How You Can Escape Post-Vacation Blues
Have you ever come home from an amazing vacation or trip only to feel a wave of sadness wash over you? I experience this coming home from pretty much every trip. This feeling is not uncommon, it's often referred to as the "post-vacation blues." The phenomenon of feeling down after a trip can be confusing and frustrating, especially since you just experienced something that should have made you happy. So, why does this happen, and what can you do about it?
The root cause of the post-vacation blues is often a combination of several factors, including reality shock.
Traveling is an escape from the mundane routine of everyday life. You get to experience new cultures, new foods, and new environments. Maybe you went somewhere and just relaxed for a week in perfect weather under palm trees occasionally getting up to go do a quick surf sesh. You see things that maybe you only saw on postcards and never thought you were going to get to see in real life. Traveling’s amazing and brings us a lot of joy. However, when the trip is over, you return to your normal routine, the transition can be jarring. The reality of your day-to-day life may seem dull and uninspiring in comparison to the excitement of your trip.
Traveling often provides us with a wealth of positive experiences, such as new friends, amazing food, and unforgettable sights. It can be hard to let go of these experiences and return to the routine of daily life.
Once you've experienced the joys of travel, it's hard not to constantly think about your next adventure. The anticipation of future trips can make it difficult to focus on the present and enjoy the comfort of being back home. The reality of life can quickly set in and you may be faced with financial constraints, time constraints, or other obstacles that prevent you from immediately planning your next adventure.
We also miss our friends from the trip. Traveling often involves being in close quarters with friends or family members. When the trip is over, you may miss the social interactions and close bonds you formed during the trip. It can be hard to say goodbye to these connections and return to normal.
So, what can you do about the post-vacation blues?
Incorporate Trip Memories into Your Daily Life
One way to deal with the post-vacation blues is to find ways to incorporate your trip memories into your daily life. You could create a scrapbook, write a blog, or start a travel journal. By think back on your trip and preserving your memories, you can extend the enjoyment of your trip and keep the positive experiences alive. Taking photos on your vacation and editing them after the trip is a great way to do this.
Plan Your Next Trip
You will already be ready to do this anyways but planning your next trip can help you combat the post-vacation blues. Having something to look forward to can help ease the transition back to reality. Even if you can't immediately plan your next trip, you can start researching and making lists of places you want to visit in the future. I’ll keep updating this blog that will fill you with plenty of inspiration for your next adventure.
Connect with Your Travel Companions
If you traveled with friends or family members, reach out to them and connect. You can reminisce about your trip, share photos, plan a get-together or even plan a mini trip one way closer to home. Keeping the connections you formed during your trip can keep you from getting to bummed out and will just make you happier in general. Just because the trip is over doesn’t mean the friendships are.
Another big part of travel is meeting new people and forming new friendships. You can do that at home as well. If you're really into mountain biking, look at Facebook groups and join a local mountain biking group. Meet-up and all hit up a trail together. Keeping the habit of introducing new experiences even when you're at home will improve so many parts of life.
Get Back into Your Routine
Getting back into your normal routine can help you transition back to reality and combat the post-vacation blues. Make a list of things you want to accomplish when you return home, and try to stick to your normal schedule as much as possible. This can help you feel more in control and ease the transition back to your normal life.
The post-vacation blues are a common experience for many people after a trip. To remedy the post-vacation blues, you can incorporate trip memories into your daily life connect with your travel companions, and get back into your routine.
Coming home from a trip can be a bittersweet experience, but it's also an opportunity to reflect on the amazing memories you've created and the personal growth that often comes with travel. So embrace the sweet sorrow of coming home, and start planning your next adventure!
