From Vacation Mode to Reality Mode

JP de la Rama
Jun 30
3 min read

Updated: Jul 7

Finding Your Rhythm Again After Vacation

“Rest isn’t the opposite of progress—it’s where your next great idea is waiting.”

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Just a month ago, life felt calm and easy.

I was on vacation with my daughter. The days were warm, and time felt abundant. Our laughter filled every room like a beautiful melody. There were no deadlines. No emails. No client revisions. Just sun, joy, and complete presence.

Fast-forward to this week. I'm back home, she's preparing for her classes, and I’m at my desk trying to transition from carefree playtime to looming deadlines.

What a change it has been.

One moment, you're chasing sunsets. The next, you're chasing unpaid invoices.

This emotional shift is overwhelming.

The Jarring Transition

Time moves quickly. Returning from a peaceful break to the daily grind can feel jarring.

It’s like experiencing emotional whiplash. You're still dreaming of walking barefoot on the beach while your mind is glued to a screen. It’s a hard adjustment.

For many artists and freelancers, this frenetic reality hits hard:

We don’t come from wealth.
Our work barely pays the bills.
We work just to get by.

Vacations feel like stolen moments.

Guilt creeps in when we allow ourselves to rest and anxiety spikes as we return to reality.

This creates a vicious cycle: work > burnout > pause > back to work.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Reset, Don’t Quit

After years of freelancing, raising a child, and cultivating my creative practice from the ground up, I’ve learned an essential lesson:

We don’t need to abandon our dreams. We just need to pause and breathe.

Taking a moment to reflect isn’t a weakness; it’s crucial maintenance for your soul.

We aren’t machines. We are artists.

We need rest to refill the parts of us that make our work meaningful: our creativity, our empathy, and our unique experiences.

So, if you find yourself in the fog of post-vacation dread, don’t panic.

Embracing Stillness

Take a moment to sit in silence.

Sketch something without any expectations.

Write freely, with no structure in mind.

Play.

Then, when you're ready, step back into work. Bring your joy along with you; reignite your passion.

Remember, survival isn’t the ultimate aim—creative freedom is.

This journey means learning how to recover while still moving forward.

Tips for Artists in the Re-Entry Phase

Re-entering your routine after a break can be challenging. Here are some actionable strategies to help:

Schedule Your Return:
Don’t jump headfirst into work mode. Ease into it with light tasks or administrative work.
Journal the Shift:
Write down your vacation reflections and your goals for the future. This will reconnect your intentions with your actions.
Honor Your Rest:
Recognize that taking a break is productive and guilt-free. Embrace it.
Connect with Your “Why”:
Remember why you do this. Art is your passion and your gift—not just a job.