Post Vacation Depression: 8-Steps to Get Yourself Out of That Slump
Take a look at the following list of questions and answer “yes” or “no” as honestly as you can.
- Have you ever come home from a vacation feeling down or hopeless?
- Do you sometimes have a lack of motivation when adjusting back to your daily routine?
- Do you feel anxious, bored, or jittery after coming home from a trip?
- Do you find yourself constantly reminiscing about your recent travels, and wishing you can just go back?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have experienced (or are experiencing) post-vacation depression, also known as post-vacation blues.
Just like the name sounds, post-vacation depression is a feeling of sadness that can hit you right before the end or after coming home from a trip.
Post-vacation depression affects everyone a little bit differently; some don’t even experience it at all. Typically, the longer the vacation, the longer it can take to adjust back to life at home.
I personally experienced post-vacation depression after coming home from my month-long trip to Europe.
It was the first time I had really traveled. I met so many amazing people and had so many life-changing experiences during my trip. I hopped on my return flight as a completely different person but when I came home, everything was EXACTLY the same as how I had left it. My house was in the same condition, my friends were still working at their same jobs, and everyone in my hometown was just continuing business as usual.
It’s a strange feeling to get back into your daily routine as if nothing has changed, while emotionally you know that everything has changed for you. When you come home, it can sometimes feel like an anticlimactic end to a life-changing experience.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. It’s no surprise that travelers can sometimes have feelings of sadness after returning home.
There are things you can do to minimize the effects of post-vacation depression— so here is my 8-STEP guide to getting out of the travel blues slump:
1. Mentally prepare before the vacation ends.
Some people start to get their bouts of sadness right before a vacation ends. To help remedy this, start thinking about life at home.
Are there people you want to see or errands you need to run? Start mentally going through your home daily routine so it doesn’t seem as so much of a shock later.
Don’t let this take away from your last days of travel either, of course!
2. Reminisce with family and friends about your trip.
Talking about your experiences and sharing your stories is healthy and will help bring closure to your trip and therefore lessen the blow of post-vacation depression. Friends and family will be more inclined to hear about your vacation within the first week or two, so make sure to have all your pictures and videos prepared!
3. Manage your jetlag and give yourself time to unwind.
If possible, don’t return to work immediately. Instead, try and give yourself time to transition back into everyday life and reset your biological clock. Nothing makes you feel as though you’ve come back to reality than immediately throwing yourself into your old routine.
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4. Set some goals for yourself.
This is something you can start doing before the end of your trip. Is there anything you want to accomplish when you get home? Setting goals will give you a sense of motivation and encouragement, as well as help curb the dread of returning home.
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5. Get active!
Exercise releases endorphins or the “feel-good” hormones in the body. For me, after my month-long trip to the Philippines, I came home and decided to join a “6-Week Challenge” at my local gym. This program was composed of eating healthy and committing to working out at least six times a week.
To help combat post-vacation depression, get into the habit of working out at least 3-4 times per week.
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6. Do some spring cleaning.
After living out of a suitcase for a few weeks, or even months, you may realize that you have more stuff than you really need. This is the perfect opportunity to get some spring cleaning out of the way!
7. Use this time to reset your finances.
No matter how much we financially plan for a trip beforehand there is always something along the way—some unexpected occurrences or mishaps that cause us to have to spend more money than we were initially anticipating.
Use this time at home to help rebuild your bank account and reset your finances!
8. And lastly, start planning the next trip!
One of the best ways to get you out of your post-vacation depression slump is by planning your next great adventure! It offers as both a distraction, as well as gives you something to look forward to!
