It’s your first week back home after weeks of non-stop traveling. You spent so much time planning, anticipating, and working toward the best holiday of your life. It was exactly that, the best trip you’ve been on yet. Sunset cruises on a yacht, bottomless mimosas as a breakfast choice, swimming in crystal clear water, all round pampering, the sites, the people, the music in late-night bars.

All the memories you created, some days you missed home and even longed to get back, but now you are home, you can’t wait to leave again. Your bags are still unpacked. A stone in your chest and feelings you can’t even begin to describe. You are back to cooking, making your bed, doing laundry, and dealing with the fact that you went above budget on your holiday.

Reality checks in; you dread returning to work and returning to the routine and responsibilities of your everyday life. You don’t know what to do with yourself, nothing is the same, yet everything is as you left it. All you want to do is curl yourself into a ball and relive the trip through your camera roll.

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Does this sound familiar?

You are not alone; there is a form of sadness specifically related to travel. It bears many names Post-travel depression, post-vacation blues, post-vacation syndrome, or post-trip sadness.

What is Post Vacation Depression

Post-travel depression is real. It refers to the sadness you feel after returning home from a vacation. Travel is a life-changing event. You meet new people and have new experiences and cultures that broaden your mind. It challenges the limits of what you thought was possible. It’s normal to feel like a new person after such an experience. Returning to your ‘real life’ may leave you feeling flat and empty. Think of it like a hangover, a vacation hangover.

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Is it normal to feel depressed after a vacation?

Yes, It’s very common for travelers to feel some form of melancholy after a trip, no matter how short. It is a law of physics that things resist change, and you are no different.

Why Do People Get Post-Travel Blues?

No one knows what exactly causes post-travel depression, could be environmental factors or psychological factors. One theory that seems to stand out is the transformative nature of travel.

You are carefree on the road, suddenly swimming in the depths of freedom and spontaneity. Returning home, it’s easy to give in to the temptation of comparing our lives abroad to that at home. Life at home rarely holds a candle, and it always comes in second

What are the symptoms of post-travel depression?

Post-vacation blues are experienced in a spectrum of emotions in varying intensity, from mild sadness to full-blown depression. It could last days, weeks, or even months. The longer a trip lasts, the more intense the post-vacation blues may be. Jet lag may intensify the post-vacation blues.

Some of the symptoms to look out for are:

Lethargy, tiredness, and general body weakness
loss of appetite

Trouble sleeping or Sleeping all the time
Low concentration or zero motivation for your daily responsibilities, eg. work or school
Spending an unhealthy amount of time online catching up with your travel companions rather than making time for those around you
Feeling like your friends and family just don’t get you anymore
Unable to leave your house or room
Spending a lot of time scrolling your camera roll
Constantly comparing your home and host cultures and criticizing how things are done at home
Feeling sad, lonely, restless, anxious, or upset most of the time
Feeling like your life will never be as exciting or fulfilling as it was while you were abroad
Feeling stuck in a dark place with no way out

Each person copes with these symptoms differently. But these unwanted feelings will eventually go away with time. The first step is recognizing you are experiencing post-travel depression before you can overcome it.

So how can we conquer these post-travel blues?

How to get rid of Post Vacation blues

First, give yourself a chance to recoup over a few days
Ease into it. Don’t Rush Getting Back into Work Mode
Explore new things near your home
Prepare for the return
Get together with friends
Make some changes at home
Make your Favorite Travel Food
Plan your next trip

First, give yourself a chance to recoup over a few days

It’s important to acknowledge that what you are going through is normal. Don’t beat yourself up for not getting back out there or not being able to shake it off. Give yourself a few days to go through the motions. Accept that you will be feeling a little out of sorts for a while, but eventually, these emotions will blow over.

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This is the time to pamper yourself and soothe your spirit. Try new experiences to help you reconnect with where you live. Meditation, going for long walks, shopping, or trying new restaurants. The idea is to engage in activities that help you find reconnect and regain a home appreciation.

Ease into it. Don’t Rush Getting Back into Work Mode

After returning from your trip, don’t rush to get back to the grind. work right away. Take some time off. Unpack your bags. Ease into your everyday life. Relive the whole experience vicariously through photos, videos, and vlogs you made on vacation. Enjoy your trip memories while they’re still fresh in your mind.

Explore new things near your home

If you’re feeling out of sorts being back home, it may be a good idea to rediscover the things that make your home special. What did you love most about living in the neighborhood?

Stylish girl in linen dress gathering flowers in rustic straw basket, sitting in poppy meadow in sunset. Boho woman in hat relaxing in warm evening sunlight in summer field. Space for text Stylish girl in linen dress gathering flowers in rustic straw basket, sitting in poppy meadow in sunset. Boho woman in hat relaxing in warm evening sunlight in summer field. Space for text picking flowers stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Great restaurants you can visit, hiking trails near you, or maybe a road trip to a National park. There is wonder everywhere you just have to be willing to look.

Prepare for the return

This may be the most underrated tip of them all. Prepare yourself psychologically so that you are going back home. Keep busy. Have a list of all the things you want to get done as soon as you return. However small or mundane the tasks may be, they will help you fight your sadness. Doesn’t have to be a chore; you can make dinner reservations with a friend, book a massage, make a hair appointment, anything to take your mind occupied.

Make sure you are coming back to a clean house. If you didn’t have time to clean before leaving for vacation, organize a cleaning service before returning. Coming back to mess and chaos will plunge you right into post-vacation blues. Trust me. You don’t want to come home to much dirty laundry.

Get together with friends

It’s always nice to enjoy some alone time immediately after a trip. Quiet down, unpack, and watch a movie, but you need to get social after a while. Being alone doesn’t help you beat the blues but catching up with friends and family could do wonders for your mood.

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Make some changes at home

Have you ever heard that our physical space often matches our mental space? Cleaning, organizing, and even redecorating will also help you organize your thoughts and emotions.

You can find a place for souvenirs, so your home matches your trip. Change what no longer serves you, and enjoy a clean haven that inspires calmness in you.

Make your Favorite Travel Food

Did you try a new foreign cuisine that you thought was to die for? Why don't you take the time to recreate the meal exactly as you remember it? It would give you a second taste of the trip. Reliving the perfect meal can be the perfect antidote for post-vacation blues.

Young father with a toddler boy cooking. Unrecognizable father with a toddler boy cooking. A man with his son making vegetable salad. Top view. family cooking stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Plan your next trip

I find the most effective coping mechanism for post-travel depression is to start thinking of my next destination. Never underestimate the power of hope. Planning your next trip gives you something to anticipate and work towards. There is no time to wallow in the past when I’m planning my future.

Young woman with tablet and map indoors at home, planning traveling trip. Happy young woman with tablet and map indoors at home, planning traveling trip. Travel planning stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

It’s important to remember that post-vacation blues are a temporary state of mind that will wear off over time. It usually takes a few days, but in extreme cases, several weeks. Armed with these proven to work tips, you will be back to your normal cheerful self before you know it.

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How to Overcome Post Vacation Blues in 2022