TL;DR
Set up your home before you leave so your return starts calmly instead of with old chores.
Season: Travel season
Remove the friction you will meet first
You do not need a perfectly clean home before a trip. Focus only on the things that will annoy you immediately when you return: trash, dishes, bed, laundry and the first meal.
The 15-minute checklist
Take out the trash. Empty the sink or dishwasher. Make the bed fresh, or at least neatly. Put out an empty laundry basket. Decide on one easy breakfast or first meal, such as bread in the freezer or yogurt in the fridge.
Why it helps
Return days already come with luggage, laundry, tiredness and appointments. A prepared home removes the first five tiny decisions and keeps coming home from turning into another work session.
Keep it small
If time is tight, prioritize trash and dishes. Then handle the bed and laundry basket. Everything else is a bonus, not a requirement.