Dealing with Post-Vacation Depression: How to Get Over the Blues

We’ve all been there, the nasty post-travel blues that hit you like a tonne of bricks. You come back from a great vacation, and suddenly you feel terrible. All the energy and excitement you felt before your trip has vanished, and you’re left depressed and anxious.

This is known as post-vacation depression, a genuine phenomenon.

Is there a cure? For the everyday people who need to return to their real jobs, possibly not, we each hang out for the next lot of annual leave until we can spread our wings and fly once more.

This article discusses ways to deal with post-vacation depression and get your life back on track!

 

Beat post-travel blues and go on a holiday again; find a hotel at booking.com!

 

 

 

 

Dealing with Post-Vacation Depression: How to Get Over the Blues

Is post-travel blues the end of the world? No, but it can feel like it and sometimes you may feel foolish feeling this way when there are more significant problems in the world than your travel obsession.

However, the travel blues do exist, whether it’s a big deal or not. Every individual is different and faces reality in different ways.

So how do you deal with post-vacation depression? Let’s discuss a few scenarios to get you back into the real world again.

 

Accept how you feel with the travel blues.

The first step is to accept that you’re feeling this way. It’s perfectly natural to feel a little down after returning from a trip, especially if it was somewhere you loved.

Don’t beat yourself up for feeling this way, and don’t try to push the feelings away. Accepting them is the first step to dealing with them.

 

Talk about your experiences with others.

Has it gone this far where you need to talk about post-vacation depression? It’s OK to talk to others about your feelings; it can be pretty therapeutic.

When you’re feeling down, it can be helpful to talk to someone who will understand what you’re going through. Talk to a friend or family member who has also been on a great trip or read travel blogs to get some vicarious thrills.

 

Do something that makes you happy.

Sometimes it’s hard to feel this way when you’re about to head to the office and slug it out for the next few months or year until your next vacation.

So what can you do to make yourself feel better in the meantime? Do something that makes you happy! If you love your job, this will be easier, but try and find little things to enjoy in your day-to-day life.

Doing something which makes you happy is an excellent opportunity to do something that makes you happy but that you wouldn’t usually have time for in the real world. Maybe there’s a hobby you’ve wanted to pick up or a place you’ve wanted to visit. Now is the time to do it!

 

Book another holiday and have another trip to look forward to

Planning another trip is the ultimate way to get over post-vacation depression: book another vacation! If you have the means to travel more often, this may be the best solution for you.

Sure it is a tease to book another holiday which is further into the future but having something to look forward to is a great way to deal with post-vacation depression.

 

 

Have short getaways close to home

Try and find short weekend or day trips that you can do to tide you over until your next big adventure. Close-to-home vacations are a great way to get over post-vacation depression if you can’t afford to travel immediately or if you don’t have the time.

It could surprise you how many beautiful things there are to see close to home that require a night or two stay. It also breaks your usual routine of going to week work and sending the weekend at home completing daily chores.

 

Get back into a routine.

Returning to reality isn’t the most exciting way to get over the travel blues, but getting back into a routine can help. A habit is ultimately something we all must do after a holiday, and the sooner you face the reality of the natural world, the easier it will be for you upon return to work.

Your body and mind are used to being on vacation mode, and it can be hard to transition back into work mode or regular life. Try and ease yourself back into it by starting with shorter work days, if possible, or planning fun activities after work.

 

Look back on the memories of your recent trip.

Is this routine-wise, or is it too much of a tease? It is best to find a happy medium.

You can reflect on your recent trip by looking through pictures or videos or writing in a journal about all the great things you did. Reflection on your past trip will help you remember all the good times you had and why you travelled in the first place.

It can also be helpful to look back on old travel memories to get you excited for future trips. Remember, post-vacation depression is only temporary! Soon enough, you’ll pack your bags again and make new memories.

 

There’s no place like home.

Ultimately, this is the most important thing you need to remember, you’re home, and there’s no place like home.

Yes, you might miss the excitement of your recent trip, but you’re also surrounded by the people and things you love. Appreciate all the good things about being home, and post-vacation depression will soon fade away.

 

Change jobs

This scenario is unrealistic, but why not have a moment in your life where you think about the future and where you desire to be in life. If post-vacation depression is something that hits you hard every time, maybe it’s time for a change.

A new job or even a new career might be just what you need to get over the post-travel blues. If your current job isn’t making you happy, look for others who will mentally and emotionally fulfil you.

A change of scenery can be just what you need to get out of your post-vacation slump, so don’t be afraid to take risks! You may find a job requiring travel; how cool would this be?

Post-vacation depression is brutal, but there are ways to get through it. Just remember to take things one day at a time, do something that makes you happy, and appreciate all the good things about being home. Soon enough, you’ll be planning your next adventure!

What are your favourite ways of dealing with post-vacation depression? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Beat post-travel blues and go on a holiday again; find a hotel at booking.com!