catching up after a trip

Recovering After a Vacation: A Complete Guide to Bouncing Back

I used to struggle with reality when I returned from holidays. From work to nutrition to fitness, everything was off balance. There’s no question – recovering after a vacation is hard.

The transition back to routine can be jarring, leaving us exhausted, disoriented, and even a bit sad. Often, we return feeling like we need a vacation from our vacation. But why does this happen? And, more importantly, how can we bounce back quickly and effectively?

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to make it easier.

Best Tips for Recovering After a Vacation

Here, I offer practical tips and strategies to help you ease back into your routine after a vacation. Let’s start by understanding the root of post-vacation fatigue.

Understanding Post-Vacation Fatigue

Imagine you’ve spent a week in a tropical paradise, basking in the sun, exploring new cultures, and breaking away from your routine. It’s been an extraordinarily blissful time , but now you’re back home, and reality hits hard. Been there, done that!

This jolt, often accompanied by a sense of exhaustion and disorientation, is what we refer to as post-vacation fatigue. Some people think of it as post-vacation depression. Neither is wrong.

Recognizing the signs

• Feeling lethargic or unmotivated
• Difficulty focusing on work or daily tasks
• Longing to go back to vacation mode

Why Is Coming Back from a Vacation Hard?

Understanding these factors is the first step in reducing their effects. 

Change in Routines

Humans are creatures of habit, if nothing else. Our bodies and minds thrive on routine. Travel disrupts our regular sleep patterns, eating habits, and exercise routines. This disruption can lead to serious physical and mental fatigue.

Reality Feels Over-rated

On vacation, our usual stressors are miles away. We’re immersed in new, exciting experiences that stimulate our senses and emotions. Returning home means facing the mundane aspects of daily life again, which can feel particularly dreary after the highs of a holiday.

Physical Exhaustion

Traveling can be physically demanding. Long flights, changes in altitude and climate, and being more active than usual can all take a toll on our bodies.

Emotional Fatigue

Vacations often come with their own stressors – navigating unfamiliar places, language barriers, and even the pressure to make the most out of our vacation time can leave us emotionally drained.

How to Recover after a Vacation

Pre-vacation planning for recovering from vacation.

Planning ahead to reduce post-vacation stress. Addressing potential issues and organizing your affairs before you leave can ensure a smoother transition when you return.

• Completing or delegating most of your pending tasks before you leave can significantly reduce the workload waiting for you upon your return.
• Setting up an out-of-office email and informing colleagues of your absence helps manage expectations. It also reduces the likelihood of returning to overwhelming urgent issues or emails.
• Leaving your home clean and organized means returning to a stress-free environment. Returning to a space that doesn’t immediately demand cleaning or organizing is unbelievably relaxing.
• Arranging for someone to look after your pets or plants in your absence means you won’t return to any neglected home responsibilities.
• Ensuring all bills are paid and setting a vacation budget can prevent financial stress upon returning.
• Having a well-planned itinerary, including transportation and accommodation details, minimizes last-minute rushes and uncertainties, both of which can be sources of stress post-vacation.
• Planning a light, manageable fitness routine for the vacation can help maintain your physical health, making it easier to resume normal activities later.

Being mentally prepared for the transition back to routine can lessen the shock of re-entry. Acknowledging that adjusting might take a few days can make a world of difference.

What you can do to catch up after vacation, during vacation

These practices enhance the vacation experience and prepare you mentally and physically for the return to everyday life.

Stay Partially Connected to Work (If Comfortable)

If (and only if) completely disconnecting from work causes anxiety, consider checking in briefly, but limit this to a specific short time each day or every few days. This can prevent the buildup of stress about a massive workload awaiting your return.

Maintain Some Routine Elements

While vacation is a break from routine, maintaining certain elements, like waking up regularly or continuing a light exercise regimen , can make the transition back to your daily routine less jarring.

Mindful Relaxation and Enjoyment

Practice mindfulness to fully engage and appreciate your vacation moments. This presence can help in mental rejuvenation, making you more prepared to face routine challenges upon return.

Balanced Scheduling

Avoid over-scheduling your vacation with activities. This is a work in progress for me. When it works, it’s a game-changer. Balancing planned events and free time reduces exhaustion and allows for spontaneous enjoyment.

Healthy Eating and Sleeping Habits

While it’s tempting to indulge, maintaining a balanced diet and ensuring adequate sleep can energize you and prevent post-vacation fatigue.

Physical Activity

Incorporating light to moderate physical activity, like walking, swimming, or yoga, can boost mood and energy levels, making the post-vacation transition smoother.

Journaling or Reflective Practices

Keeping a travel journal or engaging in reflective practices can help process experiences, allowing for a more profound and meaningful vacation that can leave you feeling more fulfilled and less likely to experience post-vacation blues.

Planning for Return

Toward the end of your vacation, start shifting your mindset to prepare for your return. I usually do this on the plane and actually look forward to it. Consider making a list of tasks to tackle once you’re back so you have a clear action plan.

Savoring and Gratitude

Practicing gratitude during your vacation can enhance your overall experience. Reflect on what you enjoy and savor these moments, which can boost your mood and overall well-being.

Stay Hydrated and Rested

Keeping yourself hydrated and getting enough rest during the vacation helps maintain your energy levels and reduces the risk of returning home feeling depleted.

Connect with Home

A brief check-in with friends or family back home can be comforting and can help you feel less overwhelmed upon returning.

Integrating these practices into your vacation allows you to enjoy your time off fully while setting the stage for a smoother, less stressful transition back to your regular life.

Remember, the goal of a vacation is not only to provide an escape but also to rejuvenate you for the challenges and routines of everyday life when you return from vacation.

How can I readjust to my regular routine after a vacation?

Returning to a regular routine after a vacation involves a gradual transition. Start by resetting your sleep schedule to align with your usual way. This might require going to bed and waking up earlier than you did on vacation.

Secondly, organize and prioritize your tasks. Make a to-do list for the week ahead, starting with the most urgent tasks. This helps in regaining focus and reducing post-vacation stress. Lastly, give yourself time to readjust.

Only schedule a few activities or tasks immediately after your return. Allow a day or two to transition back into your regular life smoothly.

Returning from Vacation

• Give yourself a day or two to readjust before returning to work or taking on significant responsibilities.
• Make a list of tasks that need immediate attention. Prioritizing helps manage time and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed.
• Unpack your bags as soon as possible.
• Ensure you get enough rest.
• Stay hydrated and eat well to boost your energy levels and well-being.
• Take time to reflect on your experiences.
• Engage in light exercise to revitalize your body.
• If returning to work, start with less demanding tasks and gradually take on more as you readjust.
• Sharing memories and experiences with your travel companions can be a great way to transition back to everyday life.
• Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness can help reduce stress and improve focus.
• Start planning your next vacation or a fun weekend activity.
• Return to your regular sleeping, eating, and exercise routines as soon as possible.

Recognize that feeling out of sorts for a few days is normal. Allow yourself time to adjust without self-criticism. Find joy in returning to your own space. Remember, the key is to transition gently and give yourself time to adjust.

How can I deal with post-vacation blues?

Post-vacation blues are standard and can be managed by several strategies. First, try to relive your vacation memories by looking at photos or sharing stories with friends and family. This can help prolong the positive feelings from your trip.

Secondly, plan something to look forward to, like a weekend outing or a new hobby. This helps shift focus to future enjoyable activities. Also, practice self-care hobbies or relaxation techniques such as meditation, exercise, or a spa day to ease the transition.

Finally, maintain a positive attitude by reflecting on the good experiences from your vacation and how they enriched your life.

How can I maintain a healthy lifestyle after indulging on vacation?

Gradually incorporate healthy eating habits to return to a healthy lifestyle after vacation indulgences. Avoid drastic dietary changes; instead, aim for balanced meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Reestablish your exercise routine, beginning with lighter activities and gradually increasing intensity. Also, stay hydrated and get enough sleep to help your body recover.

Remember, it’s okay to indulge occasionally on vacation, and returning to a healthy routine shouldn’t be a punishment but rather a return to a lifestyle that makes you feel good.

FAQs: Catching up after vacation

To get back to work after a vacation, prioritize your tasks, reset your sleep schedule to match your work routine, and give yourself a buffer day to plan your upcoming week and catch up on emails. Transition smoothly by breaking down work into manageable parts and easing back into your routine.

To recover from jetlag, gradually adjust your sleep schedule to the new time zone before you go, if possible. Stay hydrated, avoid caffeine and alcohol, get plenty of sunlight during the day, and try to sleep during nighttime in your new location. Short naps and melatonin supplements may also help.

Final Thoughts on Recovering after a Vacation

Returning from a vacation requires a balanced approach, focusing on the transition’s practical and emotional aspects.

By preparing in advance, easing back into your routine, and caring for your mental and physical health, you can overcome the post-vacation blues and return to your daily life with renewed energy and perspective.

Give yourself grace and time to adjust, and soon, you’ll find yourself back in the groove of your everyday life, cherishing the memories of a well-spent vacation.

Dr. Tammi Kaeberlein is the owner and author of Wander Healthy, a longevity lifestyle blog that helps people incorporate healthier options into their daily lives. She's also a scientist in the biology of aging and has earned certification as a sports nutritionist and personal fitness trainer. When she isn’t writing about health and wellness, she is usually outside somewhere.

• LET’S CONNECT!

5 Tips to Get Back in the Groove after a Trip or Extended Weekend

• by Dani Koch
• September 10, 2018 January 22, 2020

5 tips to Get Back in the Groove after a Trip or Extended Weekend

Do you ever return home from a trip and feel like your mind is still off on vacation somewhere?

The past couple of months I’ve traveled nearly every week. In the midst of it, I’ve found it difficult to get back in the groove and focus on work between trips. Often, I’ll return from a trip both mentally and physically exhausted, wanting to do nothing for at least a day or two. By the time I feel like I’ve mentally recovered from the last trip, it’s time to leave again.

As I mentioned in my post about creating a travel routine , our body and mind take time to adjust to the changes we experience while traveling. This goes the same for getting back in the groove after returning from a trip.

It’s normal to feel like we have an endless list of to-do’s to catch up on after traveling. We’re out of our routine, likely bummed to be home rather than on vacation, and find it difficult to focus on work. From catching up at home, getting back to our regular exercise routine, to re-focusing on our business. We’re in limbo between feeling like we need to rest, even though we were just on vacation, and feeling like we’ll never catch back up with everything we’ve put off for the past week.

Not only can this result in overwhelm, but our mind and body aren’t fully ready to focus on these things just yet.

That’s exactly why I’ve spent the past few weeks creating a routine to get back into the groove after a trip or particularly demanding weekend. These tips will help you ease back into reality, focus on work, and appreciate the amazing trip you just experienced.

5 tips to get back in the groove after returning from a trip or extended weekend:

Get a good night’s sleep.

As I described above, returning from a trip often requires some sort of recovery time. That recovery begins with sleep. Often during travel, we sleep less, or not as well, whether because we’re busy or simply less comfortable. The best way to get back into the groove quickly is to get a good night’s sleep.

Give Yourself Time to Reflect

It’s important to allow yourself time to not only physically recover from the trip, but also mentally. For me, this means giving myself time to reflect on my trip before easing back into work. Giving yourself an extra day, or at least a morning, to ease back into the grind can make all the difference.

I personally like to allow myself a slower morning before getting to work. I’ll make a homemade latte to sip on my front porch, journal, and allow myself the time to process and reflect on the events of the weekend. This is essential for me when it comes time to get back to work.

Oh my goodness, I can’t tell you how much unpacking actually helps me mentally return from a trip! I’m normally horrible at unpacking my bag (just ask my husband). At the beginning of August, I decided it needed to be done. That was the first time I unpacked my bag and actually PUT IT AWAY since…March?…January?…It honestly may not have ever been put away since we moved in December (yikes!).

These past couple of trips, I’ve unpacked my suitcase and put it away in the closet during the first day after returning home. Something about the physical act of unpacking helps me mentally return from vacation. I appreciate myself for taking the 3 minutes to put away my suitcase instead of leaving it on my bedroom floor. Plus, I feel like I’ve accomplished something, which helps get the momentum going for the week.

If you read about my travel routine , you’ll know that I like to incorporate regular movement and stretching during my travels. However, my normal routine involves longer yoga routines and weight lifting. If I haven’t done those in a few days due to travel, my body aches to be pushed and stretched.

The real secret to this is the mental impact. It’s like a total mind and body refresh. On this first day back home, I usually don’t feel like doing much. I find exercise does two important things for me to get back in the groove: 1) It proves that I’m capable of anything I set my mind to, and 2) It makes me feel energized and ready to take on the rest of my day. Just make sure to get good warm-up in as you may be stiff from travel.

Exercise is my way to recommit to my goals and schedule for the week.

Most often, travel results in some sort of dehydration. Dehydration is known to affect concentration, memory, mood, plus so much more! In order to get back into the groove with energy and focus, you must rehydrate.

I’m a stickler for trying my best to stay hydrated during a trip. However, I’m also guilty of purposely drinking less to avoid adding an extra stop during road trips, or to not disturb the person sitting next to me on a flight.

So there you have it, my 5 tips to get back in the groove after a trip or draining weekend. Hope these tips help you to appreciate your adventures and come home ready to jump back into work.

What do you find helps you get back in the groove after a trip or long weekend?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• 101 English Conversations
• English Tips
• Improve Your English
• 120 Common English Phrases
• Mistakes in english
• Tools for Learning English
• English for Work
• English Grammar
• English Conversations in Real Life
• American English Conversations (Video)
• Everyday Conversation: 100 Topics
• English Listening
• English Writing
• English Idioms
• Elementary Level
• Intermediate Level
• Advanced Level
• Synonyms and Antonyms Dictionary
• Academic Words
• CNN Student News
• Holidays Worldwide
• American Life

LINDA: Hey! How did your physics exam go?

FRANK: Not bad, thanks. I’m just glad it’s over! How about you … how’d your presentation go?

LINDA: Oh, it went really well. Thanks for helping me with it!

FRANK: No problem. So … do you feel like studying tomorrow for our math exam?

LINDA: Yeah, sure! Come over around 10:00, after breakfast.

FRANK: All right. I’ll bring my notes.

============

LANGUAGE NOTES • Hey! is a friendly expression meaning “hello.” • How did your physics exam go? is a way of saying “How was your physics exam?” • I’m just glad … Notice the stress on “glad.” “Just” is used for emphasis before an adjective here. • How about you … Notice the intonation falls here because the speaker is going to follow it up with a detailed question. • How’d your presentation … Notice the contraction for “How did” sounds like /howdj/ and “your” sounds like /yer/. • Do you feel like here has the meaning of “do you want to.” Notice “do you feel like” is followed by an “-ing” verb (studying). • Come over here has the meaning of “come to my house.” • Notes Students take notes about what the teacher says during a lecture.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

English speaking practice (3 steps): topic: talk about the relationship, english speaking practice (3 steps): topic: meet your friends, english speaking practice (3 steps): topic: talk about your parents, helena daily videos.

#helenadailyenglish.com

• Online Testing

©helenadailyenglish.com. All rights reserved by Helena

Catching up after a trip

Loading ad...

Jazmín Vindas Carmona

• Google Classroom
• Microsoft Teams
• Download PDF

• C1 listening

Catching up after a trip

Listen to two friends talking about a recent trip abroad to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjMzMjQ=

Dave:  Jean, hi!

Jean:  Hi, Dave. How are you?

Dave:  Good, good.

Jean:  Wait a second, I'm not calling you in Canada, right? You're back now, aren't you?

Dave:  Yeah, I got back two days ago.

Jean:  Oh good, phew. Because I wouldn't want to be calling you long distance without realising it and suddenly ...

Dave:  You've spent a fortune on a long-distance call. No, I know, it's OK. I actually wouldn't answer the phone while I was over there if I saw the call was coming from England. But no worries, we're in the same country now.

Jean:  Yeah. So, how was the trip? Did you meet your long-lost uncle?

Dave:  I did, actually. It was very good. I flew to Toronto and stayed there for a few days. At first I was really worried about my accommodation because I kept reading these appalling stories about rental flats going all wrong. 

Jean:  Oh, was it one of those?

Dave:  Yeah.

Jean:  My friend had a disastrous experience in Barcelona with one of them. The place didn't look anything like the photos, and all the neighbours hated that there was a holiday flat in their building. Awkward situation. Urgh.

Dave:  Right. So, as I was saying, I was really worried because I heard these stories. And at first I couldn't find the place. Turns out I was in the wrong building. It was next door, and on the top floor, and … wow. Jean, this place was fabulous! Really spacious, with these floor-to-ceiling windows and the most scenic views of the city. I could see the lake and the whole city skyline and skyscrapers from my bedroom. I had to pinch myself to prove I wasn't dreaming.

Jean:  Sounds pretty cool. So, what's it like? The city, I mean. I've always wanted to go to Canada.

Dave:  It's nice. I mean, it's another big, vibrant, modern city. But it's really clean, and there's lots of parks. One of the things I liked was the multiculturalism. We visited Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown, Little India … umm, I can't remember the others but it was sort of a new area every three or four blocks, you know?

Jean:  Hey, is it true that there's a whole part of the city that's underground? I read that somewhere about Toronto, or saw it on some TV show.

Dave:  It's true! I asked about that. They call it the PATH. There's, like, almost 30 kilometres of restaurants, shops, cinemas and stuff all underground. In the middle of the downtown area.

Jean:  Amazing!

Dave:  Yeah, but actually once you're down there it's not that noticeable. There's actually a lot of natural light. I forgot we were underground. It's mostly useful to get out of the cold weather.

Jean:  What temperature was it while you were there?

Dave:  It was still only November, but it was getting cold. We had at least a day where it was less than zero. My uncle told me that in January and February it can go down to 20 below zero.

Jean:  Oh, wow. I think I'd die!

Dave:  Yeah, and the worst thing was what they call the 'wind-chill' factor. So they say the temperature is zero degrees, but minus eight with the wind chill. So it feels like minus eight. And my uncle said the wind-chill factor can go down to minus 40.

Jean:  Stop it! You're making me feel cold just thinking about it. So, how was meeting your uncle? The famous Uncle George.

Dave:  That was great too. He lives outside of Toronto, in a cottage by a lake. Really tranquil and unspoiled nature.

Jean:  I'm dying to see photos. You want to meet up soon? Or are you too jet lagged still?

Dave: Yeah, I'm actually free tomorrow if you like.

ReorderingVertical_MjMzMjU=.xml

MultipleChoice_MjMzMjY=.xml

What was the last place you travelled to? Would you recommend it to a friend?

Language level

• Log in or register to post comments

Hello ragamin

The numbers you see on each page are the total number of comments on the page. I'm afraid you just have to check each of the pages where you've made a reply.

All the best

The LearnEnglish Team

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.  

Trump trial latest: Raging ex-president calls for mistrial over 'difficult to control' witness Stormy Daniels - who says she hates him

Donald Trump and his legal team argue the hush money case against him should be thrown out because of a detailed account given by Stormy Daniels of their alleged affair in court. But the judge ruled the case can continue. Earlier, the prosecution used Trump's own books against him.

Tuesday 7 May 2024 22:35, UK

• Donald Trump
• United States

• Donald Trump is on trial in New York, accused of falsifying business records over hush money payments made to the porn actress Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged affair
• Judge denies defence's call for mistrial | Trump rages online
• Asked if she 'hates' Trump, Daniels says yes
• Car park threat story 'made up,' defence argues 
• Adult film actress testifies for first time - joking Trump 'stole Hefner's pyjamas'
• Daniels says she and Trump had sex | Parting words after 'brief' act
• Analysis: 'Using Trump's books against him is devastating'
• James Matthews: Daniels tells a story about Trump we've not heard before
• Explained: The hush money case summed up - a one-minute read | Who is Stormy Daniels? | The four criminal cases against Trump

We're wrapping up our live coverage of the hush money trial for today.

Scroll through the blog below to catch up on all the latest from today.

Stormy Daniels has been pictured leaving Manhattan criminal court in New York City after testifying for nearly four hours today.

Away from the hush money trial, a judge has indefinitely postponed another case in which Donald Trump is charged with with illegally holding on to classified documents after leaving the White House.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing proceedings in Florida, said multiple pending pretrial issues needed to be resolved.

The trial had been scheduled to start on 20 May. A new date has not been set.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 40 counts accusing him of keeping hold of sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office in 2021 and obstructing US government efforts to retrieve them.

If you missed today's evidence, here's a quick rundown of what we heard on day 13 of the hush money trial against Donald Trump.

Star witness takes the stand

Stormy Daniels, one of the trial's key witnesses, was called to give evidence following rumours in the morning that she was to appear.

She started her testimony by describing her upbringing and how she got into erotic dancing before her nude and adult film work.

Ms Daniels also recalled her first meeting with Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006, when she was invited to dinner with the former president.

Details of hotel suite meeting revealed

Ms Daniels told the court Trump was wearing "silk or satin pyjamas" when he entered the foyer of the hotel suite he was staying at.

She said she made fun of him, saying: "Does Mr Hefner know you stole his pyjamas?"

Ms Daniels said she and Trump sat down and discussed a host of subjects including her childhood and career. Trump had suggested putting her on his TV show The Apprentice, Ms Daniels recalled. 

When she suggested she wouldn't be taken seriously due to her profession, Trump told her she reminded him of her daughter as "people underestimate her as well". He suggested it would be a way of showing her talents.

Daniels describes bedroom encounter

Stormy Daniels testified that she found Trump sitting on his bed wearing just boxer shorts and a T-shirt as she walked out of the bathroom at the suite.

She described it as a "jump scare" and said it "felt like the room was spinning".

Ms Daniels told the court she ended up having sex with Trump in what she said was a "brief" encounter. She said that she felt there was a "power imbalance" before they had sex.

Trump has denied having sex with Ms Daniels.

Further meetings described to court

Ms Daniels gave details of subsequent interactions she had with Trump after the 2006 hotel suite encounter.

She saw him in a hotel bar with an American football player the next day, and attended a vodka launch party in 2007 where she testified that Trump introduced her to Karen McDougal.

She also described going to meet him at Trump Tower and going to his LA bungalow in June 2007. The pair spoke several more times by phone but the calls stopped after she was eventually told she would not be able to appear on The Apprentice.

Money 'not a motivator'

The porn star testified to both the prosecution and defence that her decision to try to sell her story in 2016 was not motivated by money.

When she learned that Michael Cohen was offering $130,000 for the story to never be published, she said it was "the best thing that could happen" to protect her family.

She said she received $96,000 of the original payment.

Ms Daniels described how her life became "chaos" and she became "ostracised" after a newspaper published an article about the settlement payment in 2018.

She says she had sought to get out of her NDA agreement with Trump in order to "stand up for herself".

Cross-examination begins

Defence lawyer Susan Necheles began her questioning of Ms Daniels by asking if it was true that she hated Trump - which the witness agreed with.

She also said she wanted Trump to be sent to jail if found guilty in the trial.

Ms Daniels was pressed on the fact that she owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to Trump in legal fees following a failed defamation lawsuit in 2018.

She was shown a tweet she posted in 2022 in which she called Trump an "orange turd" and said she doesn't "owe him "s**t". Ms Daniels said she had called Trump names as he'd mocked her first.

Ms Necheles honed in on Ms Daniels not filling out a financial disclosure form, demanded by Trump's lawyers, related to the legal fees she owes the former president.

She said she'd left out some parts in order to protect her family.

Daniels denies attempting to 'extort' Trump

Ms Daniels denied a suggestion by the defence that she tried to sell her story in 2016 in order to "extort" Trump. She told Ms Necheles twice that this was "false".

Asked why she had decided to sell her story after saying a man had approached her in a car park in 2011 and threatened her to keep quiet, Ms Daniels said she was a "different and much braver person in 2016" than in 2011.

"Donald Trump was not just a guy on television, he was running for president," she said.

Donald Trump has claimed the prosecution's case against him is "totally falling apart" as he spoke to the media outside the court.

Our colleagues at NBC report him as saying: "This was a very big day... a very revealing day."

"Their case is totally falling apart.

"This whole case is a disaster."

The Republican candidate for this year's presidential election complained he should be out on the campaign trail. 

"I'm stuck," he said. "I'm here instead of Georgia, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and other states."

He didn't comment on the specifics of the testimony today or Stormy Daniels as a witness.

Judge Juan Merchan has brought proceedings to an end for today.

Stormy Daniels has stepped down from the stand and will return tomorrow for more cross-examination.

The judge gives jurors his usual warning before they depart the courtroom.

The case is set to resume again at 2.30pm UK time tomorrow.

Susan Necheles pulls up text messages between Stormy Daniels' manager Gina Rodriguez and National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard in June 2016.

In one text, Mr Howard asks: "Is she ready to talk?"

Replying, Ms Rodriguez said: "She said she will do it under 2 conditions."

When Ms Necheles goes to ask her questions about the texts, Ms Daniels says it is unfair as she does not know the context of the messages.

She also says she doesn't know who Mr Howard is.

Stormy Daniels is asked why, after claiming she had been threatened and was scared for her family's welfare, she decided to sell her story in 2016.

Ms Daniels tells the court that she was given advice and felt like a "much braver and much different person" in 2016 than in 2011, when she'd been approached in the car park.

She says a lawyer had advised her to get in front of her story and "hide in plain view".

Ms Daniels calls a suggestion that she was looking to extort money from Donald Trump "false".

Susan Necheles suggests to Ms Daniels that she wasn't really scared as she did the opposite of what the man in the car park had warned her not to.

"It was a new ballgame," she replies. "A big difference between a reality TV star and someone running for office."

Susan Necheles turns to an E! online article in which Stormy Daniels is quoted as saying the story about her and Trump is "bullshit".

Ms Daniels says she never gave a statement to the outlet directly and refers to the situation generally as "bullshit".

Asked if she's saying the article was false, Ms Daniels agrees that she is.

Let's hear from our NBC colleague Lisa Rubin again.

The legal correspondent says there are some similarities between the way the defence is treating Daniels, and how Trump's legal team have treated other cases against him.

She says: "There are strange parallels between Daniels' account of her sexual encounter with Trump and the manner in which she is being cross-examined, on the one hand, and E. Jean Carroll’s testimony. 

"In particular, the 'you never told anyone about the parking lot threat in real time so it must not be real' line of questioning seems very similar to the way in which Joe Tacopina cast doubt on the veracity of Carroll's recollection of Trump’s sexual assault, noting she waited nearly 25 years to tell her story and never screamed or called police."

Remind yourself of the E. Jean Carroll case below...

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

How to Watch the 2024 Met Gala Livestream Replay

By Christian Allaire

The 2024 Met Gala took place last night, on Monday, May 6. For the fourth year in a row, Vogue hosted the night’s exclusive livestream, where all of the action from the red carpet unfolded in real time.

This year, the Vogue Met Gala livestream was hosted by actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham. Multihyphenate Emma Chamberlain returned as Vogue ’s special correspondent to interview some of the biggest stars on the carpet. If you missed it last night, you can still catch up on all of the fashion fun—rewatch the livestream now to see all the A-listers as they arrived in style.

Meanwhile, this year’s theme—“ Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion ”—celebrated the Costume Institute’s new exhibition of the same name. The presentation will feature approximately 250 items drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, some rarely seen in public before, displayed in entirely new ways. Of course, the Met Gala’s star-studded red carpet on the first Monday in May cannot be missed either.

Below, everything to know about the 2024 Met Gala livestream, from how (and where) to rewatch the red carpet to what the night’s dress code and themes entail.

Where can I watch the livestream?

The 2024 Met Gala livestream was hosted exclusively by Vogue and broadcast live across its digital platforms as well as TikTok and YouTube . You can also rewatch the livestream within this very post and catch up on Vogue ’s by-the-minute live updates from the 2024 Met Gala here.

What time does the livestream start?

The Met Gala red-carpet livestream took place on Monday, May 6, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PST. If you missed it, you can watch the replay on this page!

Who’s hosting the livestream?

This year the Met Gala livestream was hosted by actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham. Multihyphenate Emma Chamberlain also returned as Vogue ’s special correspondent to interview some of the biggest stars on the carpet.

What’s this year’s Met Gala theme?

The 2024 Met Gala celebrated the opening of the Costume Institute’s new spring exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibition—which will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 10 to September 2 this year—will spotlight 250 items drawn from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, including some very rarely seen in public before. All works will be displayed in entirely new ways, utilizing elements such as video animation, CGI, AI, and more.

Every year the Met Gala provides the Costume Institute with its primary source of funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.

Is there a dress code?

The dress code for the 2024 Met Gala was The Garden of Time, which takes inspiration from a short story of the same title written by J.G. Ballard in 1962.

Who are the co-chairs this year?

Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, Bad Bunny, and Vogue ’s Anna Wintour served as the evening’s co-chairs . Honorary chairs for the evening, meanwhile, were Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Chew.

Met Gala 2024 : See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access Here

More on the 2024 Met Gala

The Best Dressed Stars From the 2024 Met Gala

Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet: See Every Celebrity Look, Outfit, and Dress

An Exclusive Look Inside the 2024 Met Gala

Where to Rewatch the 2024 Met Gala Livestream

Crystals! Skinny Brows! Wigs! The Best Beauty Looks from Met Gala 2024

Follow Along with Live Updates from the 2024 Met Gala

“Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Is The Costume Institute’s Spring 2024 Exhibition

Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month.

Catching Up With Columbia’s Student Radio Station After a Historic Broadcast

“it’s hard to sleep when we know that we have a job to report on what’s going on.”.

Jacob Rosenberg

Najib aminy.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

Sarah Barlyn, bottom left, is a reporter from WKCR, Columbia's student ratio station. Nandhini Srinivasan/WKCR

The student-run radio station at Columbia, WKCR, has been praised widely for its coverage of campus protests. The station’s popularity even led the website to, briefly, crash. And some have said the students should win a Pulitzer Prize. (This point helped poke at an irony embedded in such a situation: The prizes are given at Columbia University.)

Last week, we talked with two managers at WKCR about how the small group of reporters is doing this sensational work.

How Columbia’s Student Radio Station Is Meeting the Moment

Today, we caught up with Sarah Barlyn, director of engineering at WKCR and a senior at Barnard College, for a follow-up.

Barlyn works mostly behind the scenes—“I actually don’t like my voice on radio,” she told us—and has, in her role, been in the field covering the protests. She was there last night when the New York Police Department arrested protesters who had occupied Hamilton Hall.

We chatted about her work, how WKCR has dealt with the high-profile pressure of reporting, and the historical resonances with 1968.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Just to start, it’s been a lot going on: How are you doing?

I mean—yesterday, it was a little bit hard for everybody. Any Columbia student is a little bit shaken by what happened last night. I’m good. But, yes, the correspondents at WKCR have been sacrificing a lot of sleep to cover everything. So there’s a bit of a exhaustion among us. But we’re all very dedicated to our coverage. It’s hard to sleep when we know that we have a job to report on what’s going on.

How was reporting last night—when police arrested those occupying Hamilton Hall—for you?

There were three of our correspondents on the field in the middle of the night. I didn’t get there until 4:50 a.m. (I had gone home to get antibiotics because I’m recovering from a kidney infection.)

So, I entered campus with our correspondent Ted [Schmiedeler] . Then, around 5:00 a.m., they closed campus to only students who live in on-campus housing. So: we decided to stay there. Because we knew that if we left the site, we would not be allowed back on. 

And so we were trying to get some rest in Butler Library , which was one of the only buildings that was open and accessible to us. Then, that building was evacuated. We really had nowhere else to go. And so we just really set up camp outside of Hamilton Hall.

Recovering from a kidney infection…I imagine having to use the restroom might be something that might be important? And you were locked out of the buildings?

I did report on that. Because at one point I went into Hartley , which is a freshman dorm, and I offered to show them my antibiotics. I’m like: I just genuinely am like a member of his community. And I’d really appreciate if I could use your facilities. But my request was denied. 

I think that there were some buildings open—but they were further off, on the northwest side of campus.

So, what did you see last night?

We knew that an NYPD sweep was imminent due to the pretty much unprecedented lockdown of campus.

I was observing the west lawn.

So, I saw a lot of police officers—police officers in helmets and gear such as that—enter in mass from the Carman gate . (That gates that look onto 14th, between Amsterdam and Broadway.) But it was weird. They first went onto that street to disperse students who were watching. Then, the police come north—they start walking through campus and they encircled the west lawn encampment. And they began searching the encampment. I did not witness any arrests on the west lawn from my perspective. But I did see policemen searching the tents with flashlights. I would say over 100 police officers.

Then, myself and another correspondent saw another group of police officers—maybe 50 to 100—and they had entered from another area, I’m not sure where, and were headed to Hamilton Hall with sledge hammers and heavy machinery—because Hamilton Hall was barricaded.

At what point in the night did you start to question your own safety?

I actually—our safety was pretty much in question from even before there was police presence. We were under potentially disciplinary action, because there was, again, a lockdown. We weren’t entirely sure what protection we had as student journalists. But luckily all of us ended up being okay.

What’s something about yesterday that you’ll never forget?

I think the size of everything. It was definitely big—and organized. I mean, it was very strategic. I think there are a lot of things I won’t forget.

I mean, seeing the kind of heavy machinery being brought in. I guess that makes sense, because of the intense barricading of Hamilton Hall. But that’s just something that you don’t—you don’t expect to see that. You know what I mean? Like, that’s just not something that you really ever have the chance to see. Definitely the numbers of police officers, too. Although, I don’t know if that particularly surprised me.

And I’m just curious—what are you studying? You’re a senior writing a thesis. What’s it on?

I am actually focused on the student occupations of the five buildings during the 1968 protests at Columbia University, and one of those buildings was Hamilton Hall.

What’s it like seeing the thing that you’ve been studying play out once again?

It’s like looking into a mirror. 

I could tell that the students in Hamilton Hall were inspired by the 1968 protests. Hamilton Hall has been occupied several times after ’68. Still, I could see a lot of the tactics—like the barricading by using the furniture in Hamilton Hall—it’s definitely inspired by ’68.

It’s a deja vu kind of feeling for you?

Yeah, and at one point that night, I find ourselves at the entrance of Hamilton Hall. I got caught up in a bit of an altercation between two students who were not protesters. And they were trying to resist the students who were protesting and barricading the doors. I felt like I was looking at the pictures that I had seen in all of the books that I read.

Have you had a moment just to exhale?

We had a bit of a brief moment at the station last night after we were finally all able to meet with each other. And that was a bit—I guess it was a deep breath. It was a little bit emotional for us. Just because we were all exhausted. And we had been separated from each other the whole day, and we have become very close. So just getting to kind of reunite was definitely a big moment for us.

But, I mean: I feel like we’re running a marathon that hasn’t ended yet. 

Sen. Tim Scott, a Rumored VP Pick, Backs Trump’s Election Denial

Julianne McShane

Why Are Some Latinos Drifting to the Right?

Isabela Dias

Five Titles This Black Video Game Guru Can’t Live Without

Jamal Michel

One Man’s Mission to Make Video Games a Little Less White

We recommend.

Aid Groups Warn of “Bloodbath” After Israeli Forces Seize Rafah Crossing

The NYPD’s New Sizzle Reels Aren’t Just Dumb. They’re Dangerous.

“Antisemitism” vs. “Anti-Semitism”: The Style Debate Is Settled, But the Hate and Harm Are Rising

Daniel King

What You Should Know About Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s New “Build Green” Bill

Marianne Lavelle

Scientists Rejoice! Studying Cannabis Is About to Get a Lot Easier

Jackie Flynn Mogensen

What Happened When Stormy Daniels Finally Met Trump in Court

A New Poll Shows Trump’s Abortion Problem Isn’t Going Away

From Toxic Mold to Fraud: How Privatizing Military Housing Became a Nightmare for Service Members

René Kladzyk

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use , and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones ' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Independent. In print. In your mailbox.

Inexpensive, too! Subscribe today and get a full year of Mother Jones for just $14.95.

Bold. Brave. Beautiful.

Award-winning photojournalism. Stunning video. Fearless conversations.

Looking for news you can trust?

We noticed you have an ad blocker on..

Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget.

We noticed you have an ad blocker on. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism?

Don't let an algorithm decide what news you see.

Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

Video shows FedEx cargo plane land on its nose in Istanbul after landing gear fails

A Boeing-767 type cargo plane operated by FedEx ran into a couple of bumps and sparks as it attempted to land at Istanbul Airport in Turkey without its front landing gear Wednesday.

The cargo plane, operated by FedEx, was flying from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, according to a statement by Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu , when the pilot of the aircraft informed the control tower at Istanbul Airport that its landing gear had failed to open. The official said airport officials sprang into action and assisted the aircraft in touching down, while managing to remain on the runway. Emergency response, medical teams and necessary fire extinguishing equipment was also deployed on standby, Uraloğlu said.

Video footage from the landing shows the plane touching down on the runway before it tilts forward and starts dragging on its nose the runway creating a cloud of dust and sparks. It eventually comes to a stop with its fuselage touching the ground. As the plane comes to a halt, fire trucks douse the plane with water.

"With the successful guidance of our staff, the aircraft landed smoothly on its fuselage," Uraloğlu said.

No injuries reported

Two pilots were onboard the aircraft, according to Uraloğlu's statement, and were medically assessed after the landing. No injuries were reported.

The runway where the plane had landed was temporarily closed for all flights as multiple agencies gathered on site. A video shared by the minister shows crews and officials gathered around the aircraft while a fire truck and ambulance are parked on the side.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, said Uraloğlu without going into further details into why the landing gear had failed.

Another Boeing plane issue? Don't fall for the headlines.

The freight aircraft involved in the accident is nearly 10 years old and was delivered to FedEx in 2014, according to a Boeing spokesperson. Following delivery, operators oversee ongoing maintenance for airplanes in operation. Reuters reported that Boeing 767 freighter is one of the most common cargo planes.

FedEx, meanwhile, in a statement to USA TODAY, said that the FedEx Express Flight 6268 was flying from Paris to Istanbul when it experienced an issue during landing.

"There were no reported injuries to our crew members," FedEx said. "We are coordinating with investigation authorities and will provide additional information as it is available."

While Boeing incidents have been in the news in recent months after a series of high-profile incidents, aviation experts maintain you shouldn't worry about flying .

“We don’t have to worry that there’s something systemically wrong with aviation,” Clint Balog, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, previously told USA TODAY.

Contributing: Staff, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.