How To Deal With The Post Travel Blues
Mentally Prepare Prior To Your Trip Home
If you notice that the travel blues is something you get when you return home, accept that it happens then prepare yourself for it. It may sound counterintuitive, but by preparing yourself for it, you’ll be less surprised when it happens. This will decrease the likelihood of it having a more severe effect on you.
Write Down What You’re Excited To Come Home To
Go on the offensive! To address your post travel blues before it happens try writing a list of all the things you are excited to come home to on your plane or car ride back. This could be something like seeing your family, or starting a new painting class. If you find yourself struggling to list things you’re excited about, list things in your life that you are grateful for. This can work just as well! If you find yourself struggling with finding things to be grateful for, try the next tip.
Make Exciting Plans Prior To Your Trip
Before you even leave on vacation, intentionally plan something for immediately after the trip that you know you will be excited to come home to. This could be something like picking up a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try, or having your kitchen remodeled while you are away.
Increase Your Activity Levels
Increasing activity leads to an increase in the amount of serotonin (the feel good hormone) your body produces. Commit to exercising for the first 5 days you return from your trip and notice what type of impact that has on your moods. You may even find that it’s something you’d like to continue doing!
Give Yourself A Few Days To Recover
When you are planning your trip, make sure you allot a day or two to recover for when you come back. If you want your trip to be 7 days, take 8 days off work. Often times we run ourselves thin while traveling and leave no time to adjust back to normal life. This in itself can cause depressive moods.
Start Planning Your Next Trip
If traveling is something you love to do, start planning your next trip as soon as you get home! The anticipation for your next trip will help to distract you from the transition home.