Traveling the world for a short or long period is always incredible. None of the experiences you get home can’t be compared to those you get abroad, as every country has its own culture and traditions. Therefore, you experience wonderful things that you can’t at home. And no matter how long you travel, going back is always both exciting and a bit sad.
Travelers who get back home after a couple of weeks of travel can feel sad after vacation they just spent on a sunny beach, in a busy but adventurous city, hiking and trekking in various gorgeous places, or visiting family and friends. But travelers who get back home after a year or so might even experience the so-called post-vacation depression.
End of vacation blues always hit travelers since the trip is coming to an end, and the “normal” life is all around. It usually occurs in the last week or the last several days of a trip. And while on the last run of completing the things-to-do-during-the-trip list, this feeling will dissipate for a couple of weeks after you arrive home.
Travelers who used to discover the world, explore diverse locations, meet people, and pursue their goals freely, now have to get back to the point they were left when their journey started. And that is not always easy. No wonder post-travel depression is an expected occurrence.
So, while you may be one of them, you are probably seeking answers. You may have a lot of questions now as life has changed for you, but not for those who surround you at home. That’s why we’ll answer some questions that may appear in your mind, and after that, we’ll provide you with some tips to overcome your after trip depression.
What Is Post-Travel Depression?
It is a feeling that is usually experienced by travelers who get back to the life they used to live before they went on traveling. Not every traveler experience it, but the majority are having it due to the high transformative feature of travel. No matter how stubborn is a person to new conditions, he might get changed after a trip. People who travel around the world and feel on their skin diverse life situations, occurrences, events, discover traditions, culture through interacting closely with the locals are more likely to get depressed after travel.
Why Do I Experience Depression After Traveling?
As said, travel is highly transformative. People’s minds and life aspects get changed as they get to perceive the world differently when they see, feel, think about, and experience on their skin things that can’t be experienced while living in a constant ambiance. By traveling, you discover a brand new world, and if you carry back home the knowledge and experience you got from your trip, you will find out that it doesn’t fit in the reality you just got back to.
How to Actually Overcome Depression After Vacation?
As depression can seriously impact mental health, overcoming it is vital for your well-being and, consequently, for the quality of your life. Keeping a positive mindset is the key factor, and as you are already seeking an answer, you are just a few steps from being happy and motivated again. After all, knocking over post-trip depression is just a matter of time and is on the length of a great piece of advice. Read on to find out several tips on the topic.
1. Keep You Schedule Busy on the Last Days of Your Trip
To capture every positive memory possible, get your schedule busy on the last days of your stay in a foreign country. Go to a masterclass and learn something new. For instance, attend a photography workshop or a cooking lesson. Visit the places you haven’t been to yet and capture gorgeous pictures of them. Have one last dinner in a location that you know will remind you about your trip years ahead.
Inhale every moment of your trip and keep them in your mind and heart. Travel depression, in this case, won’t have time to hit you, as you will be busy doing other significant things than being bored and sad about your travel ending.
2. Don’t Rush to Work and Study (If Possible)
If you go right back to work or study, it might be indeed hard to perceive the life that you used to live a while ago. Post-travel depression symptoms include apathy, unmotivated state of being, and even loss of appetite. And work won’t make matters better, as you may feel life dreads more at work than anywhere else.
Getting time-off before you get back to your previous routine will provide you with the possibility to unpack, to get rid of jetlag, get comfortable back at home, sort through your memories, meet some of your friends, and get accommodated with your new life. This will offer you the time to transition back to the life you had before you went on to travel and you won’t feel as depressed.
3. Meet with Your Friends
Connecting with friends is always good, as you can have their support, their friendship, their love and care. When you get back with your beloved ones, you don’t feel the pressure of the reality as hard, as you might have their hand of help anytime you need it. What’s for sure, they will want to hear your story. When recollecting your travel memories, you don’t feel as stressed, and there is always hope of getting back to traveling.
Though it sounds easy, it might bring a feeling of nostalgia. So, it is essential to keep a positive mindset and, therefore, make your memories a weapon against bad mood, depression, and stress. Let memories be your sunshine on a rainy day and your good news on a bad day.
4. Follow the Mindset of a Traveler
Who says you can’t be excited at home as you have been when traveling? You had experienced a lot of exciting things when you were on a trip, got engaged in fun activities, and tried a ton of good food, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do the same at your place.
To overcome the depression after coming back from vacation, don’t hop on your usual routine instantly and proceed following it without any changes. Pamper yourself with exquisite dinners from time to time and go to some cooking or dancing lessons (learn something new). This will definitely boost your mood, and you won’t feel nostalgic as when you’ll follow your usual routine.
5. Don’t Stop Traveling
You may experience exciting things at home as if you are on a trip when you don’t stop traveling. Yes, it is possible to keep your traveling routine at your place by exploring the surrounding you have to live in now. Go to a local museum and learn about some historical things, go for a walk around the city, visit some monuments and take tons of pictures. Even usual things might hide something unexpected and exciting, so why not give it a try?
6. Share Your Story by Sharing Photos from Your Trip
When coming back from vacation, depression might hit you hard if you don’t share your experience. At the point when you return home, your friends and family might be already pissed off by the multitude of pictures and stories you have provided them with when traveling. But that doesn’t mean you have to hold back your feelings. Share with the world the best, or the worst, things you have encountered while on a trip, and let your feelings flow.
7. Read / Create You Travel Blog or Travel Diary
In addition to the previous tip, you might also want to share your story that you wrote in your diary while traveling. Vacation depression can affect your mental health a lot if you hide your feelings. Sharing with someone what you experienced when traveling might help you as you will cheer up when you recollect the best moments you have had.
If you don’t have any written records of your travel experience, perhaps creating a travel blog or a travel diary can sweep your sadness away. This will keep you busy, and you won’t have time to feel nostalgic. What’s more, you will experience incredible moments of your journey when recollecting them.
8. Adorn Your Home with Souvenirs
You might have brought home a ton of souvenirs from your journey, and now it’s time to decorate the house with them. Take your time and seek the best place for every specific item. You will be delighted to reminisce about the stunning moment of your trip every time you put in your hand a piece of souvenir, and this will definitely bring a smile on your face. Additionally, your mood will be boosted every time your glance falls on one of them. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling?
9. Make Travel Plans
No matter how severe depression after vacation may be, don’t stop making travel plans. Yes, you are at the point where you left a month, half a year, or more than a year ago. But that doesn’t mean your travel has stopped here. The reality is as it is, and the best you can do is to accept it and find ways to apply your knowledge and experience. This might cheer you up a bit, as well.
If you keep the hope to get back to traveling again, the feeling of nostalgia won’t knock you out at all. You are the master of your dreams, so why not keep dreaming of traveling? Just don’t fall into your imagination completely. There is a reason you are back now. So, find it, keep living, and travel when you are done.
10. Pamper Yourself
To beat the depression after returning from vacation, relax as much as you can. As we previously said, take your time to accommodate (if possible) and then get back to your usual routine. You might have had no time to care about your appearance and health as much on your trip, but now, as you are back, you can relax and pamper yourself with a spa or massage session, healthy food, and perhaps, you may want to hit the gym, again.
11. Help Travelers
Now that you are home, you won’t be considered a traveler anymore. Now you are a native. That means you can help travelers who visit your place, just like you were by inhabitants of the area you visited a while ago. If you see people on the streets, who are carefully inspecting a map or are wandering around confused, give them a hand of help.
If you want to go further, you can join a forum conversation and help visitors traveling to your place with guidance on locations and places. If you know a lot about the area you have visited, you might want to share with your experience by providing travel suggestions and information, as well.
Post-vacation blues are a common occurrence, and overcoming it might be different for everyone. If you follow the above-mentioned tips, you are going to feel a lot better. One for sure, you know how to get over post-vacation blues now.
Spell out your feelings and your opinions in the comment section below, and make your story heard out. We are always happy to hear your stories and give you the support you may need.
Last Updated on December 10, 2019.
