Tips For Relaxing on Vacation

When do you begin to lose all sense of time on vacation?

Is it the first day in, or does it take a few days before you forget what day it is?

Frequent vacationers share how they predictably unlock the elusive “what day is it?” status on vacation for those in need of tips for relaxing on vacation.

Going With The Flow

Sanjay Nair is a wildlife photographer, conservation storyteller, and co-founder of Safari Lab, a boutique travel company curating immersive wildlife experiences across India and Africa. He is a recipient of the Nature in Focus award and has been published in global outlets like The Times and The Guardian.

Sahara Rose De Vore is a Wellness Travel Coach and founder of The Travel Coach Network, a global community of travel coaches. From a broke college student to traveling to 84 countries solo, to becoming a CEO, Sahara created the world’s first and only ICF-accredited certification program for travel coaches and featured as a travel and business expert in 100+ media outlets.

Chris Oberman, founder and CEO of Moving Jack, embarks on a journey with his family to a new country every two years, uncovering hidden gems and local secrets along the way. Having visited 40+ countries and 45 cities in China, the Obermans have lived for several years in the Netherlands, Iraq, and China and are currently residing in Seoul, South Korea.

Sarah Pardi is a global traveler, American expat in France, and Head of International Content at Insurte: one of the world’s leading websites for Schengen travel insurance. Insurte partners with European leaders like AXA, Allianz, Mutuaide, VFS Global, and more.

Johannes Hock is the president of Artificial Grass Pros. Previously, he founded Silvaner Capital, acquiring and scaling small businesses. He also worked in PE at Peak Rock Capital and finance roles at J.P. Morgan and EY in business valuation and strategic investments. Johannes is a former NCAA Champion decathlete at the University of Texas at Austin.

Nathan Mathews is the founder and CEO of Roofer.com, whose innovative leadership has transformed the roofing industry. A professional contractor by trade, Nathan and his team have built a strong reputation across Texas and North Carolina, completing over 2,200 projects and 300+ 5-star reviews. The company has raised $7.5 million to scale its tech-driven approach.

Seann Malloy, Founding Attorney of Malloy Law Offices in Maryland, applies his 20+ years of experience representing clients in a wide range of civil matters, including personal injury, commercial litigation, real estate disputes, and employment litigation, with an approach rooted in strategy, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to his clients holding a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating.

Mark Sanchez, founder of Tropic Residential, has called Florida home for over five years. Mark is dedicated to helping buyers and sellers navigate the local real estate market, connecting clients with top-tier agents throughout the Sunshine State. His background in flipping homes gives him a unique understanding of both single-family home buyers and real estate investors.

Todd Stephenson co-founded roofquotes.com, a technology-driven marketplace revolutionizing the roofing industry by providing homeowners with transparent, competitive quotes from vetted local contractors to make informed decisions while ensuring quality workmanship. Todd is a co-founder of ThreadStudio and PupSocks and a graduate of the University of Central Florida.

Doug Crawford, founder of Best-Trade-Schools.net, leverages years of experience aiding job seekers to establish an accessible platform for career training in skilled trades and medical fields. Recognizing the value of vocational education, he aims to simplify school selection by providing comprehensive information on programs, campuses, and student support services.

Tips for Adjusting to Being in a New Place

Do you do anything special to help yourself adjust? Here are some ways you can jumpstart your vacation and start the freeing adventure of forgetting what day it is.

Lean Into the Landscape

Sanjay Nair regularly disappears into India’s remote tiger reserves and East Africa’s great plains to ‘places where cell towers dare not intrude’ as he puts it, where losing time is part of the ritual.

He reveals, “The very nature of the wild demands it. There are no emails, no notifications, no ‘Tuesday meetings.’ Just tracking pugmarks in the dust, reading the alarm calls of spotted deer, and watching the wind ruffle the grasses of the savannah.”

How long does it take Sanjay to adjust?

“A few hours at most,” he confirms, saying, “as soon as I’m out of city air and surrounded by silence—or birdsong—I feel a sense of calm overtake my mind. The frenzy slowly wanes away. My phone goes into airplane mode, my watch comes off, and I lean into the rhythm of the landscape. I don’t do anything dramatic to adjust. I just listen. The forest does the rest.”

Take It All In

Mark Sanchez takes things slow, sharing, “I spend an entire day acclimating when I arrive somewhere new. I go out first. I take a stroll along the beach or under a palm tree, whatever suits me, and I attempt to relax and allow the place to present itself to me. It is worthwhile to spend some time unplugging and unwinding in that unfamiliar destination.”

Find Your Bearings

Sahara Rose De Vore writes, “I’ve traveled to 84 countries solo and usually found that it would take me 2 or 3 days to adjust to being in a new place. I would get familiar with the city that I’m in, get settled into my sleeping space, get food and other necessities for my stay, and gain a sense of where things are at.”

Ditch Your Phone

Chris Oberman says, “This is something we actually always take into account when we are planning a holiday. You need a few days to decompress and to be able to really enjoy a holiday. From my experience, you need at least 3 days. This is why we never go on trips shorter than 5 days, it’s just not worth it to already go back when you’ve finally stressed-down.

“I guess the main thing we do is to put our phone away. When we go to the beach, for instance, only one of us takes their phone in case we really need it. We actually already kind of enforce this by getting only one foreign SIM card at the airport. Because only one of us has a phone with them, my wife or I won’t grab it because it’s just not very social when only one of us is on social media, for instance.

“It would be very different if you brought two phones with you. The temptation to grab yours is much stronger because the other person has one too!”

Unpack Right Away

Sarah Pardi shares, “It usually takes me a day or two to adjust to a new place, but it’s different for everyone. Frequent travelers may find it easier to adjust to new places more quickly, while those who don’t travel as often may take a minute to “find their groove.” Unpacking your bag, taking off your shoes, and taking a shower can help you feel at home in your vacation rental. Going out for a walk to get the lay of the land is also very helpful.”

Slow Down, Stow Your Phone, and Stop Caring About the Clock

Johannes Hock offers, “It usually hits me around day three. That’s when I stop checking my phone before getting out of bed, and the emails start piling up without making me twitch. I’ll wake up, roll over, stare at the ceiling fan or the light coming through some unfamiliar curtain, and realize I don’t know what day it is. That’s the moment. That’s when I know the trip is doing what it’s supposed to. Not because it’s packed with stuff to do, but because I’ve finally slowed down enough to stop caring about the clock.”

Turn Off Calendar Notifications and Limit Screen Time

Nathan confides, “I am definitely one of those people who completely forgets what day it is. There is one trip that still lives rent-free in my head for exactly that reason.

“So, I mean, the shift usually hits me about 48 hours in. The first day is full of unpacking, checking work email just to pretend I am still productive, and maybe even scheduling a couple of Zooms I will eventually cancel.

“The next morning, though, is when I know I am in vacation mode. My trick is super basic: I turn off every calendar notification and switch my phone’s screen time limit to one hour.

“No dings, no reminders, no Google Meet links… just silence. That is when it clicks.”

Go To Bed at the Destination’s Bedtime, Not Yours

Seann Malloy takes a practical approach to adjusting to time zones, sharing, “I generally take about two days to adjust to a new destination. The strangeness of hotels and time zones can be jarring, so I have a few habits to help with the transition.

“After all that time in the air, I fight jet lag by staying up until a reasonable local bedtime, say 10 p.m., however dreadful the flight. I’ll take 400 mg of magnesium and a fish oil capsule to help me relax and sleep. It is essential to bring my own ergonomic pillow for familiar comfort that makes any hotel bed feel like home.”

What Being on Vacation Means

Going on a vacation, by its very nature, means removing yourself from everyday responsibilities and the world of work. While everyone finds rest in different ways, the following ideas are ones we can all consider and aspire to. 

Go Off Grid

Vacation is Doug Crawford’s way of healing every time he needs a break. Doug relates, “I like the kind of vacations where you don’t need a schedule. Give me a cabin out in Hocking Hills or somewhere quiet in the woods, maybe northern Michigan. I’m not trying to chase Wi-Fi or hit ten attractions in a day. I just want a decent porch, a half-decent grill, and no reason to set an alarm.

“Vacation, for me, is about going off the grid a bit. Last time I packed for a trip like that, I brought five books and barely opened one. Ended up spending most of the time chopping firewood and trying to figure out if the old charcoal grill still worked. It didn’t. I still cooked on it anyway.”

Feel ‘Small’ Again

Sanjay states, “I am lucky enough to call my workplace a vacation. So a vacation isn’t about escape. It’s about return. Returning to something more elemental, more honest. I go where wildlife lives freely—places that are untamed, where I feel small again. Whether it’s Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra or the Mara River during migration season, I’m drawn to places where humans are the visitors and nature makes the rules.”

Immerse Yourself in Nature

Sahara Rose shares, “As a solo backpacker for over a decade, I mostly traveled to places that were unlike my norm of where I am from, a bigger city. Locations where I could immerse myself in nature, especially blue spaces, and in new cultures and ways of living, were what lit my soul up. A vacation is a time for reconnecting with myself. It’s an opportunity for fulfillment, happiness, and enjoying life.”

Enjoy Some Culture Shock

Chris notes, “We go on any sort of trips, city trips, beach holidays, or just experiencing another culture. Our next trip will be to Taipei, Taiwan. It’s all about just getting out of our daily routine for us. And we love a bit of a culture shock, which is great to forget all about your own daily ‘culture.’”

Focus on the ‘Joie de Vivre’

Sarah indicates, “Personally, I like to have different experiences, so I prefer not to repeat destinations. Some people are the exact opposite and enjoy the familiarity.

“To me, a vacation is time that you can dedicate to yourself or your family. You can step away from the normal routine of life and focus on the ‘joie de vivre,’ whether that’s reading, going on long walks, lying on the beach, etc.”

No Alarms, Meetings, or Dress Codes

Nathan asserts, “I like vacations where there is almost no itinerary. Give me a hammock, a glass of mezcal, and the ocean 100 feet away. Last fall, I spent five days in Tulum with my phone in airplane mode. We stayed in a bungalow with no clock, no AC, and no Wi-Fi. It was humid and absolutely perfect. To me, vacation means moving slow on purpose. No alarms, no meetings, no dress code. Once you forget what day it is, that is when you know the vacation actually started.”

Solitude With No Set Plans

Seann postulates, “Vacations for me are about disconnecting from the relentless pace of the legal job. I like to book private villa rentals with a pool — something like a Tuscan estate or a coastal retreat in Malibu — where I can hunker down and recharge without a busy itinerary.

“For me, vacation means solitude and control over my environment, not chasing tourist spots. A villa allows me to read case law by the pool or drink coffee on my own schedule — it feels like freedom after months of depositions.

“Last year, a week in a Sonoma villa allowed me to reset completely; I came back to my firm feeling refreshed, ready to tackle a major case. It’s about quality downtime that clears the perception for the next challenge.”

Living in the Moment

Mark says, “My holidays are spent discovering the surroundings. I particularly appreciate local markets or simply having a calm morning where you only listen to nature.

“To me, a holiday is having the ability to go with the flow, rather than doing all the planning. I will forget about the passage of time after a couple of days if I don’t pay attention to it. I know I’m just living in the moment, whether I’m in the water, tasting local food, or viewing sunsets. That is how I know I have had an excellent holiday.”

What It Feels Like to Lose All Sense of Time

What is that feeling like when you know you’re truly on vacation? Maybe you can relate to the following!

Blissful

“Usually by the second morning. I wake up unsure if it’s Tuesday or Sunday and realize—blissfully—it doesn’t matter. All that exists is the light breaking over the horizon and the possibility of a leopard in that patch of sal forest. It’s not just a ‘good vacation’ when that happens. It’s a sacred one.” – Sanjay

Freeing

“I was someone who changed locations often when I was on my solo adventure and would stay in a place for anywhere between a few days to over a month. Since that was my lifestyle and my norm, I already lost a sense of time when I began my journey. The only time that I was aware of what day it was on the calendar was when I had another flight to catch.

“My days consisted of me waking up when I wanted to and to make the day as I wanted it to be. I’d take a walk to the beach where I’d relax for quite some time. I’d then go and grab some food, chat with new friends, go for a hike, go back to the beach, and then grab some dinner. I didn’t have set plans or a schedule. Crafting days like that allowed for me to forget all sense of time.” – Sahara

Forgetting About Schedules

“To de-stress, you need at least 3 days, but to completely forget the time, you need longer. During our trip to Oman, when we went wild camping, I had that amazing feeling of losing a sense of time; it’s a nice and calming mood. The trip lasted 9 days, and after about 5 days, I reached that feeling.

“I feel like outdoor trips really help with getting to that vibe, more than city trips where you’re surrounded by things that remind you of time, such as people going to work, clocks, time pressure for getting dinner, a train, and all that kind of stuff.

“When (wild) camping outdoors, it’s much easier to let things go and forget all about what time it is. It’s in the little things, like suddenly realizing ‘Wow, it’s already 10 p.m.!’ Or when you had an activity planned for a certain day but totally forgot about it.” – Chris

Fun

“The longer the trip, the easier it is to lose sense of time, but it’s possible for shorter trips too – even ones that are just a long weekend away. While I don’t measure it in regards to whether or not a vacation was successful, it is a fun feeling when it pops up. Like, wait… is it Saturday or Sunday? If/when I lose all sense of time is different for each vacation.” – Sarah

The Feeling that Time Stands Still

“For me, I forget time on the third day. The first night is still loud since your brain is racing from the flight, the schedule, the checklist. But after a couple days of sand in your shoes and drinking coffee with no plan, time kind of dissolves. That feeling is like being underwater. Quiet, suspended, and outside the clock. Honestly, I would pay extra just for that mental reset alone.” – Nathan

Sleeping In

“I usually lose track of what day it is by the third day of a trip— a sign I’m truly unwinding. It had occurred during a five-day visit to Napa Valley, where I would wake up late and take my time over breakfast and read without glancing at my watch.

“It’s a strange combination of exhaustion from letting go and energy from being released by deadlines. I’d say it’s priceless; when I forget what day it is, I’m not the lawyer on duty — I’m just me. That mental break makes me much more productive once I’m back home. It’s difficult to quantify, but if a vacation is done well, it resets me in a way that allows me to be laser-focused on what my clients need from me.” – Seann

No Rushing

“I think what makes you forget about the day is being in an environment where you don’t have to rush. Somewhere that does not force you to rush all day. It is about eliminating the necessity to maintain a tight schedule and simply observing whatever is happening throughout the day.” – Mark

Existing Without a Clock

“When I lose track of the day, it usually means I’ve slipped into a rhythm where everything else fades out. That happens when I’m deep in a build. Maybe I’m tweaking the user flow on Roof Quotes, testing copy for a campaign, or chasing an idea that’s going somewhere. No calendar reminders, no meetings, just coffee that’s gone cold and thoughts that keep pulling me forward. It doesn’t feel like work at that point. You’re just in it, and time stops being something you’re aware of.

“Other times, it happens when I fully step out of routine. Somewhere quiet, without cell service or noise. Tennessee has these small spots where nothing matters except making breakfast, chopping wood, or sitting around with no agenda. You eat more slowly. You sleep harder. The phone stays off, and no one’s checking the time. That’s when the days start to blend in the best way. Everything slows down, and you remember what it’s like to just exist without a clock on your back.” – Todd

How To Lose All Sense of Time

If there were a surefire way to get to the place where time passes freely and you’re okay with not thinking about where you need to be and when, wouldn’t you want to know?

Here are some simple ways you can purposefully remove reminders and feel like you’re not ‘on the clock,’ at least for a little while.

Sanjay’s List:

• No internet (a blessing in disguise)
• A place where nature sets the schedule—sunrise, not alarms
• Days spent tracking animals, where time stretches and contracts unpredictably
• Long, uninterrupted silences
• Deep, physical fatigue—walking, hiking, sitting still for hours in a hide
• A sense of wonder that overrides everything else

“These aren’t luxuries. They’re necessities—at least for me,” he relates.

Sahara encourages you to leave room for spontaneity and exploration. 

She gestures, “I’m a big believer in not having a strict itinerary. When you have a time that you need to be somewhere the next day, or you only have a certain amount of time to do an activity before your dinner reservations or your nightly plans with friends, you’ll always have to check your watch and have to be aware of what time it is.

“A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, fun, and stress-free so why schedule your days in a way that causes more stress and anxiety.”

Seann has refined his tried-and-true steps for relaxation over dozens of trips. He walks us through his reliable recipe for rest and relaxation:

“First, I turn off my phone and set an auto-reply on my email, which is important to stop client pings. Second, I stay away from news or social media; even a brief view can pull me back to work. Third, I lean into repetitive comforts, like morning coffee on a balcony or a nightly chapter of a novel. By day three of a trip to Aspen, these habits — phone off, no Wi-Fi, identical playlist of jazz — made it beautifully difficult to distinguish one day from the next. These are steps that allow me to evade the calendar and actually decompress.”

Chris is a huge fan of outdoor camping trips for sticking to a scheduleless vacation, saying “Don’t bring you’re phone and watch, or only one phone if you have to, on any activity! Don’t rely on restaurants for dinner, go BBQ’ing whenever you feel like it instead of being on time for a reservation.”

Wouldn’t it be lovely to try some of Sarah’s ideas? Consider this:

• The ability to leave work behind (not check on work, not check emails, etc.).
• An agenda to some extent. This could even be “read my book.” Having things you want to do or see can help you lose track of time.
• Staying present. Staying in the moment, not thinking about everything you need to do back at home.

For Johannes, it’s a gradual process, one that needs time to marinate, you could say. 

He shares, “There’s a rhythm to getting there. First, you have to be far enough from your usual surroundings that you don’t fall into your regular patterns. For me, that usually means heading out into the Hill Country or somewhere quiet by the water.

“I remember a trip near Canyon Lake. We had this little cabin with a busted screen door, and the whole place smelled like cedar and leftover charcoal from whoever grilled the night before. I spent two hours just sitting on a folding chair watching a squirrel try to steal chips from an empty cooler. I didn’t check my phone once. That kind of boredom is rare, and that’s when your mind finally lets go.

“The people you’re with matter. If I’m around folks who don’t feel the need to fill every minute with plans and can sit on a porch with a cold beer and say nothing for a while, it makes it easier to relax. Slow food helps, too. Not takeout. Something you cook together. I’ve had some of the best conversations while grilling sausage and slicing jalapeños with friends in a cabin where the nearest town shuts down at six.”

Nathan beams, “Now, if I had to bottle the ingredients to lose all track of time, here is what I would toss in:

• zero alarms
• low phone battery
• lots of walking
• no driving
• heavy carbs
• naps in sunlight
• no news
• a strong cocktail and a body of water

“The moment your only task is to figure out what to eat next or where to nap, that is the magic. You do not need more than that. Simple wins every time!”

Tips For Relaxing

Do you have trouble allowing yourself to relax? Maybe it’s an overactive mind or a restless body. 

When asked, our friends shared the following advice for getting to the point where you can relax – or at least relax as best you can.

“Stop trying to ‘have a good time.’ Just be there. Allow yourself to get bored. Don’t rush to fill the silence. It’s in those empty spaces that something extraordinary seeps in. Watch birds. Listen to frogs. Let nature do the heavy lifting.” – Sanjay

“I’d recommend that they ask themselves why they went on the vacation in the first place. What caused you to want to get away or to have an escape? When we can bring awareness to our ‘why’ for travel, we can make more intentional and meaningful decisions while we are away.” – Sahara

“At home, I tend to look at the bigger picture a lot. Am I doing things right? Will we make enough money in the future? These questions can be stressful. When I’m away from home, I try to leave these bigger picture questions behind and focus on the small things, such as getting joy from trying a new drink or meal, enjoying the sun, or some cultural custom that surprises me. This helps me to forget those daily life questions and makes me more present in the moment, which helps me a lot to relax on a holiday.” – Chris

Sarah empathizes with those who find it difficult to shift their mindset from the day-to-day to letting go and having fun on vacation.

She acknowledges, “While we see advertisements and social media posts where travelers seem to be able to step away from their commitments and fully immerse themselves into their travels, many many people struggle with this. It’s hard to ‘turn off’ your life and just enjoy the moment. You are not alone. There are things you can do to help yourself relax, and a lot of that is prep work. 

Before you travel, doing the following things can help you have a worry-free vacation:

• Have a hand-off plan at work (including for emergencies).
• Have a plan for your pets/house plants (including for emergencies).
• Have someone house-sit if possible.
• Get comprehensive travel insurance, so you don’t have to worry about vacation “what-ifs.”

Johannes confides, “If someone tells me they struggle to relax on vacation, I’d tell them to stop trying to make the trip perfect. Pick a place where there’s not much going on. Turn off your notifications. Don’t bring your laptop. Let your brain get bored for a bit. That’s where the real quiet shows up. Nothing has to happen. That’s the whole point.

“It takes time to shake off the pace we live at. But when you do, you start noticing the sound of the wind again or how different coffee tastes when you’re not drinking it on a deadline. You come home lighter without even meaning to. That’s a trip that worked.”

Nathan takes a bolder approach and confronts the very thing that wreaks havoc on vacation – being tied to everything else, as if doing so is critical to the success of the world around you.

He says, “If someone told me they cannot relax, I would say this: your calendar is lying to you.

You are not that busy, and the world will keep spinning. I used to be the guy who brought a laptop to the beach until it literally overheated and died in 30 minutes. That was my sign. Now I take two books, not two screens. If you want to enjoy time off, treat your vacation like it matters more than your inbox.”

Offering the opposite side of the coin, Seann exhorts, “If you can’t let go at home, don’t make it an obligation—it’ll backfire. As a lawyer, I feel the pull to remain connected, but I’ve learned to embrace what comes naturally. If you need to settle your nerves by checking email once a day, go ahead, but set a timer for 15 minutes and stick to it.

“Pack small anchors, like your favorite mug for morning coffee —it’s a subtle cue to slow down. 

“On a visit to Seattle, I couldn’t unwind until I admitted to myself that I needed a daily skim of a case brief in order to relax by the evening; once I did that, my body released tension that I’d been holding.

“Try whatever offers you balm: a walk, a brief call home. You want to come back sharper, not to chase someone else’s idea of relaxation.”

Your Home Away From Home

This may go without saying, but the accommodations you choose for your vacation dramatically set the tone for your stay.

Picking the ideal vacation spot means more than just wanting to be by the water, per se. 

Consider what it will be like to live in a place for a period of time, and choose somewhere you can envision yourself being content, and if the vacation rental or lodging meets your requirements to ‘relax’ and ‘forget about the time.’

Sanjay reports on a stay that set the tone for his getaway.

He stayed in a century-old British forest rest house in the heart of Corbett Tiger Reserve, and reflects on it fondly, “It sits quietly above a stony riverbed, surrounded by dense sal and teak forest, miles from the nearest cellphone tower. The air smells of wild lemon grass and woodsmoke, and time there moves not by the clock but by the sun and bird calls.

“I remember spending three days at that rest house, listening to the river at night, the alarm calls of deer at dawn, and the wind moving through elephant grass in the afternoons. There was no electricity, no internet, and not once did anyone ask what time it was. It simply didn’t matter. The day unfolded as the forest allowed it to. And by the second morning, I found myself waking not with an alarm, but with the jungle itself.”

Even though Chris loves to go camping, even the Obermans enjoy a short respite from the great outdoors!

He shares, “After our camping trip in Oman, we stayed one night at the W hotel in Muscat. Camping outdoors is fun and relaxing, but there is also always some discomfort of not being able to find the things you need, things get dirty, where to shower, and so on. The contrast of spending one night at a luxurious hotel and having all the things you need was just really fulfilling and pleasing.”

It isn’t just the home. Oftentimes, encounters with a housekeeper, property manager or hotel staff help to deliver on the feeling of being taken care of and well rested.

Sarah confirms that the best hotels and vacation rentals have the traveler at the core of what they do, remarking, “They are customer-centric and are thinking about the guest’s experience, from first touchpoint to booking to check-in to check-out. They’re available for the guest and quickly respond, and they’re also able to offer personalized recommendations.”

For Nathan, it will always be that one place that nailed it for him, quipping, “In Sayulita, Mexico, we stayed in this clifftop Airbnb called Casa Terraza. It had an open-air shower, jungle views, and this weird stone tub in the middle of the room. I never knew what time it was and I never cared. The hosts left a note that said, ‘Please don’t schedule anything.’ Best advice ever!”

For Seann, a perfect hotel or rental can ‘erase the day completely.’ He notes, “For a rare rest in 2015, I stayed at the Crimson Resort & Spa in Boracay. It’s a private beach villa, with a plunge pool and no neighbors, felt miles away from my inbox and court dates. The staff’s outstanding service — a daily breakfast placed outside my door, no service interruptions — allowed me to find a groove of reading and napping. By the middle of the trip, I had no idea what day it was. The resort was so well designed, it’s like a bubble where work disappears, making the trip memorable.”

Getting Ready to Go Home

With all that dreaming and strategizing on how to lose track of time, we need to come back to reality and think about going home.

Are there any routines you fall into before leaving so you can hit the ground running when you get back to regular life? Hear some parting thoughts from our panel of experts.

Journalling

“I journal. I sort through the images of the trip slowly. I clean my camera gear with ritualistic care. I spend a day in silence before re-entering the world of notifications and noise. And I keep one image—just one—from the trip on my desk. It’s a small reminder that time, like wilderness, is more flexible than we think.” – Sanjay

Reflect on What You’ve Learned

“I reflect on what I experienced and learned while on my trip when I return home, or am on my way home. Travel can teach us a lot about ourselves, what we want out of life, about other people and cultures, and so much more. It’s up to us to take what we’ve realized, learned, and experienced and apply to our personal life, relationships, work-life, wellbeing, mindset, and lifestyle upon return. If not, we miss incredible opportunities for growth and change.” – Sahara

Pack the Night Before

“We always pack our bags the night before leaving so we don’t have to stress about it the next morning, but nothing more than that. Getting out of that super relaxed mood is tough!

Begin With Simple Routines

“Personally, I don’t go back into any routines before heading home. For me, part of enjoying the entire vacation is making sure it stays a vacation – separate from the normal routines and worries of life. It can help some people, and particularly children, of course, to maintain a routine or begin re-introducing one, especially for lengthier vacations where routines may have fallen by the wayside.

“Starting with ‘simple’ routines can be helpful, like eating home-cooked meals at specific times, taking showers/baths at specific times, and having a set bedtime. Though with the excitement of traveling, sometimes those ‘simple’ things can feel anything but!” – Sarah

Manage Electronic Communications and Hydrate

“Right before heading home, I always do the same three things: clean my email drafts, write a note for my future self, and drink way too much water. Then I make a little list in my Notes app with three goals for the first week back. Nothing heavy, just stuff like ‘Call Mom’ or ‘drink less coffee.’ That keeps the reentry smooth and guilt-free.” – Nathan

Return Home on a Weekend For Buffer Time Before Work

“I’d go home one to two days earlier—let’s call it Saturday, when I return to the office on Monday, to ease back into regular life. This buffer has the effect of a normal weekend that allows me to unpack, review case files, and mentally change gears. In Miami last year, I spent my last vacation day organizing my briefcase and walking on the beach to clear my head. These habits ensure I’m rested and ready to return to the firm’s demands.” – Seann

Move Things Ahead Administratively to Hit the Ground Running

“Before I head out, I like to knock out anything that might hang over my head while I’m gone. I’ll clear the inbox, check in with the team, and make sure nothing’s stuck waiting on me. I’ll scribble out a loose list of stuff I want to jump into when I get back. Not a fancy plan, just enough to stop me from coming back and wasting time figuring out what I was doing. I don’t want to spend two days playing catch-up because I didn’t leave myself a trail.

“A day or two before I leave, I slow my mornings down a bit. I’ll step away from the usual rush, go for a walk, maybe read something that’s got nothing to do with business. Just taking a beat to disconnect helps more than anything structured ever has. Once I’m back, I don’t feel like I need a full week to shake off the break. I’ve got a rhythm to fall back into, and I don’t sit there staring at a screen wondering where to start.” – Todd

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