Overcoming Post Travel Blues
14 Practical Tips To Help You Get Past Post Travel Blues
You’ve just got home from an amazing holiday and reality hits with a thud.
I’m sure you can relate – that cloud that envelopes you when you get home from an amazing holiday – post travel blues.
These feelings of dread and sadness can start at the end of our holiday, when we get home, or even when we’re back at work. It can be like those Sunday afternoon lows but much worse.
The post-travel blues are real!! When you love to travel, it is so easy to overlook the nice parts of being home.
“You won’t get post travel blues if you keep booking holidays”
~ Unknown
Travelling is one of the best things ever – you explore new places, it broadens your mind and gives you many unique experiences. It can even be completely life changing.
Then it’s over, and time to return home. It’s not unusual for some people to experience a slump, or depression even.
Feeling depressed about returning home is definitely not fun. But the good news is that there are ways to manage it and make the transition back into routine much easier.
If this sounds like you, read on for some fabulous tips to overcome your post travel blues.
What Are Post Travel Blues?
Yes it is real, Wikipedia says so!
Basically it’s a mood that some can experience after they get home from travelling.
It can range from simply being disappointed that you’re no longer in an amazing location, to being totally miserable in your home life compared to your holidays.
Usually it is only fleeting and can be easily managed. But, if it does persist, please seek expert help.
Here are 14 tips to help you manage your post travel blues and make the most of your return home.
Acknowledge Them & Know They Are Completely Normal
Number one is rest and be kind to yourself. Even though you’ve been on a holiday, nothing says that it was all relaxing. You’ve probably been trying to fit so much in that you came home exhausted. I know that is true for me – I’ve either just got home from a photography tour with super long days, or a big drive which is also exhausting.
Who wouldn’t be sad having to cook, clean and work again after having zero responsibilities except deciding where to head next?!?
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re feeling down – that will only make you feel worse.
It’s totally understandable but you can’t wallow forever so it’s time for some practical advice.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of seeing being back home as a negative thing. But just because your experiences were awesome doesn’t mean that being home is bad. In reality it’s just different.
Remember that you will be able to travel again, and you can enjoy your ‘real’ life in the meantime.
Have A Clean Home To Come Back To
This may sound weird but coming home to mess will only bring you down further.
Try and make sure your house is clean and tidy before you leave so that you are coming home to a nice space when you do return.
Even better, try and organise someone to come in and do a spruce over just before you get home. If they buy you fresh bread and milk that is the ultimate!
Along the same lines, try to unpack as soon as you get home. This helps the transition back into routine and keeps your space as inviting as possible.
It’s probably the last thing you want to do, but it’s a great feeling when it’s done. And it can help you settle back in without it being a massive task. To make it a bit easier, just wash everything from your suitcase. Save yourself time sorting and that way you know everything is clean.
Also do a grocery shop as soon as you can, even if it’s online. If you really don’t feel like getting back into cooking just yet, consider a meal delivery service for a week or two. Bonus if you organise this before you leave.
These are just a few suggestions to help you figure out what things you can do to feel more settled in at home.
“Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation.”
~ Leo Tolstoy
Try To Have A Few Days Before Heading Back To Work
When you return from a trip, it may be tempting to begin tackling your life responsibilities immediately. However, try to ease back into daily life and responsibilities so that it does not feel so overwhelming.
If you can, try not to rush back to work straight away. This of course will depend on the distance and length of your trip, so it especially matters if you’ve been gone for weeks and also possibly have a bit of jet lag.
A few days can give you the chance to unpack, reunite with your environment, and don’t forget catching up with those fur babies if you have any. This will help ease some of the shock of coming back to reality.
It will also give you time to enjoy your memories before they get lost in the routine of daily life.
Embrace the joys of home
After all is said and done, it really is always good to get home again.
“How you feel about home after a vacation says a lot about home.“
~ Joyce Rachelle
Now is the time to remind yourself of everything you love about your home.
There is no bed like your own, and you don’t have to pack and unpack every few days – there is bliss in stability and staying in one place.
For me it’s also where my three gorgeous cats are always happy to see me, I can have a lovely lazy lie in and burn some nice scented candles. And there really is nothing like your own bed (with lovely clean sheets you hopefully put on just before you went away).
What are the comforts of home that you miss while you’re away? What are you thankful for when you do get back home to your creature comforts?
It could be having a coffee with a friend at your favourite cafe, catching up with family, and having fresh clothes at your disposal all add up to wonderful familiarity.
Have A Plan For When you Get Home
As we all know, prevention is better than cure, so it’s always good to have a plan in place in case you do get hit with those post travel blues.
One of the main feelings of disappointment is that you’ve become used to having lots to do on your holiday and now that’s come to an end.
To avoid this, book some things to look forward to. This will help give you things to look forward to so it’s not such a hole left in your days when you return home.
These don’t have to be big things – just choose things that you enjoy and will look forward to.
A simple list to check off or to give you ideas is great here. Some suggestions to get you started –
- Book in catch ups with loved ones
- Have a meal at your favourite restaurant
- Go see a movie
- Massage
- Schedule time to go through your photos (see more on this below)
Try not to book too much in – sometimes you just need some sloth time to recover also. There’s nothing wrong with an afternoon (or two) in front of the TV.
Now can also be the time to give yourself a break after adventuring.
Most importantly, don’t put too much pressure on yourself here.
Go Through All Those Photos
As you know, photography is my thing – and my main reason for travelling!
Go through your holiday photos as soon as you can – this is one of the best ways to relive all the great times you had during your travels.
Having such a visual reminder of your experiences really does produce positive endorphins, so grab your beverage of choice and indulge.
Don’t leave this too long after you get home. Organise your images and take notes so that you don’t forget some of the locations. If you visited a heap of different waterfalls for example, it can be hard to remember which one is which after a while. Take notes and categorise your images so this valuable information isn’t lost.
If you haven’t kept a journal of your travels, now is the time while the experiences are fresh in your mind.
Note – Keep a note in my phone as I go with what locations I visited and when. I also take photos of any signs of places I’ve visited. This saves trying to remember later or going down the google search rabbit hole.
Having a photography workflow really comes into its own here to organise and save your images.
This is a fabulous way to remember your fabulous experiences and you will have these memories forever. If you haven’t culled and put your photos in folders each day on your trip, now is the time to do that.
Then spend some time editing your photos to bring out the best in them.
Next is to pick your best/favourite images to print and create physical mementos of your travels –
Create Physical Memories of Your Travels
Don’t leave your photos hiding on your computer or phone – get them into your home – and beyond.
- Wall Prints
- Create A Photo Book
- Calendars
- Create Your Own Greeting Cards and Postcards
- Print Your Photos On Any Number Of Products
Read the full guide on Creative And Fun Ways To Actually Display Your Treasured Memories.
The options really are endless when it comes to what you can have your photos printed on that can make great interior decorations for your own home or lovely gifts.
Keep The Vibe Alive
Were there any activities that you enjoyed doing that you can do once you return home? Maybe a new love of hiking, cycling, swimming or even photography.
Pursuing some of these new interests are sure to help you recover from your post travel blues.
You can look up local classes and groups to help you get started with this. Your local Facebook community pages and groups are great for this.
Did you find a new favourite meal that you can search the recipes for and cook at home? This is not just a way to eat a delicious meal. It’s also a way to keep that experience fresh in your mind (and taste buds).
Meet Up With Friends And Family
Catching up with those you love can be the perfect antidote to beating those travel blues. This can be particularly true if returning from solo travel.
Connect With Other Travellers
When you’ve run out of friends and family to talk to about your experiences, get in touch with other travellers.
While your family and friends care about your experiences, they probably don’t want to hear every detail. They may not understand how important your trip was to you. They really want you to say just how wonderful it was, and then move on…
This can be frustrating, so try to connect with other like-minded people who will be interested.
Consider staying in touch with some of the people you’ve met on your travels or through social media.
Facebook has loads of communities where you can share photos and stories with others to keep the vibe alive. You have an interested audience that can support each other to recover from your post travel blues.
You may even find you can help others with questions when they are looking to travel. Share your ideas and experiences to help others – this can be incredibly rewarding.
Get Back Into A Routine
Once you’ve given yourself a few days to sloth and recover from the physical return, it’s time to ease back into reality.
Travelling isn’t always the healthiest on our diet or exercise routines, and this can also affect your mental health.
Be kind to yourself, but start planning your healthy meals and exercise again.
Set that alarm and write those shopping lists.
Start with getting back out walking or to the gym – your mind and body really will thank you for it.
Many find that getting exercise first thing in the day sets the right tone. It’s well known for mental health benefits so get those endorphins going.
If possible, get this started before returning to work so that the alarm clock won’t be too much of a shock.
Treat Yourself
Include some treats into your routine – you could be well overdue for a haircut or manicure.
Consider incorporating a few treats into your routine soon after you get home.
There are many ways to help here, such as eating your favourite food, going to the hairdresser, or getting a manicure.
Or even go a step further and book a spa treatment or massage. Both healthy options physically and mentally.
If budget is an issue, what about a DIY at home, or a simple picnic at a local park or beach.
It doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun just because you have to get back into your routine!
Plan Some Local Activities
Just because you are back home doesn’t mean you can’t have new adventures.
Try looking at your area through the eyes of a tourist. This can really help you to get to know and appreciate your area in a whole new way.
Are there any places near you that you haven’t visited – either for a while or ever? I’m sure you’ll uncover some local gems if you look hard enough.
When was the last time you went to your local zoo, gardens or museums?
Fun at a local zoo
If we have learned anything from the pandemic, it should be that you can discover inspiration close to home. You don’t have to go to the other side of the world, or even your country to find new things to explore.
Trip Advisor, Pinterest and of course blog posts are great ways to find things in your area you may not have known or thought about before.
Also, don’t just think of things in your own suburbs. Do some research for places that are an hour or two from home and plan some day trips.
“A one day holiday can at times be better than a one-week vacation if you totally unplug for that one day!.”
~ Catherine Pulsifer
I actually did more travelling in 2021 than in any previous year – it was all just within my state! Visiting the NSW Snowy Mountains and South Coast will remain highlights of all my travels – I’m sure you have some gems not too far away as well. You may just need to do some research!
There are always new things to discover – you just need to go looking for them.
Start Planning Your Next Trip
Lastly, a sure fire method to beat those post travel blues is to start planning that next trip.
I’ve left this to last as it’s important to milk everything out of your last holiday before planning the next one.
Too often we are reaching for that next adrenaline hit that we don’t fully appreciate the experiences we have just had.
Once you’ve finished sorting and printing all your travel mementos and planned some local trips, it’s time to look at your bucket list.
Constant travel isn’t always possible (and maybe not as enjoyable), but taking some time to dream and plan can be!
I absolutely love planning, and planning a trip properly takes time. So when you’re ready, enjoy your routines and researching – as long as it’s not too long before the next trip!
NOW, you can start looking forward. So instead of thinking about what you’re missing when you travel, you can start focussing on making your next dream holiday a concrete plan.
What is on your bucket list of travel?
Something to consider –
Make Sure It Is Just Post Travel Blues
So, while post travel blues are completely normal, they should start to go within a few days. Particularly if you’ve tried some strategies and they aren’t helping.
if you feel your mood isn’t lifting, and you continue to feel sad, it could be more than this.
Don’t be afraid to reach out and get some professional help. Consider seeing your GP to discuss how you’re feeling just in case it’s more than just post travel blues. Your mental health is incredibly important so please don’t ignore it if you’re not improving.
Conclusion
On a more positive note, post travel blues don’t happen to everyone, so hopefully you are spared this after your travels.
If you do experience them, I truly hope these tips help you get out of your slump.
Do you have any other strategies that help you get back into your happy daily life? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
Remember again that it should only be temporary, and are the result of returning from amazing travel experiences.
That’s it for now – Keep clicking and stay caffeinated
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Note – This post does not contain any sponsored or affiliated links. All suggestions and opinions are mine. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are mine and remain my copyright images – Sam Wilson Photography.
