As the summer holidays wind down, there’s often a bittersweet shift in the air.
You’ve spent days recharging — maybe traveling, maybe simply resting — and you’ve felt the weight of deadlines and routines lift. You’ve had moments where you felt lighter, freer, more you.
But then September comes. The work emails pile up, the meetings are back, and the alarm clock feels far less friendly. Suddenly, the ease of summer can feel like a distant memory.
The good news? You can keep some of that holiday calm with you — not by trying to live as if you’re still on vacation, but by weaving small pieces of that slower, lighter rhythm into your everyday life.
Why Big Changes Don’t Always Work
Years ago, I spent a month at an ashram in India for a yoga retreat. One of the final classes was about keeping up with the meditation and yoga routines once we returned home. The teacher suggested an hour of meditation and another hour of yoga before starting the day.
For me, this was impossible. Life at the ashram was nothing like life at home. How could I possibly squeeze two extra hours of practice into a workday? That advice, though well-meaning, felt like setting myself up to fail.
What I learned is that the key to carrying peace forward is not in copying an entire routine from one environment to another — it’s in keeping the essence of what made you feel good and adapting it to your real life.
Simple Ways to Hold On to Your Holiday Calm
Here are a few gentle, realistic ways to keep that summer feeling alive, even when your calendar fills up:
- Keep one unhurried morning ritual
If vacation mornings felt slower, keep one small thing from that pace. Maybe it’s having your coffee outside, taking a few minutes to stretch, or listening to music before diving into your phone. - Bring nature into your daily life
The outdoors often plays a big role in why holidays feel so refreshing. Even if you can’t spend hours outside, open your windows, add a plant to your desk, or take a short walk during lunch. - Use sensory reminders
A candle that smells like the sea. The playlist you listened to on a road trip. A dish you enjoyed on holiday. These can be small, powerful triggers for that lighter feeling. - Set “micro-pauses” in your day
A few minutes of deep breathing, looking out the window, or stepping away from your desk can help reset your mind. You don’t need an hour — even 3–5 minutes can make a difference. - Plan small moments to look forward to
You don’t have to wait for the next holiday to feel good. Schedule a slow weekend breakfast, a trip to the farmers’ market, or an evening walk — little anchors that bring joy into the week.
It’s About Carrying the Feeling, Not the Schedule
Trying to replicate a full holiday routine at home can be frustrating — life is different, responsibilities return, and time is limited. But you can carry the feeling forward.
Choose the parts of your holiday that fit naturally into your daily life. Adapt them, make them smaller, make them yours. The goal isn’t to hold on to summer itself — it’s to keep the parts of it that nourish you, no matter the season.
If this resonates, you might enjoy Evenings That Feel Like Exhales — a reminder that calm can be found in the smallest corners of your day.