop into something significant. For instance, a wild idea to radically change your career could be the start of a successful business venture.
Vacation is a time for remarkable insights that often serve as a guiding light for the rest of your life.
Get Outside More Often
“Attention to nature during vacation is a source of very positive experiences,” says Gocłowska. While it may be challenging to recreate the awe felt at the Grand Canyon or Mount Fuji at home, you can still experience uplifting emotions by spending more time outdoors.
For instance, simply step outside with your favorite drink on the balcony or in the garden. You might even become that person who gets kicked out of the local park at dusk. It’s also worthwhile to learn to occasionally forgo the TV in favor of a walk around the block. Notice the trees, people, or cats on the street, and even greet strangers.