I’ve been on holiday again.

It was a last minute decision to go away for a few days at the tail end of the Easter break. Just a short drive up the coast to a small seaside town. A town I used to visit a lot with my family when I was a kid, so in some ways it was a bit of a homecoming.

It didn’t turn out to be the greatest holiday ever. The weather was crappy – I don’t think we saw the sun the whole time we were away. And the place we were staying at was small and pokey. It was a kind of kit cabin that felt like it was made of cardboard. It was a bit cramped and claustrophobic, not to mention fragile. The slightest wind might have sent it toppling over. Not the best in holiday accommodation, but I guess if you’re only making a booking with a couple of days’ notice, you have to be content with whatever you get.

Still, no matter the downsides, it’s always great to get out of town. To feel like you’re getting away from the stress and the noise, even for a couple of days. To put your brain on hold and worry about nothing else except what you’re going to do to fill the next couple of hours.

Only problem is, at some point it’s all going to end. Life can only be set aside for so long, and eventually you’re going to have to come back to it. So many things still need to get done. So many pressures leap back into your head.

Getting away from it all might be great, but coming back to find it’s still waiting for you can be a challenge. How do you get yourself back in the groove? How do you figure out what to do first? How do you find the motivation to do the things you’ve so enjoyed not doing?

My brain is the hardest bit to manage. Generally, it’s a good brain. It does the things I want it to do. But when it gets itself into holiday mode, it can be hard work getting it started again. Just like the rest of me, it loves to switch itself off and let life roll past. It tends to do everything it can to avoid getting switched back on. It becomes highly skilled at getting distracted and coming up with all sorts of creative procrastination strategies to avoid re-engaging with the real world.

Eventually, I know it will return to busy mode, and I can get on with dealing with the things I need to deal with. That’s a good thing, because I need a working brain to get through the day. But it also makes me feel sad. I do enjoy the feeling when I can relax and allow my brain to wind down. Hopefully there’ll be another opportunity soon.