How to Overcome the Post Vacation Blues

Almost everyone who enjoys traveling is subject to what is commonly known as the post-vacation blues,^[1] a type of stressed or blue mood that can affect you in the period after returning from a long-awaited vacation.

Having to get back into the routine of work, school, and daily life in general can be a source of distress, disorientation and discomfort as you feel you just can't settle back in. Indeed, for some people, post-vacation blues can result in a feeling that you no longer want to keep doing what you're doing and all you can think about is making an enormous change to your life.

While it may be unpleasant, the post-vacation blues can be overcome with a little determination and a focus on accepting what the vacation gave you and how valuable your everyday life is. This article provides several tips on making that happen.

Steps

1. Recognize the symptoms. Some vacationers don't have a problem easing back into their everyday routines following a long and pleasurable trip, but many others do, and it isn't uncommon. Some signs that you may be suffering from what is clinically known as post-travel depression (PTD) include:
   
   
   
   • Tiredness or restlessness, perhaps nervous energy that distracts you from focusing on any single thing
   • Loss of appetite or perhaps even an increase in appetite
   • Sadness, tears and feeling blue
   • Strong feelings of nostalgia
   • Inability to settle down and do your usual tasks
   • Anger might be a possibility for some, especially if the vacation was supposed to resolve issues that remain outstanding
   • In some cases, depression; if you suspect you're depressed, see your doctor immediately.
2. Expect to feel somewhat deflated after a great vacation. Time expands when we travel or experience new things and our sense of freedom from the usual constraints of routine, daily chores and deadlines is immense. Returning to routine flattens the sense of extended time and freedom from must-do tasks, catapulting you back into the same old reality that was there before you left. It is perfectly normal to feel deflated and to carry a sense of loss after such changed circumstances for a time.
   
   
   
   • Don't rush yourself to get over the experience. There are good sides to memories too but equally, you need to go through the transition of feeling out of sorts and blue because you have experienced something very different that meant a great deal to you. Letting go of the rush and excitement of that experience and allowing it to settle in as fond memories takes time.
3. Realize that your vacation doesn't necessarily end here. If you went away and experienced different cultures, pace of life, scenery, food, etc., then you've opened up new doors in your life. You have been touched by possibilities that weren't a part of your life before and it's vital to keep this aspect of your vacation well and truly alive. The good news is that you can keep your vacation alive in a number of ways:
   
   
   
   • If you took lots of photos or videos on your trip, or purchased any unique souvenirs, just going through them can help make it easier to remember the new places and experiences you were able to see. Spend time arranging them into formats that you enjoy working with and that make viewing or watching them easier for you and others.
   • Think about what you enjoyed a lot on your vacation and consider creating a bridge from that culture to yours. If you enjoyed a particular cuisine in another country, purchase a cookbook of that cooking style and start trying out the recipes at home. Bring the flavors right back into your kitchen!
     
     You can bring the culture of another country back into your life in many ways, including through dancing, craft, art, clothing, learning the language, watching films or documentaries, connecting to online friends in that country, writing a novel or short story about your vacation, etc.
   • In some cases, joining a class can help keep your spirits buoyed, such as cooking, dance or art classes that reflect the cultural experience your vacation brought you into contact with.
   • And best of all, get out a jar, label it "My next vacation" and start your vacation fund right away to save up for a return visit.
4. Think about how your vacation experience can inform good small changes in your life. A large part of the post-vacation blues derives from a desire to change everything about your life because you feel so fed up or bored with how things are back in your "ordinary" life.
   
   It would be a mistake to try and cover up all the experiences of your vacation to just blindly push yourself back into the daily grind. Instead, find the things that really stood out for you in terms of your routines that you'd like to incorporate more of into your regular life. Some examples of things travelers discover include:
   
   
   
   • Living on less. When traveling, you discover you can often "make do" and still have the time of your life. Perhaps now is a great time to declutter your house and live more simply.
   • Using the cell phone and the internet a lot less. When you're traveling, cell phone and internet use soon turn into a case of using it only to keep people informed and to check that nothing untoward has happened. Apart from that, you're usually not constantly talking or surfing for the sake of it; instead, you're experiencing the rest of life, large. Take this experience and apply it to your everyday life and spend less time connected to technology and more time connected to people, places and events instead.
     
     
     
   • Watch TV because you need to know something, not because you're filling in time. When traveling, weather reports and local news are probably the important aspects of TV, if you even watch TV at all. Few people go on a vacation just to travel and sit in the hotel room watching TV all day.
     
     Use your travel experience to change the pace of TV watching in your daily life and to make definite choices about what is worth watching and about either not turning on the TV, or turning it off when the chosen program has ended.
   • Change your appearance and your health routine. Often vacation time sees a transformation from a worn out self to a rejuvenated, calmer and happier self. This should be you all the time! Consider the ways in which you can achieve this through better/longer sleep patterns, more time spent at a spa, more targeted exercise routines and caring for your nutrition. And do things that make you happy and give you a sense of taking a break from it all, from massages to an afternoon playing tennis.
   • Meet people again. Vacations often bring us into contact with new people and remind us how easy it is to make new friends provided we're prepared to try. Take this lesson and apply it to your post-vacation self. Get in touch with friends you haven't caught up with for a while. Go out and make new friends through work, play, hobbies, sports and other things you participate in. It's possible you might even befriend someone else who is feeling the post-vacation blues and who could even end up as your next travel buddy!
5. Share your experiences with a friend or family member. As soon as you find the time once you've unpacked, you might find it helpful to recount your travel experiences with someone, or post any thoughts about the trip, interesting stories, funny mishaps, etc. using social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
   
   However, realize that people won't be so excited about your trip or experience as you are because they didn't have the same experiences as you and it's fairly hard to imagine another's vacation. However, while sharing with others, take care to realize that sympathy for post-vacation blues is fairly hard to come by, owing to the fact that most people focus on the fact that you actually had a vacation, not that you feel upset upon your return.
   
   
   
   • It can be helpful to make a public page of your vacation photos so that more people can be inspired by your travels. Just be sure that any personal information revealed in photos or text is by choice, so that you keep private experiences private.
6. Take care of yourself. There are a number of important "personal care" ways to help transition between your vacation back into your usual routine. These include:
   
   
   
   • Try to avoid jumping back into work as soon as you get home. While it may help take your mind off the post-vacation blues, it could also have the opposite effect, and make you feel regret for taking time off when you encounter all of the unread emails in your inbox, overdue paperwork, missed calls, etc.
     • Slowly ease back into work after your vacation when you feel you are ready, or when your days off run out. Some people like to go back on a Thursday or Friday so that the weekend is just around the corner and kudos to those who can manage this around a long weekend!
   • Resume your usual diet and fitness routines as soon as possible. Many vacationers enjoy splurging on meals and getting the most relaxation in as they can, but this can be unhealthy if it has gone on for more than a few days, especially if you've noticed more weight or being out of shape. Taking a walk, going for a jog, or preparing a healthy meal can all help you adjust back to your typical lifestyle. Alternatively, if your vacation was non-stop activity with healthy food, maintain the pace!
   • Ensure plenty of time for a proper night's sleep. Unless you've planned out several days off from work, studies or school following your trip, avoid scheduling a return flight that lands anytime after dark. Your body will thank you with enough energy for the next day, and having the time to start unpacking before you become exhausted will help boost your spirits.
   • Spend time around family and friends to ease yourself back into normal life. They can be a source of great support as well as being keen listeners to your tales; ask for hugs when in need.
7. Stay connected with the world of travel. You don't need to stop hanging around people who are in travel mode. Indeed, keeping in touch with people who are on vacation or traveling can be a way of keeping your spirits up.
   • Consider volunteering for an organization that works with people from the country where you had a vacation.
     
     
     
   • Help out by being a friend of tourists. Ask your local tourist organization if they have volunteer roles for guides, tour operators, walking guides, etc. and stay in the thick of the vacation atmosphere by presenting where you live to tourists. This will help to change how you see your own place, as you try to see it through the eyes of a tourist.
   • Host visitors for special events such as world cup tournaments or conventions, etc. Or offer to billet exchange students. If you're really keen, offer your couch through www.couchsurfing.com or similar sites. You'll have new faces appearing in your life regularly!
   • If you're looking for part-time work, look in the hospitality industry – hotel desk reception, spa resort maintenance, waiting, bar tending, etc. are all ways to keep meeting people who are on vacation or traveling.
8. Start planning a return trip. The best way to overcome the post-vacation blues is to know you have another vacation to look forward to. If you're financially able, start looking for transportation, lodging, etc. early as well for the least expensive rates and ticket prices. Or at the very least, start saving up and putting aside money every week toward the next vacation. It will soon add up and it's a great way to focus yourself when you're tempted to waste money on sugary treats or anything other light vice that you can do without.
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Children and teenagers may find it more difficult to adjust after a long and enjoyable vacation, especially if the school schedule begins immediately following their trip. Be sure to factor in plenty of time to return home and get back into a normal routine before having them return to school.
• Focus on avoiding and overcoming jet lag, if applicable. This extremely common travel disorder affects millions of people who travel between different time zones, and can intensify the symptoms of the post-vacation blues.
• If you are returning home by driving, always allow extra time for your journey back home, and consider traveling during the day, when the darkness won't effect your post-vacation blues.

Warnings

• Always allow as much time as possible to adjust back into your normal routine, or you risk health problems from the stress overload. If you return to work and something big happens immediately, seek help from others rather than trying to bear the burden all alone. You may be refreshed but it takes at least a few days to be focused again on the real tasks at hand.
• If new experiences on your vacation make you question your life choices at home, take your time. Consider the possibility of changing jobs or relocating. It's a major step in life that takes a lot more resources than just going somewhere for a week, so take your time preparing if a good vacation leads you to change the direction of your life.
• Don't take it out on other people around you at home or at work if you're frustrated at coming back to work after a good vacation. They don't deserve it and didn't get the benefits of your time off.
• If your post-travel blues doesn't begin to wear off after several days, or seem to be getting worse, see a doctor for help.

Things You'll Need

• Plans for the next vacation

Related wikiHows

• How to Use Your Last Vacation Day
• How to Ease Back Into Work After Vacation
• How to Plan a Family Vacation
• How to Recover from Back to Work Blues
• How to Beat the Blues
• How to Keep Post Vacation Romance Alive

Sources and Citations

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