I am seriously the worst when it comes to getting stuck in the post-travel blues. So I mean, I’m probably not the best person to be writing a how-to on dealing with post travel depression, but then on the other hand, I do have a lot of experience with it!
Like did anyone notice how my first blog post after writing about my vacation in Mallorca was about how I maybe (except not really!) hate Norway now?
No, actually I didn’t get the post travel blues after my trip to Mallorca – but Dan totally did, haha. I shouldn’t laugh, but after all the times that Dan’s pointed out how down I get whenever I return from a trip I was kind of relieved to see it happen to him too. It’s not just me, the post travel blues are real!
Luckily though, I have found some things that do really help to pull me out of that returning home from adventure slump.
Be prepared to feel blue
Okay, this might sound like such a total downer, as it’s hard enough to return home from vacation without the added weight of knowing that you’re going to feel even worse once you’re home. But over the years I’ve realized that one of the things that depresses me the most about returning home is that I feel depressed when I return home.
If I’m returning from a longer journey then I feel guilty for not being as excited to be reunited with my family, friends, and favorite foods as I thought I would be. And then the whole point of shorter holidays is to get some rest and renewed energy, so if I come home feeling blah and out of it I start to wonder if I wouldn’t have been better off just not leaving at all.
But now that I always expect to feel a little down upon my return, I don’t worry about it as much. It becomes much easier to just brush off these weird feelings, telling myself and those around me that that’s just how I’m going to be for a while now, let’s all feel free to laugh about it.
The added perk to preparing for my mood crashing, is that when it doesn’t happen I feel extra amazing. I returned from Mallorca in such a good mood and was basically like, I’ve just come home from traveling so should be feeling worse than usual, so I guess that means I’m actually feeling 5x better than this in reality, high five!
Write down what you miss while you’re away
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone back to my hometown and forgotten to get an Italian grinder from Bushel ‘n Peck. I always remember after I’ve left again and it’s just like aaaah, all the facepalms!
Okay, maybe the key to getting out of a post-travel slump isn’t a sandwich. But then again, maybe it is?
Though it might be worth writing down some more meaningful stuff than food as well, like how you miss your family or your garden or your pottery class.
I mean, this won’t necessarily keep me from making my big sister cry within a few hours of seeing her – sisters will always be sisters – but it will act as a comforting reminder when I’m feeling upset and annoyed of how much I miss and appreciate her.
Have a list of things you want to do and keep adding to it
In a similar vein, I try to come up with a concrete list of stuff I want to do when I return home.
Because whenever I leave I seem to magically remember all the really fun things I can do at home, but when I return home the only thing I ever seem able to come up with to do is watch Nashville in my pjs. There are more things to do in Rauland than watch Nashville in my pjs.
Be active when you get home
As a lazy person I always hate to admit this, but exercising really does lift the spirits like nothing else.
I tend naturally to be more active on my travels than when I’m home, so coming back home to life without that added dose of endorphins can be a blow. And even if I’ve been on one of those lazy lying on the beach and eating all the food holidays, chances are my body will be seriously in need of some more physical movement by the time I return home.
So now I always make an effort to be extra active when I return home from traveling (at least in the beginning) because while running up and down my street a few times might not be the same as wandering the streets of Lviv all day, endorphins are endorphins, right?
Make a change in your life
This one probably applies more to returning home from bigger trips, though I do feel like even short trips can change me just a bit.
And the worst is feeling like you’ve just experienced something big and meaningful on your travels and then returning home to the exact same life you had before.
So now I try to make even small changes to my life, whether that be enrolling in a class, spending more time at favorite local places, or just changing the shampoo I use. Because even little life changes help to keep me from feeling like the trip never happened.
Print out your favorite travel photos
I love filling my home with memories from my adventures, but I’m also not a big shopper, so I often return home without any souvenirs. So instead I’ve started printing out photos of my travels to have around my home, and seeing them really does make me so happy!
Try to avoid immediately planning another trip
My first instinct when returning home from travel is always to hop online and book some new flights somewhere exciting. But lately I’ve tried to resist that urge, at least at first.
Instead of focusing on when I’ll be escaping again, I try to better appreciate being home.
And I usually make it about 30 hours before I’m booking a flight to Belarus.
Anyone want to go to Belarus with me this fall?
Do you have any advice to add? Please share!
Arielle says
I don’t really get the post-travel blues… sometimes I get the post-warm weather blues when going from a hot place back to a cold place, but mostly I have to go back to work the next day so it’s just normal Monday-morning sluggishness. I’m actually usually quite happy to be back in my own bed and have my own washing machine <3
Silvia says
You’re my goal! I think I’m slowly getting there 🙂
Monica says
This post is coming at a perfect time for me! I’m usually simultaneously happy and sad to come back from a trip — happy to see my cat again, but missing the energy and excitement of a new place. This last trip was full of so much energy and so many young people — I live in a place where that’s hard to come by! Thanks for posting and giving me some activities to do to help pull me out of the post-adventure blues 🙂
Silvia says
That’s one of the hardest things for me about returning home as well – there isn’t much of a young people’s life here in the mountains.
Dannielle says
I definitely used to suffer with post travel blues after a trip, and when I was preparing to move back to the UK from Dubai at the start of this year I was really worried I’d suffer even more. I did everything you’ve suggested (except for the last one – I’m ALWAYS planning the next trip) and I’ve been fine!
Silvia says
Haha to be honest I’m always planning the next trip to, even when I tell myself I should be appreciating being home!
Kelly says
I’m all too familiar with the post travel blues! Normally I just deal with it by talking nonstop about my trip to anyone who will listen, until someone slaps me and tells me to get over it. Works like a charm! 😉
Silvia says
Hahaha that sounds like the perfect way to handle it!
Ashley says
Really struggling with repatriation blues right now, which I’ve realized is even worse than the post-travel blues 🙁 Having a list of things I want to do and exercising having definitely been helping to keep me sane, though!
Silvia says
Seriously, it’s one of the hardest things I know! Exercise is so, so key – hang in there, it will get better!
Allison says
I take a week or two after a trip to make a scrapbook. Going through tickets, pictures, and other little knickknacks from my travels makes me feel better for whatever reason and also keeps me busy! I try to focus on all the things I missed once it’s time to head home as well. I’ve always found reverse culture shock to be much harder to deal with than culture shock itself!
Silvia says
Ooh that’s such a nice idea, I should totally do that after my next trip!
Carolyn says
I can relate to this so much! When I got back from my recent trip to Australia I made sure I was back at work pretty quickly so I had something else to focus on. I love the idea of printing out photos from your trip, it’s such a good idea!
Carolyn x
Faithfully Carolyn
Silvia says
Yeah It’s something I didn’t used to bother with since all the photos are online, but now I always try to make an effort to print a few and it really is so nice!
Allison says
Um, I do! As soon as I heard about the visa restrictions being lifted on Belarus if you fly in, I got more excited than any normal person ever should about going to Belarus haha.
This post is everything! I get the post-travel blues majorly, even when I’ve been traveling for 5 months straight and really want a break. That break is nice for like… all of 36 hours, then I’m binge-watching questionable shows, snacking in bed until 4 in the morning, and just generally feeling pitiful and then feeling annoyed at myself that I feel so pitiful. Ahh travel has ruined me 😛
jennifer says
Currently on week three of not watching Nashville. I am leaving for a short trip tomorrow and want to have a mini marathon built up for when I get home. <3
Silvia says
I spent last weekend re-watching season 1, whoops.
Daniel@BringBlingToTraveling says
Nice tips! Like your site.
ASA says
I completely understand. I get the post travel blues all the time and I always have a tough time moving on but, I guess you just let things be.
Amanda Kendle says
Oh yes. I always have post-travel blues. And in theory I know all those tips you mentioned but in practice I often fail to actually do them! To be honest I just start planning the next trip 😉
Amber says
This post describes my feelings exactly after I return home from a big trip! It’s hard to explain to people who have never experienced it before. I love all of your tips, I will have to try those next time. The thing that’s been the biggest help for me is blogging about it. It helps to see all of my photos and remember my trip.
Natalie Ann Redman says
Great post! I’m currently suffering from holiday blues! It’s tough!
Silvia says
Ugh I hope they go away soon!
SAIJA L says
I love the quiet of my own home so much when I come back, I forget to suffer from major post-travel blues.. but then, I can handle the quiet for only, like, 2 weeks or so, before I get bored and restless and cranky, and start planning the next one. Wish I could stay still for more than that !
Silvia says
Haha I know the feeling!
Jade D'sa says
I always Instagram-search the hashtag of the place I’ve returned from. Then see people’s amazing photgraphs there and think “ahhhh… why didn’t I do that/ click a picture there/ eat that?”
Makes me feel so much worse 😀
Silvia says
haha oh no, that’s the worst!
Carrie says
The post-travel blues are real!! Great tips. When you love to travel, it is so easy to overlook the nice parts of being home. I usually fail terribly at not planning another trip right away though. I actually usually start planning one on my flight home. Oops… haha
Silvia says
Haha yeah, I fail at it too.
Laura says
Returned from Tokyo on Monday. Booked tickets for Norway today. Definitely helped the blues!
Silvia says
It’s so true though, I think I’m stuck in an endless cycle of booking new trips!
Karina Bezkrovnaia says
Loved your website first site 😉 because I can relate.
And travel blues are such a difficult thing- so true :” avoid planning immediate trip”… because you are just missing all those other places so much that the reality of being back home is just not good enough.
Thank you for all your posts- I’m instantaneous super fan of yours also just because all Scandinavians for me are my “home” people.
Greetings from a Latvian born Polish-Russian-Ukranian-etc World traveler.
John says
Had a 15 days trip to Spain Barcelona and Santa Suzana with 15 friends from School and can’t forget how amazing it was there compared to Greece..
Nikola Webster says
Hi there,
So Couple of things. 1. 80 counties later and you chose Norway. I so relate to this! Norway is in my top 5 ever but it’s too cold for me. I grew in the UK and now live in Florida. But, Norway is beyond stunning. 2. The return from vacation blues. It’s a real thing. My husband’s kicks in on the return flight, mine when we get home. And, as much as I love my own bed the freedom of schedule, travel, etc are all zapped once we return home. Great read, thank you… Nikki