As the golden hues of autumn begin to paint the landscape, we find ourselves in the midst of the Autumn Equinox—a sacred pause between the light and dark. This day, also called Mabon, marks a powerful seasonal shift, celebrated in the Celtic tradition as part of the Wheel of the Year. It’s a time of harvest, reflection, balance, and preparing for the quieter months ahead.

The Celtic Wheel of the Year
In ancient Celtic traditions, the Wheel of the Year divides the year into eight festivals, with each celebrating the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. These festivals honor the changing seasons and their connection to nature’s rhythm. Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is one of these sacred days, falling between Lughnasadh (the first harvest) and Samhain (the start of the darker half of the year and the Celtic New Year).
At the Autumn Equinox, day and night are of equal length, symbolizing balance and harmony. This moment is the second harvest, focusing on fruits, grains, and vegetables, and the act of giving thanks for the abundance nature has provided. Mabon is the counterpart to the Spring Equinox (Ostara), and while Ostara celebrates new beginnings, Mabon invites us to reflect on our growth and achievements, gathering wisdom from what we’ve sown.

The Significance of Mabon
Mabon is named after a Welsh deity, Mabon ap Modron, the son of the Earth Mother goddess Modron, representing youth, renewal, and the cycle of life. In myth, Mabon is stolen from his mother at birth and held captive until he is rescued, symbolizing the loss and eventual return of light. This reflects the transition from the brightness of summer to the deepening shadows of fall and winter.
Mabon encourages us to take stock of our inner harvest—what have we achieved this year, and how can we nourish ourselves as we move into the darker months? It’s a time for gratitude, rest, and rebalancing the energies of work and play, light and dark, and giving and receiving.

I don’t know about you, but I never feel more refreshed, recharged and reset than straight after a holiday. Granted, my holidays don’t involve looking after small children so any break away, be it a mini break with friends or time in our tiny house in France with my husband, usually involves more sleep, more laughter, more new experiences – and a lot less thoughts about work – than regular life.

Psychotherapist Eloise Skinner says that, as well as the extra rest and relaxation, holidays usually allow us to step out of our everyday responsibilities and commitments, which can help us to adopt a different sense of identity. “We might have a sense of time slowing down or a feeling of being more present in our surroundings, especially if we’re exploring new locations, cultures and experiences,” she explains. “We can also gain fresh perspectives from new environments and individuals, helping us feel more creative and inspired.”

It’s no wonder I return home feeling like the best version of myself – with my energy stocks fully replenished, I feel ready to take on the world. But, only a couple of days later and the stresses of everyday life and work have taken their toll on my post-holiday energy high. Before I know it, I feel just as depleted of energy and motivation as I did before my holiday.

So, how can we cling onto that surge of energy for just a little bit longer? Here, Skinner shares five tips to help you prolong that post-holiday high and make the most of it while it lasts.

1. Get excited about your goals and ambitions

“While you’re still riding that post-holiday energy wave, take a few days when you return from your holiday to sit down with a planner or journal, and look at your personal and professional goals and objectives,” recommends Skinner. “The run-up to a holiday period can be a winding-down time, where you anticipate taking a break, but the return from a holiday is a great time to pause, reset and realign your goals with new energy and motivation.”

2. Break up your routine with holiday-inspired habits

“Consider small ways to bring your holiday feeling into everyday life,” Skinner suggests. “For example, structuring your mornings so you can take them at a slightly more leisurely pace, or taking the scenic route home from work. Switching up your routine – and incorporating holiday-inspired elements – can help protect some of your holiday energy.”

3. Capture your holiday inspiration

“Whatever it was you enjoyed about your holiday – the new experiences, the travel, the adventure, the relaxation – try to find a way to capture it in a physical format, so you can draw on that energy as you return to your routine,” she says. “This might be, for example, displaying a memento or postcard you bought while away or setting your phone’s lock screen background to a holiday photo. Seeing positive reminders of your time can help you to feel more energised and uplifted as you return to daily life. If you have creative hobbies, like painting or writing, you could also use your holiday inspiration as ways to explore your art.”

4. Make mini-holidays out of your weekends

“Even if you don’t have another holiday on the cards, try protecting your weekend time in order to engage with holiday-inspired activities,” says Skinner. “Plan a day trip, spend time in nature or explore a new type of activity or cuisine. You could set a ‘no work’ rule and avoid checking your emails or thinking about work issues. This normally requires a bit of planning in advance, but it can help keep your energy levels topped up by giving you a sense of the rest and relaxation you can find during a longer break.

5. Use home comforts to your advantage 

“We can often feel a sense of relaxation and comfort when returning home through sleeping in our own bed, setting our own agenda and eating familiar foods,” says Skinner. “Use these feelings to your advantage in order to benefit from a feeling of continued positive energy after your holiday by reminding yourself of all the good things you have to enjoy, the things you’re grateful for and the reasons you’re glad to be home.”