How to avoid post going on holiday chaos

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I realise this is very much a first world problem.

I find the chaos after getting back from holiday wipes out much of the rejuvenation from the actual holiday.

Due to DH and my work schedules we inevitably arrive home the evening before work restarts so no time to gather ourselves back together before we are back to work and DC are in school.

Does anyone else experience this and does anyone have any tips to help please?

I hate this so we always plan to arrive home on a Thursday or Friday and then have the weekend to get ourselves sorted.

Milk and bread in the freezer, ready to eat meals in freezer, shop delivered next evening. Accept its bought and school lunches the next day. Washing up to date and house clean before you go

Yes. So I book holidays that end a few days before I go back to work.

The op has already said she has to have them tight to return to work due to circumstances. She doesn't have the luxury of a weekend sorting afterwards as I often don't.

I also get work clothes. School uniforms all hung up and bags ready for the return, toiletries duplicated so no rummaging in suitcases

Adding extra annual leave onto the end will sort it.

If I go away for a week Sat-Sat eg, I also book off ar least Mon

Make sure all your outfits for the next day (the first day back at work and school including any activities) are ready before you go, school bags packed, if you can have bread in the freezer for packed lunches do that as well. Homework done before leaving.

While you are away sort and bag up dirty laundry and start a load as soon as you get in and unpack straight away.

We've started going Friday to Friday. So much more relaxing.

We make sure the house is spotless before we leave so I return to a tidy and clean house. I'd even have school bags packed and uniforms ironed and ready if everyone is back the next day.
Supermarket delivery due the next day. Takeaway for that day and school lunches booked
I always do at least one load of washing on holiday so I return with at least one bag of clean clothes and less washing to do.
Get home and everyone unpacks immediately- clean stuff away and dirty piles up by washer to work through every few hours.

Lay out clothes and do school/work bags before you leave.
I also make sure I’ve got lunches prepped and frozen too 😳. We got home once at 9pm, had to be at work at 9am the next day.
Took 3 tubs of soup out the freezer for work lunches.
I also used the hotel launderette and did a wash half way through the holiday and only came home with half the amount of dirty clothes.
You just need to be super organised.

Clean house before you go, do the weekly shop online and have it all ordered to arrive asap when you get back. Suitcases go straight in front of the washing machine and first load on as you arrive so it can be put out the next morning. Have some uht milk and part baked bread in the cupboard so you can have a cup of tea and a roll with soup or something the night you're back.

Agree with all of the above. Part baked baguettes in the cupboard means no fresh bread needed. I can't stand uht or frozen milk, so We only need to stop to get a two Pinter of milk, at any newsagent/garage on the way home. That I can do.
Food delivery booked to arrive soon after we get home.

Maybe part of it is mental? Ie but allowing for it to stress you out.

If you've got something to eat that night and lunches for the next day and you've got all the school uniform ready before you went, and your work clothes : then really there isn't that much that's an emergency or needs to be done that very day.

if it takes you 4 washes over a few days it's not the end of the world - maybe you need to change your mindset on that?

I try and make sure the house is completely clean and tidy before I go. School uniform ready and bags packed. Work clothes clean and available. I put a loaf, some skimmed milk and ready meals in the freezer. When I get back all cases go next to the washing machine and I put a load on as soon as I get back. I then ask everyone to help for an hour on the Tuesday to put all the wash/dried clothes away and suitcases unpacked/in loft.