Got a case of the post-travel blues? Many people experience a bit of a low point after a major holiday or trip. You may feel sluggish, unmotivated, bored, sad, or even downright depressed. If you’ve been away for a long time, you may also be suffering from “reverse culture shock,” where you feel confused by your own culture after adjusting to the culture somewhere else. This can be difficult in its own way.
Of course, these feelings are all perfectly understandable. You’ve just had some fun in a new place and now you have to return to the boring old 9-to-5 grind. But don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to beat the post-travel blues. Read on to learn about some good ways to help you adjust and get back into your routine.
Write It Down
Having a written account of your adventures will help you keep ahold of the memories for later. Plus, the act of writing can be therapeutic. So set aside some time and write down everything you remember about your trip – the people you met, the things you saw, and your impressions of everything now that you’re home.
Go Through Your Pictures
If you have pictures from your trip, try to put them in order so you can look through them and enjoy the memories later. You can even put them in a scrapbook or get prints made and hang them on the wall.
Reach Out to Friends
If you’re feeling blue, reach out and reconnect with your friends. Organize a fun night out, a special dinner, or a weekend afternoon where you can hang out and do something fun. Go to your favorite places or do some fun activities that will remind you how much fun it is to be home. Just don’t blab on about your travels. People don’t tend to like that.
Be Active
One excellent way to feel better is to get some exercise. Go for a hike or renew your gym membership and reconnect with the treadmill. Exercise has been proven to not only help you feel better physically, but emotionally as well.
See Your GP
Finally, it is a good idea to see your GP for a check-up after any major traveling. You can make sure that you didn’t bring home any diseases or parasites, and also see whether your “post-travel blues” may be something more serious like major depression.
This step is particularly important if you suffered illness or injury while abroad. That way you can receive a medical exam from a physician from your own culture, as well as advice following an accident abroad. If you choose to pursue legal action, you will need to then talk to a lawyer about making a holiday claim.
However, remember that the post-travel blues are only temporary. With a bit of luck, they will pass and you can start planning your next adventure.