Your most recent trip was fantastic: you hit a bucket-list destination you've been planning to go to for years, you did everything that was detailed on your itinerary, and you feel like a changed person now because of it. But now you're home, and the mundanity of your regular life—piled-up paperwork, the constant chime of work messages, a matcha latte that tastes nothing like the one you had in Japan—isn't making you feel glad to be back at all. In fact, you feel the exact opposite. You feel drained.
You're not alone, and while it doesn't sound reassuring, this isn't the last time you'll feel this way. The post-vacation blues will hit almost every time you come back from a memorable trip, and that's just how the cookie crumbles. But why does this happen, and how can you best deal with your emotions so you don't end up stuck in a rut?
Why Do We Get It?
It's no surprise that vacations reduce stress. When you're out having fun and not having to think about work and other responsibilities, that can feel freeing. But the kicker is that once you're back, those giddy emotions don't last for long, if at all.
There are several reasons why post-vacation depression happens. The first one is fairly obvious: going back to your daily life can reintroduce you to the stressors you experienced before you traveled, like work or school responsibilities. There's also the case of sleep quality and having to readjust back to the time zone at home, which can be especially difficult if you flew eastward and back to the west. Another reason may even have to do with reverse culture shock, meaning that you became so accustomed to the lifestyles abroad that coming back to what's considered normal in your home city feels jarring.
But there may be an even easier explanation for why we get the blues. Sometimes, it's simply because we're sad that the thing that brought us so much enjoyment is now over.
Give Yourself Time to Readjust
Jessica Mangano on UnsplashWhen dealing with post-vacation depression, make sure to give yourself ample time to readjust. This might mean taking a few extra days off work or school to fix jet lag, or to refamiliarize yourself with your daily routine. Getting enough quality sleep is important, so try not to rush or stress your body even more. Jet lag can also amplify uncomfortable symptoms, like headaches and brain fog, and it can take several days until your sleep problems finally go away.
It's not just jet lag that can slow you down. You should always block some time off after a vacation, no matter if it was a long or short trip, to give yourself a moment to let those happy feelings linger and ebb. If you head back to the office the day after you land, you're more likely to experience whiplash and more heightened feelings of the blues.
Start a Scrapbook
Your vacation memories shouldn't just live in your mind or in your phone's photo app. To help you better process the emotions you felt during the experiences you had, try printing your favorite pictures out and making a scrapbook out of them. You can even do a bigger one that includes all the places you've been to.
Over time, as you collect more and more memories, it can be a fun project to look forward to as soon as you're back from a trip. Your mind won't instantly jump to "I'm back to my boring daily life," but "I'm home, and I can add my cherished experiences into my scrapbook!"
Share Your Stories
It'll also help to get your stories out there, too. Laying your experiences out in a scrapbook is just one method, but a more fun way to share your memories is to tell your friends and family about it. What was the most memorable thing you did on your trip? What was the funniest thing you encountered? What was the bravest moment you had? Did you eat anything new or strange?
When you tell your stories, you allow them to live on not just in your own mind, but in others', too. Plus, doing so lets you reflect on your trip, which can help bring a sense of closure.
Plan Something Small to Look Forward To
Another method that may help you cope with your post-vacation blues is to plan something small to look forward to. Maybe it's an intimate get-together with your friends; maybe it's visiting that new bookstore that opened up in your neighborhood. Maybe it's trying out a restaurant you've never been to before. By pinning an event on your calendar and giving yourself something to be excited about, you can distract your mind and allow yourself to better readjust being back home.
