How to beat those post-travel blues (Part 1)
We all know the feeling…
There is no doubt that travel is fulfilling, life changing and can be a real mental health booster. At Dunne and Ryan we value the benefits of travel and yet are also deeply aware of how mental health is affected by the post holiday/travel blues. It is completely normal to feel deflated and down after traveling and taking vacation time. The build up to travel and then the experience itself can feel so much bigger and more exciting than life afterward. You’ve had this trip to look forward to for so long and now you need to find something new to look ahead to with excitement. It takes effort and a little forethought but these simple steps can make a huge difference to settling back into your life post-travel.
BEFORE YOU GO…
Prep your home for your return…
There are few things more dispiriting than walking into a mess. In the run up to a vacation, it can be easy to think, “I’ll deal with that when I get back.” If you can manage it, putting fresh sheets on your bed, clean towels in your bathroom, and maybe a new book on your nightstand will make your return feel more like “Welcome home.”
2. Plan buffer days..
If you can make it work with your budget and schedule, give yourself a day or so to adjust before you have to return to work. You’ll have time then to grocery shop, unpack, do laundry, and take care of anything unexpected that came up while you were away.
3. Put something inexpensive and fun on your calendar…
Before your trip, plan an event to look forward to when you return, like a movie, lunch with friends, or a round of golf. It doesn’t have to be an expensive event, considering many budgets are tight after vacation splurges. This planned event doesn’t have to be right away. The week after a vacation can fill up with backlogged work and household to-do’s. A month in the future might be ideal. It will remind you that the fun hasn’t ended just because the trip has.
4. Pack a Travel journal..
Memories fade — even the vivid ones. If you spend a few minutes every day during your vacation writing down your adventures and misadventures, you’ll have a record you can revisit for years to come. Add what you were thinking about and what moved you; chronicle the heart-stopping moments. It’s your vacation and your journal.
5. Plan plenty of downtime…
In a 2010 study, researchers compared happiness before and after vacation among Dutch vacationers. They found that the only group whose happiness remained higher weeks after the trip ended were vacationers who had a “very relaxed holiday.” While it’s tempting to cram adventure and activity into every moment — especially if you’re shelling out hard-earned money for your vacation — your sense of well-being may last longer if you plan a restful one.