It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Sunday Scaries hit hardest on the last day of a fabulous trip. Even when I’ve had my fun and I’m objectively ready to come home, I dread my domestic obligations: readjusting routines, returning to work, and answering those blasted emails. Fighting to get back to inbox zero after the weekend is a battle—but after a week away, where I pretended I was beholden to no master but myself? Forget about it.
That said, all good things come to an end, and the recurring challenge of re-entry is a natural part of any traveler’s life. As a millennial raised in the Church of Optimization, I must ask: How can I minimize the stress and anxiety I feel when returning from a trip or a vacation?
“We don’t necessarily need to hack this inevitable part of life,” says Liz Graham, a Brooklyn-based therapist with a background in nervous system science and psychology. We spoke over Zoom about our culture’s incessant need to “hack and heal” anything that feels mildly uncomfortable in our daily lives. Graham suggests befriending that feeling of anxiety, however mild or severe, and parsing its roots. For my part, I recall all the times where I felt anxious about returning from a vacation and, in hindsight, realized it was because my work situation looked down upon employees taking time off. There were instances, too, where I so enjoyed myself on a trip, exploring new passions and interests, that I dreaded coming home because I didn’t yet have access to those personal outlets where I live in New York City.
Then there are just the discomforts of changing gears—but it can help to anticipate those feelings and get resourceful. “If it’s giving yourself a day to transition, book your return flight on a Saturday,” Graham says. “If it’s making some tea and checking your email sometime Sunday evening, set a time limit to do that and stick to it.” Discover and study what works for you, and you can learn to ease your “vacation Sunday Scaries” without taking on the impossible task of eliminating them entirely.
To get an an idea of tactics I could use to manage that post-travel transition back into “real life,” I spoke to a swathe of super travelers—avid vacationers, folks who travel for work, and people who do both—and asked what they do to make coming home feel good.
Prioritize rest toward the end of the trip
Another name for the bummed-out feeling at the end of a vacation could be “the last day lows,” as Katy Nastro, the spokesperson for the travel brand Going, likes to call them. To give herself a boost, she says, “I structure my trip so the final day—or final days—are as relaxing as possible, and I might splurge on a nicer hotel for the very end of the trip to ensure I sleep like a baby before a long flight.” She also treats herself to an upgraded return flight to optimize opportunities for rest: “A better seat with more legroom in economy counts!”
