Travel

How I Reset After Traveling

How I Reset After Traveling

It is no secret that I am a homebody. I love being back at home in my routine after traveling. As a travel photographer and blogger, travel and being on the road are a big part of my life. While I love exploring Italy and France and visiting family, there is no place like home. Over the years, I have established a routine before and after a trip that makes resetting after traveling a lot easier.

Returning after any trip can be challenging. I like to have a good foundation in my home before I leave to make life a little easier. My husband and I have a system down, and we make a list on the kitchen counter to make sure we are tackling everything that needs to get done before we head out the door. Traveling together makes things a little easier because we can tag team the list. We’ve developed a rhythm to keep each other organized on the stressful days leading up to a trip. Balancing work and getting off to a vacation seamlessly is never easy.

The Day Before Leaving For A Trip

A paper to-do list is essential for me to ensure I get everything completed. This includes packing for myself and Henri if he is off to a friend’s or a boarder.

Fresh sheets on the bed are an absolute must. A freshly made bed after a long day of travel makes all the difference. Jet lag can be a real drag, but getting a good night’s sleep on the first night helps me feel better the next day. I’m usually an early riser, but with jet lag, I am up even earlier and tackle a lot before the workday begins.

A clean kitchen is a non-negotiable for me. It is the heart of the home and needs to be clean before I leave. This includes cleaning out the fridge of anything we won’t use while we are away, items that will go bad or expire. The trash needs to be emptied, and the sink cannot have dishes. This includes an empty dishwasher. I typically run it at night, so if I leave early in the morning, I will make sure it is emptied and everything is put away before getting out the door.

Get moving with a long walk or a visit to the gym. A workout makes a significant impact on how I feel, especially with a long travel day or overnight flight.

The Day I Leave for A Trip

If I am traveling abroad on an overnight flight, I will avoid caffeine as much as possible. This helps with my energy levels and allows me to fall asleep easier on the plane. I pack Melatonin in my carry-on to help adjust better to the new time zones. Establishing good sleep patterns is crucial to just about everything.

I make sure to drink plenty of water, especially if I am traveling on a flight. Long flights can dehydrate you, so it’s important to drink more water than usual.

Returning Home After A Trip: How I Reset After Traveling

The fridge has been cleared out of anything bad that we wouldn’t use before a trip, which makes unpacking groceries a lot easier. I prefer going to the grocery store and grabbing everything I need for a home-cooked meal as soon as I am home. On occasion, if we are traveling late or delayed, I will do an online grocery order and make sure all of our essentials are restocked. This includes milk for coffee in the morning. Having healthy foods in the fridge and pantry makes it easier to make good food decisions, especially when I am tired and hungry after traveling.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins are all part of our grocery diet to make healthy meals when we are home. I try to meal plan for a few days when I grocery shop so we get back to a normal routine. If we arrive home before a market day, I will pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at the market.

I would love to say the first thing I do when I get home is unpack. My husband jokes with me that I will start laundry pretty shortly after getting home, but my suitcase stays out a little longer than he wishes it would. I have tried to get better at this. Laundry is one of the home tasks I do as soon as I am home.

Getting into clean, comfy clothes after a long day of travel and being home is just the best. I will take a long shower and do a lengthy skincare routine, making sure I hydrate and exfoliate. In the summer, I notice extra sunscreen buildup, and in the winter, my skin becomes very dry, needing extra attention. Dry brushing and lotion are a little extra step that makes all the difference.

How I Reset After Traveling

Boll and Branch bed How I reset after travel

The sheets are clean, and the bed is made from my prep before leaving home. A little effort of prep before a trip goes a long way.

When Henri doesn’t travel with us and is being dropped off, I will try to get as much done around the house as possible before he arrives. This is the best part of coming home, spending time with him. He cries and runs around the house as soon as he sees me.

If I can give yourself a buffer with an extra vacation day or arrive home on a Saturday instead of a Sunday, it helps get back in the swing of things. This also helps with flight delays and allows me to get back to normal life before jumping into work.

Getting back into my regular routines after a long trip helps me reset after travel. The first couple of days after a long-haul flight, jet lag can hit hard. Sleep, water, good rest, and healthy food are all essential for a quick reset. You can use the early mornings to plan out your next adventure.

The first day back, drinking plenty of water and getting in physical activity like a long walk or cardio workout feels so good.

I always like having fresh flowers in the house and after a trip, I pick some up at our local florist, market, or Trader Joe’s depending on the time of year.

Do you have a favorite way to reset after you travel?

P.S. Don’t miss my post on 20 travel essentials for long-haul flights.

Bonjour, I’m Rebecca!

I’m a photographer, blogger, croissant-lover, and world traveler. I hope that Everyday Parisian inspires you by bringing a bit of France into your daily life and helps you plan the best trip to Paris with personalized recommendations for places to stay, explore, and eat.