Have you ever been somewhere and truly enjoyed yourself  and relaxed and just basked in the time you had to yourself?  Then when you got back home, a sense of “Oh well” came over you. Then you began your regular routine again and suddenly you found yourself sighing, wishing you were away again relaxing taking time for yourself.  Yeah, I’ve been there, too.                                                                                   How can you jump that hurdle?  Afterglow .

There’s a psychology to getting back into the routine of things when you’ve been away for a time. See if these suggestions help:

• It may seem insignificant, but before you leave home make sure it is clean and fresh. When you lock that door for a weekend or a week and unlock it after that time, a clean, fresh smell and a neat environment helps you jump the hurdle of getting back into your regular routine. If the entire home can’t be clean, (which often happens when you leave someone behind while you’re gone) try to make your bedroom the place to retreat when you first get back. It should be fresh and neat waiting for you to return.
• If, while you’re away, you get a CD or two, when you get home, play them. It doesn’t matter if the content is music or a speech. Play it as you go about your routine. It’s like hanging on to your excursion a little longer. Listen to the CD a couple of times while you are getting back to normal.
• Whatever else you do, take time for yourself during the day. A cup of tea or coffee with a book for about 30 minutes to an hour when things calm down. Listening to music that you love while soaking your feet before bed. There are a lot of things you can do after the glow of a pleasant experience has faded.

Whatever the routine you  use to get back into the swing of things, take time for you.

C. Renee