Back to the real world…struggling with re-entry
I’m baaack… Well, sort of. As you may or may not have noticed, I took a couple weeks off from blogging. Hubby and I took a long-awaited and much-needed trip to Mazatlan, Mexico.
We saw old friends we’ve been missing since COVID restricted travel.
And made new friends, we hope to see more of in the future.
It was a lovely trip. Now, for some reason I can’t quite pinpoint, I am really struggling to get back into the flow of normal everyday life. At first I attributed that to my poor planning in not taking a transition day off work. Our return flight was delayed. We got home after midnight, and I was back in the office less than eight hours later. I was sleep-deprived and jet-lagged and staring at a full inbox.
But the next day, after a good night’s sleep, I was still feeling off…and then again the next day. I began to ask myself “What’s going on?” Am I really that out of practice with travel or so old that I need a week’s recovery? Is it the pressure of knowing I only have one more month to get things in order at work for a smooth transition? Did I pick up some weird illness that makes you tired and fuzzy-headed?
Maybe I’m having ocean air withdrawals?
Maybe it’s the sudden lack of fruity cocktails in the afternoon…should I have weaned myself more gradually?
Whatever it is, I think I am slowly improving. Hey, I had enough energy to write this blog post. That’s a good sign, isn’t it? And I survived my first week back in the office. I’m pretty sure after a weekend of rest, maybe one cocktail, while meditating to an ocean-wave soundtrack, and a FaceTime with far-away friends, I’ll be feeling “right as rain,” as my mother would say.
Now where did that saying come from? I’m too tired to think about that right now. That’s a post for another day.
Here’s one more Mexico pic for the road.
Your turn
- Do you have trouble bouncing back from vacation?
- Where is your favorite vacation spot?
- Are there any sayings you picked up from your parents that you are not sure where they came from?
I understand feelings that make us question..”what the??” and I wonder if yours are about the coming big transition…work wise….and I know they make us very mixed up in feelings…
I saw a therapist who said “thank goodness you own up to your feelings and can share them” because holding onto them and hoping they go away doesn’t work.
About those sayings, yes I know “right as rain” and hadn’t realised it was a world wide one!
Take care Christie and honour those feelings.
Denyse.
Thank you for your insight, Denyse. Perhaps my impending transition away from working full-time is playing a role in my resistance to get back to “real life” after vacation. It won’t be long now.
I love those little sayings from my mother or grandmother that just pop into my conversation. It makes me feel they are still a part of me, or that I carry them with me.
Christie – I couldn’t help but think back to your post about “announcing” your retirement date. Perhaps your mind is beginning to shift toward retirement and this vacation was a taste that it didn’t want to “give up.”
You may well be right, Janet. Reading through the comments, you are not alone in your thinking. My brain and body seem to be telling me they are ready for a longer rest and rejuvenation period.
Hi Christie – I think Janet hit the nail on the head. After most vacations it feels like we have to hit the road running again with our jobs, but in this case with only a couple of months to go before you leave, it must feel much harder to get back onboard with the same drive to keep all the balls in the air. To do it on top of the late flight, lack of sleep, and transitioning from holiday mind to work mind would definitely slow your pace a little. Roll on retirement!
That seems to be the consensus, Leanne. I’m definitely ready to pass the balls…let someone else take a turn at keeping them in the air. How is your new part-time gig going? I hope you are enjoying the experience.
Christie, I am pretty sure the condition is called ‘lame duck’ syndrome. 🙂 Best of luck finding the energy to complete these next months with enthusiasm and cheers to sipping many fruity cocktails in the near future!
I like that Suzanne–lame duck syndrome indeed. Believe it or not, I am down to the last few weeks…15 work days to be exact. Cheers to that!
Sorry you’ve been struggling to get back to “normal” life, sis. Feeling any better yet? Maybe now that you’re so close to retiring you’re just ready to be done, so going back to work was rough.
Sometimes it is hard for me to come back from vacation. Hawaii was really hard for me because of the time change and flying all night. I found out I would be a terrible night shift employee. (That’s NOT to say I wouldn’t go back.?)
Look forward to girls dinner next weekend-that’s a sort of mini vacation from real life! Love you.
I am doing better now, Cindy. It took me a full week to reset, but I think I’m there. I’ve done that overnight trip home from Hawaii. It’s tough, but as you said, well worth it. I too am looking forward to girls dinner. Can’t wait! I love you.
Haha! I just read all the other comments. Apparently we all have the same opinion. Just 3 more weeks…?
That does seem to be the consensus, Cindy!
I never used to have trouble bouncing back from a vacation, but it’s been ages since I went away for any length of time. I used to say that a week wasn’t long enough, as I’d only just hit full relaxation mode by then. Two weeks is perfect because you still have a week to go after reaching full relaxation. Shorter vacations still feel like a lot of work, I’d almost rather stay home.
Italy used to be my vacation destination of choice. I’d still like to go, but now with Himself. One day hopefully, but he’s not great about taking leave from work. The seaside does as a short-term fix in between being my happy place – and I don’t even mind what the weather’s like so long as I can smell the sea air 🙂
I think there may be something to what you say…a combination of having not traveled in a while, getting older, and perhaps not staying quite long enough. I haven’t been to Italy, but definitely want to go in the not-too-distant future when I don’t have to worry about taking leave from work. And I have to agree with you, there is something about seaside (or ocean) air that is so renewing and healing. Enjoy.
Yes, I have trouble bouncing back from vacations. I get that.
I’m not sure I have one favorite vacation spot, but have a good times in HA and in Banff, Canada. Would go back to both.
My parents were a plethora of sayings that they programmed into me. Some are sensible, but others are oddities. I like them all.
Thanks for the vacation spot tips, Ally. I’m hoping to see more of the world when I retire.
Also, I think I’ll dig into the history of some interesting sayings, perhaps in a future blog post. Any oddities you want me to check out?
Christie, I liked the “lame duck” term … it’s also your “last hurrah”. As far as “back to normal”, what is normal anymore?! Unfortunately, I do think as I’ve gotten older that it is harder to shift gears and recover from lack of sleep. Vacation gear is a different gear – easier mornings, day drinking, no stress except deciding where to have dinner. Then, shift gears to getting everything done, i’s dotted, and t’s crossed so you feel good about the departure = STRESS – capitalized definitely. So there’s that. And a low sleep night – that makes my brain hurt all day and me feel short-tempered. And I have no stress most days! I’m sure by now, you’re back in full work-gear and going for the last few weeks full on. Then it’ll be vacation gear everyday! So you’ll just need to worry about those low sleep nights!
I believe it was a combination of all of those things, Pat. It sure caught me off guard, but I am feeling back to normal now…or at least as normal as one can feel approaching their last two weeks before leaving a job of 25 years! I am definitely looking forward to less stress and the opportunity to shift my sleep hours closer to my natural rhythm.