Recreation in everyday life: Why vacation resolutions often fail - and what can help

Returning from vacation, many people find themselves eager to incorporate the positive feelings they experienced into their daily lives. However, integrating more vacation time and self-care into their routines often proves challenging. According to vacation psychologist Barbara Horvatits-Ebner, this is completely normal. The source cites a Holidaycheck survey that revealed 75% of respondents, aged 16 to 69, feel a strong or very strong desire for change after a trip.

Yet, only 12% manage to fully implement all or nearly all of their good intentions after vacation. A staggering 57% succeed in part.

The expert advises that returning to everyday life on autopilot and defaulting to familiar routines can hinder the implementation of good intentions. To increase the chances of success, she recommends breaking down these intentions into small steps. The steps should be specific and realistic, written down and, if possible, assigned deadlines for completion. Sharing one's goals with friends and family can also provide a sense of accountability, as others may check in on progress.

Another effective strategy is to incorporate new behaviors into existing routines. This can be achieved by coupling new habits with established ones, effectively embedding them into daily life. While she acknowledges that setbacks are inevitable and occasional failures are not the end of the world, Horvatits-Ebner emphasizes the importance of remaining calm and patient.

The survey also highlights that the top three desires among respondents are taking a break (33%), integrating more rest and relaxation into daily life (32%), and having more time for oneself (30%).