Aug
tacogirl Features, Travel
Post travel blues
Since moving to Ambergris Caye, Belize 5.5 years ago I have noticed a commonality among both first-timers and repeat visitors, not wanting to leave at the end of their trip. Today’s guest post brings with it some useful tips on how to beat your holiday blues and get back into the swing of things.
Post-travel blues
You have just come back from the buzz of a fabulous holiday and getting back to the daily mundane reality is leaving you with a melancholy hangover. Emotions are high and your life seems to be a bit out of control. Well, do not panic as every traveler who has gone before you most likely have faced a similar kind of post-travel blues. In fact, be it a week’s trip or a yearlong expedition such feelings are very normal. And the good news is there are solutions.
Plan your next holiday:
Convert your post-holiday depression into a pre-holiday excitement. Though it would be a little early to plan your next vacation, there is no cost involved in dreaming big. If you will allow yourself something to look forward to you will find a new purpose in life and those post-travel blues will themselves find a way out.
Explore your surroundings:
If you have been away for long, who knows which exciting new experiences have emerged in your own town. New cafes, restaurants, museums, and shopping malls could be waiting just for you. All you have to do is approach these places as a seasoned traveler, take turns you have never taken before with camera and curiosity in hand, talk to strangers, and the sinking feeling would be gone in less time than you would think.
Share your experiences:
You are full of knowledge and if you have spent a decent amount of time in another country, you may experience that you have been seduced by its customs, culture, and language. So, when back home it’s time to share your experiences with others. Spread the knowledge that you have on a travel community and get connected with likeminded people who can identify and relate themselves with you. Creating your own blog is also a good option.
Get Creative:
Instead of bothering your friends and family with your travel stories, get your hands on something creative. Make photo albums with your memories, create a slide show, or involve yourself in travel writing. This will preserve your happy memories as a positive record of your trip.
Save up for your next trip:
It is quite natural to come back home all broke. Perhaps you will even have to go through the trouble of setting up a new house or looking out for a new job and that too without any extra cash to treat yourself. But bearing a good perspective is the key. Working each day is the only way to save up enough for your next trip. Even if it’s few pennies each week, you will at least be doing something concrete to get back on the track.
On the whole post-travel doldrums and the feeling of coming back to reality can leave you mentally and physically exhausted but if you are a travel addict learn to recognize the symptoms and look out for solutions so that you could beat the nasty travel blues back to submission.
About the author: Amanda Kidd is a blogger who is also an insatiable traveler. She has been around the world but to date nothing could beat the fun she had in the Brazil carnival. She is currently planning to work on a wedding portal that would include the best honeymoon destinations and the most amazing honeymoon suite.
I remember our first trip here I did not want to leave so much that I got a sore throat before we had to fly to Houston, luckily flight was delayed and they overtightened us there. Soon as we got back to Canada we began planning our move to Belize. We both knew a vacation was not enough.
Ah the ole post vacation hangover, followed by the 2 stamp credit card bill and don’t forget the itchy feeling that you have when you have to don a pair of socks and shoes. When Ms Kim Reyes was still with us (RIP) she would make it a point to pull out the calender and pencil me in for our next visit to Holiday right after I signed my rather large bar bill. Kind of made the trip back to the states a little less painful knowing that I had a return trip already planned.
This article is very timely for me. I’ve been back home for exactly 1 week after spending 10 days in Belize. Thanks for the insight.
Great ideas…and always nice to be planning the next trip.
But if all else fails drink heavily. Its God’s will: “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.”
Proverbs 31
I usually get home in April and have a full Summer planned so that helps…The trip seems to make my Summers longer..Then Fall brings thought of Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of that hubub! But December 26th….its on.. and the countdown begins!!! Great article!
San Pedro was the first place I lived when I moved to Belize. Even though it wasn’t the right fit for me to live there, I love visiting, and when I have to leave, I feel sad too!
I love your tip about planning your next visit – that’s exactly what we do. We were just there in August and will be coming back in November. Just knowing that helps.
Nice blog, Amanda!
Sharon Hiebing
Relocate Without Rose-Colored Glasses