You’ve returned from your wonderful trip after days or weeks of experiencing new things and seeing new sights. You have learned so much and made new, unforgettable memories. But instead of being on a high and feeling happy, you actually feel depressed and sad. What gives?
There is a name for the depression and sadness a person feels after returning home from vacation. It’s called the post-vacation blues, and many people actually feel this. Fortunately, this is not a clinical depression and there are ways to get over it. Here are some things you can do to combat the post-vacation blues.
Be thankful of the trip
One of the biggest factors for the post-vacation blues is thinking that after such a wonderful experience, we have to go back to the same old, tired routine. This also means going back to the sources of your stress. Don’t focus on the negative (“Why can’t I go back to that place?). Instead, be thankful for being able to go on a trip and experiencing new things that made you happy. Also, you need to think about what made you so happy during the trip. Why? Because many of those factors that made you happy can also be applied in your daily life.
Go out and have fun
Many vacationers feel that they were happy during their vacation because they got to experience new things and meet new people. These two factors are actually something you can do even when you’re back at home. Plan a new routine for yourself, one that involves going out more and, yes, meeting new people. You can join a club, go out with new friends — there are so many things you can do.
Relive the happy times
Instead of wallowing in despair and moping about why you can’t be back on vacation in that wonderful vacation spot, dive into the memories you’ve created during your vacation. Organize a journal, a photo album, frame and hang photos on the wall, create a scrapbook that compiles your experiences. This activity will remind you of all the good things you’ve experienced and help you get over that emotional slump.
Immerse yourself
Being back at home shouldn’t stop you from immersing yourself in the culture you appreciated during your vacation. Do more research and prepare dishes that you loved during your trip or try new dishes. Learn to speak the language by enrolling in a language class. You can even track down movies made in that country or that part of the world.
Begin planning your next adventure
Get on the optimism bandwagon by preparing your next trip now. You can start saving up – get a jar and label it “My Next Trip” or something similar in spirit and put money into the jar every day. This is a symbolic gesture that you are looking towards the future and the promise of a new adventure.