It’s Normal To Feel Sad Or Even Anxious After Returning Home From A Trip, So Here’s How To Beat The Post-Vacation Blues
Have you ever had the trip of a lifetime or an extremely relaxing vacation and then felt sort of depressed or even anxious upon returning home?
That’s a normal experience for many people, and it’s definitely happened to me. After spending a month at a study abroad program in London one summer, I remember feeling very down and unprepared to return to reality when it was time to head home.
It took me around two weeks to get back into a normal routine after my adventurous summer, where, when I wasn’t in class, I was staying out late, partying, eating all kinds of food, drinking, lounging around, seeing new parts of the world, etc.
After doing all that and having a dream vacation, being expected to return to normal was hard.
Sometimes, it can be hard to admit you have post-vacation depression or blues, as usually, vacations are meant to make us feel rested and relaxed. But the moment you recognize and acknowledge it, it’ll be easier to overcome.
If you recently returned from a vacation or you do one day and feel anxious, irritable, sad, tired, and unmotivated, you could be dealing with post-vacation sadness. Here are some tips for overcoming it.
Make arrangements to look forward to
One of the main reasons people may experience post-vacation blues is that they were looking forward to their vacation for a while, and once it ends, they feel as if they have nothing to look forward to.
Don’t let yourself get to that point – when you get back from vacation, take a few rest days and start making fun plans with friends and family, ranging from day trips to nights out, so that you have something else to look forward to.
Kalim – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Don’t dismiss your feelings
Because there’s so much pressure to relax on vacations and return home “rejuvenated,” it can be embarrassing and almost shameful to admit that you’re depressed after getting home.
However, there’s really nothing to be ashamed of. You just went on a wild ride, and now you must get back into the routine you wanted a break from.
Instead of suppressing or dismissing those feelings, acknowledge them and allow yourself to be upset. The goal is simply not to be upset for too long.
Incorporate parts of your vacation into your daily routine
When you were on your vacation, did you ever do something and think, “I need to do this more often?”
For instance, maybe you got a massage, ate some fresh food, or saw a historical landmark and told yourself you should do things like that more often. In this case, you should!
Add a piece of your vacation routine into your everyday routine to channel the contentment you felt while you were away.
Create a scrapbook or slideshow of your memories
While it may be a little painful to remind yourself of your vacation fun, after being home, you can look back on the fun memories from your vacation by creating a scrapbook or slideshow of your favorite pictures from your trip.
Doing this “honors” your trip in a way, giving it a special place in your home or your “cloud,” and you can look at it and remember not only what a great time you had but also how great it was that you treated yourself to such an adventure.
Remember all the good things at home
While I remember being incredibly sad about leaving my summer in London, I immediately began thinking about everything I loved that was waiting for me at home. I thought about my mom, my sweet dogs, my best friends, etc.
These things don’t have to be people. For example, think about your favorite restaurant, your favorite local park, or even your favorite spot on your couch that makes you feel happy to be home. Once you’re reunited with the “good things,” you’ll feel better.
If you’re taking a trip this summer and worry about post-vacation sadness, hopefully, these tips will help you cope with all the ups and downs of those emotions. Have a great trip, and you’ve got this!
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