Back to Reality: Do Holiday Benefits Last? 🧳💼

Hey there! 🛬

For anyone just getting home….or you know, mentally clocking back in, here’s some good news. That post-holiday glow isn’t just wishful thinking. Research published in early 2025 suggests that the benefits of time off last longer than we once believed. While the return to routine can feel abrupt, our wellbeing doesn’t immediately snap back to baseline the moment work resumes. 📈

Why do we feel so drained after returning from a trip or staycation?

The days after a holiday often come with a strange mix of emotions. There’s gratitude for the break, but also fatigue, irritability, and that heavy “back to reality” feeling. According to researchers who analyzed data from 32 studies, wellbeing does dip after returning but it doesn’t fall below pre-holiday levels. In fact, it stays elevated for weeks.

Does it matter what we do during our break?

Yes, it does! And this is the part worth paying attention to. The strongest wellbeing gains came from mentally detaching from work and prioritizing relaxation throughout the holiday. Physical activity had the most positive impact, followed closely by social time. Interestingly, passive activities like vegging out (loafing, lazing about) didn’t move the needle much either way. 🛌🏻 Staycations counted just as much as travel, and holidays that mixed time at home with time away were especially beneficial. It’s not about where we went—it’s about how present we were during.

How can we protect that holiday glow as we return to routine?

The way we re-enter matters. Slamming straight back into packed schedules and high expectations can undo those gains faster than necessary. If you can, a gentler transition, easing into workloads, rebuilding routines gradually, and supporting the body helps extend the benefits. 💪🏻 Gentle movement, hydration, and your fave 💜Oleia Topical Oil💜 can help soothe lingering fatigue, tension, or post-holiday inflammation. The holiday may be over, and the year has just started, let’s get back on track in a more balanced way. Balancing this year’s growth goals with our health is the best way to go! 🙆🏻♀️

Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time!

xo, L.

Reference:

 https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/holiday-benefits-last-longer-we-thought