Return-from-vacation day.

Ah, home again after ten days at the beach. Until recently, I always dreaded the first hours back at home: dealing with the stacks of mail, the empty fridge, the phone messages (we’re terrible about picking them up when we’re away), the flood of emails, the sweltering heat of rooms that haven’t been airconditioned in days.

Recently, however, I realize that I actually enjoy the process of settling in.

For one thing, now that we build in time for getting organized at home, instead of rushing back from our holiday at the last possible minute, getting settled is much less horrible.

But it’s also a question of re-framing the re-entry.

I used this strategy today. Instead of saying to myself, as I used to do, “I hate dealing with a huge pile of mail,” I thought, “I love sorting through a huge pile of mail—throwing away the junk, looking for fun things like invitations or birth announcements, glancing at magazine covers. In ten minutes I can reduce a huge pile into a tiny stack.”

Instead of saying to myself, “Zoikes, look at this crushing number of emails,” I thought, “I can’t wait to see what’s waiting for me in these emails.”

It sounds ridiculously Pollyanna-ish, I know, but it’s the darndest thing – reframing actually works. All of a sudden, I did feel curious about my emails, I did get a zestful sense of accomplishment from throwing away 75 pounds of junk mail.

Unpacking five duffel bags of dirty, sandy laundry may not be quite as susceptible to re-framing, but I’m trying…

Comments

[jasmine]

Welcome back! You seem particularly cheery and I am waiting for a post on the happiness of taking a vacation.

Just wanted to say, I hope you recycle that junk mail (as opposed to throwing it away). Happiness, for me, is feeling that I'm part of the solution.

[Ali]

welcome back! I am going to make an effort to try 'reframing'. :)

I just wanted to let you know that I read the Book "Happy All the Time" that you had recommended and I just absolutely adored it!

I don't know if you have read much PG Wodehouse but it had a hint of that style to me. It made me happy just to read it. :) Thank you for the recommendation!

I am reading "Whatever Makes You Happy" next. :D

[Monica Ricci]

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful trip and you're right about the reframing exercise. It totally works! Sometimes when I want a cheeseburger, I tell myself, "I am CRAVING a big crunchy salad!" and it usually works. Usually. ;) ~Monica

[Gretchen Rubin]

I find recycling a big pain, and Jasmine's comment is a great example of re-framing. Instead of thinking, "What a drag to have to deal with all these separate bags," think, "I'm doing my part." And Monica has a great suggestion about the salad, too: instead of seeing it as a poor substitute, see it as the answer to a craving.

I haven't read ANYTHING by Wodehouse, but I know he's supposed to be terrific. Ali -- what's the best one to start with?

[Ali]

Boy -- this requires me to think back to which book I read in highschool. I first got completely hooked on the Jeeves stories in a compilation book of short stories featuring Jeeves.

Those stories I believe can be found in the larger compilation "Life with Jeeves", along with some longer stories as well.

Personally it is hard to pick a favorite, but I bet you can find lots of stories to love with that choice. :)

[LJ]

Wodehouse: I love most of his stuff, but I recently read "Uncle Dynamite" and was really laughing up a storm!